Saturday 24 July & Sunday 25 July 2010
Permaculture - a contraction of permanent, agriculture and culture - is a
lifestyle ethic and design system which optimises human and natural
resources in order to create sustainable human habitats. It means that you
carefully observe nature and its systems and then apply it to human
activities – in our case to gardening – to create sustainable ecosystems.
This course will introduce you to the basics of this exciting and
increasingly relevant international trend and teach you hands-on techniques
which will enable you to become a permaculture gardener yourself!
Topics covered :
• Introduction to permaculture ethics and design principles
• Garden design using zoning & sectors
• Garden bed preparation methods - No Dig, Double Dig, and Mandala Gardening
• Using chickens for soil preparation & how to build a chicken dome
• Enhancing the health of soil and its organisms
• Making compost
• Worm farming & how to build a worm farm
• From seed to harvest
• Propagating
• Companion planting
• Natural pesticides
A full manual covering all the topics will be given to every participant,
and they will get the opportunity to build a chicken coop and a worm farm.
Main Facilitator:
The story of Hazel Mugford stretches from the city lights of Johburg to the
tranquillity of Stilbaai. The proprietor of Wild Olive Guest Farm, where
she has been running Permaculture Courses for a number of years, she has
transformed a former sheep farm into an organic olive farm with a thriving
organic vegetable garden, following Permaculture principles.
And this is no passing passion. Hazel has a Diploma in Permaculture and a
Permaculture Design Certificate. Besides decades of experience in
permaculture gardening, she is also a holder of a Permaculture "Train the
Trainer" qualification, obtained in Wales from an internationally recognised
Institute.
Co-facilitator:
Emilia Le Roux's journey was, in some ways, the opposite of Hazel's. She
grew up on a farm near De Rust, where her father tended a huge garden on
largely organic principles. But she has been living in various locations in
Cape Town for more than a decade now, making organic vegetable gardens as
far as she goes.
She has recently published a book, A Farm in my Heart, about sustainable
living in the city, and then discovered and embraced the principles of
permaculture. In the process, she has already discovered that many of the
principles embodied in permaculture affirms what she has felt intuitively or
have already incorporated in her gardening from other sources. She is
currently planning a new garden in Durbanville, employing permaculture
principles.
Emilia in the garden
Venue:
Langverwagt Farm, Kuils River: This working wine farm dates from the 1700's
and is currently in the process of obtaining its organic certification.
Wholly owned and run by the Le Roux family, its exquisite location and
ambience makes it a very popular wedding venue. It is also popular because
of the award winning garden on the farm, which was designed and established
by Janette le Roux, Emilia's aunt. Janette also farms with chickens and has
a working vegetable garden, making the farm the ideal location for this
course.
Directions to Langverwagt, which is the neighbouring farm to the well known
Zevenwacht Wine Estate, can be obtained on their website at
www.langverwagt.co.za (click on the link 'Contact Us') or by phoning 021 903
1203 during office hours.
Cost:
R 1200 per person, which includes the two day course, refreshments, a
wholesome lunch on each day, and course materials.
Enquiries
If you have any questions call:
Hazel at 028 7542719 at enquiries@wildolivefarm.co.za; or
Emilia at 021 979 3953 or emiliasmuts@mweb.co.za.
You can also visit Hazel's website at www.wildolivefarm.co.za.
The course will also be presented on 28-29 August and 18-19 September 2010.
