Permaculture Design Course

Our next course runs on Saturdays, from the 30th August to the 29th of November

This unique course, delivered over 12 Saturdays in Brisbane, gives you the knowledge and skills to observe and design from natural patterns to create productive gardens and properties. You will learn how to grow your own food, apply appropriate technologies, use resources wisely, build on living systems and rebuild communities. Learn to build resilience through connectivity, facilitate regeneration of the earth and create abundance through design

This course runs on Saturdays, 8.30am to 4.30pm, from the 30th August to the 29th of November. There are two Saturdays off (dates TBC), with the latter one being for students to work on their final design project.

Build Resilience, Facilitate Regeneration, and Create Abundance

The Permaculture Design Course (PDC) builds from its foundation in ethics and design principles to develop strategies giving you the techniques and tools to inspire critical thinking.

Our skilled educators will give you the attention you need with more time for questions and conversations. We will dive deep into our subjects and have time to discuss your personal projects.

Course Outcomes

By the end of our course, held over 12 Saturdays, you will:

– Have the tools for living with more ease, in harmony with the planet

– Understand how permaculture applies to growing your own food, money, technology, buildings and more

– Be able to apply the permaculture regenerative design framework to any place

– Deepen your understanding about how nature works

– Join an alumnus of millions of permaculture practitioners around the world.

For more information including content, flow and duration, course fees, inclusions, discounts and payment plans click here.

What You Will Learn

Our PDC balances practical techniques with foundational ‘systems thinking’ knowledge and eco-literacy. Some of the things you will do on our course include:

– practice observational skills for understanding natural patterns

– site measurement, inventory and mapping

– create site designs, including a project of your choosing

– calculate water harvesting volumes and requirements

– learn about earth works to capture and store storm water

– practice food growing techniques such as no-dig gardening and cover cropping

– exploring food growing systems such as food forests and aquaculture

– undertake soil testing and devising soil rebuilding strategies

– research the growing and cooking of perennial vegetables for the subtropics

– selecting animal breeds suitable in permaculture systems

– practice group decision making techniques

– explore community financial systems

– observe passive solar building design, insulation and glazing systems

– cooking with a solar oven or rocket stove.

Fees and Payment

Fees

Full Price: $1,500

Concession: $1,100

Early-bird Full Price: $1,350 (closes 15th July 2025)

Early-bird Concession: $950 (closes 15th July 2025)

To book, you can either pay the full amount up front through Humanitix, or pay a $300 deposit, and pay the rest later.

If paying just the deposit, the remaining funds must be directly deposited to Northey Street City Farm 30 days before the course begins for Early Bird tickets, and 7 days before for General tickets.

For bank details or any questions about booking and payments, contact adultedn@nscf.org.au

Current members of the Northey Street City Farm Association are eligible for a 5% discount on course fees.

Please email us at info@nscf.org.au for the discount code, (which is entered AFTER selecting your preferred ticket type).

A limited number of Payment Plans are available to people on low incomes. Three payments are made – firstly, before the course starts, a second installment before Day 4 and a final payment before Day 7.

If this option interests you, please contact Gav on adultedn@nscf.org.au.

First Nations Part-Scholarships

All of our PDCs have two part-scholarship positions available for First Nations (Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander) people. The fees are on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis with up to 75% off the full ticket price. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Gav via the office phone on 3857 8775 or email adultedn@nscf.org.au.

Frequently Asked Questions

Places are limited so book your place as soon as you can.

Bookings for the PDC require payment of a deposit of $300.

You can book above, or visit our Humanitix page and select the Permaculture Design Course to make your booking.

You can also book in person at City Farm Nursery or over the phone by calling (07) 3857 8775.

You can book and pay for the course above, or via Humanitix, by finding our upcoming Permaculture Design Course.

You will be eligible for an Early Bird discount if paying the full course fee more than one month before the course start date.

You can also pay a deposit of $300 (+fees) via Humanitix. You will then be required to pay the remaining course balance within two weeks of the course start date. This can be done over the phone by credit card, or through direct debit.

In some circumstances, we may offer a four-part payment plan.

Please email adultedn@nscf.org.au or call (07) 3857 8775 for more information on these payment options or to pay your remaining balance.

If you cancel more than two weeks before the course start date, you may be eligible for a refund. If you cancel within two weeks of the course start date, you forfeit your $300 deposit.

In some circumstances, we may be able to transfer your enrolment to the next course.

Please contact adultedn@nscf.org.au for further information.

We understand that sometimes circumstances change and participants may not be able to attend a course or workshop that has been paid for. For Permaculture Design Courses (PDC), deposits are non-refundable if enrollment is cancelled less than two weeks prior to course commencement.

Exceptions may be made in cases of serious illness, sickness or emergencies.

Once the PDC course has commenced, course payments are not refundable. However, if students need to withdraw from the course due to illness or emergency, exceptions may be made.

Please contact adultedn@nscf.org.au for further information.

Northey Street City Farm may cancel or change a class at any time, for reasons including but not limited to, lack of participation, inclement weather or facilitator availability.

Registrants can opt for a full refund, or can use the credit for a future workshop, to be used within 12 months of the date of the initial workshop or course.

You can contact our Adult Education Coordinator on adultedn@nscf.org.au, or call the office on (07) 3857 8775

More Information

Course Overview
Our Educators

Testimonials

“Thought provoking, inspirational and informative - whether you are planning for a farm, house or unit. Everywhere I now look I see patterns, choices and opportunities...”
Mark Lacy
PDC Student
"I chose the Northey St PDC because I wanted to learn about permaculture as a lifestyle, and design a garden for my suburban block. The course exceeded my expectations, challenging me and expanding my perspective. It was engaging and well-paced, with regular hands-on activities such as building a compost heap, soil testing and planting a garden bed. I enjoyed learning from a range of facilitators who were all experts in their topics and am very happy with the design I created for my home. I’d recommend this course to anyone considering a PDC."
Dianne Taylor
PDC Student
"If one hears a little voice to learn about healing connection with human and nature, connecting with the natural world and growing your own food using the resources and seasons, then this permaculture course is essential for one’s inner growth and wellbeing! This course is regarded as one of the best in the industry and is a wonderful chance to meet like-minded people and thus learn more about oneself and our natural world."
Carmen Walsh
PDC Student
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