This world-recognized, 72-hour course provides an introduction to permaculture presented by Darren Doherty, disciple of Bill Mollison, from Australia.

Students are invited to bring details of their own sites or potential sites and explore site-specific permaculture solutions.
The course serves as the foundation for further study and is a prerequisite for a Diploma in Permaculture Design, awarded by the Permaculture Research Institute Course credit is accepted by a growing number of universities in Australia and abroad.


To date, hundreds of permaculture designers worldwide have been certified, creating a global network of ecological activists influencing major corporations and creating new soft-energy business alternatives.

The course covers sustainable living systems for a wide variety of landscapes and climates, with special emphasis on temperate zones. It includes the application of permaculture principles to food production, home design, construction, energy conservation and generation, and explores alternative economic structures and legal strategies supporting permaculture solutions. Specific topics include:

Theory and principles of permaculture
Nature-friendly house placement and design
Energy conservation techniques for cold climates
Recycling and waste management
Organic food production
Water harvesting and management
Ecological pest control
Drought-proofing
Soil rehabilitation and erosion control
Livestock
Aquaculture
Catastrophe preparedness and prevention

Darren Doherty is a world-renowned permaculture practitioner. He has been a full-time Permaculture Designer since 1993 (at age 24) and focussed the first half of his career on design and development work, to the point where he became the most prolific Permaculture Designer in Australia, designing and developing over 1000 properties in that period, with a large development and management team backing his design efforts. With the birth's of his two younger children, by 2002, he tailed off his emphasis in that regard and is now working on selected "special projects" and teaching about 5 PDC's per year. He spends about 40% of his working time these days in Viet Nam or managing his Viet Nam projects (Permaculture development and education projects for M&M's/Mars Inc. & ACDIVOCA) with the remaining time spent managing a 60ha working research & demonstration farm in Southern Victoria, Australia plus a smattering of broadacre design jobs here and there. David Holmgren and Darren co-teach one Permaculture Design Course a year here in his home town of Bendigo, Central Victoria, which is the only PDC David teaches on these days.

Darren is a Registered Teacher of The Permaculture Institute. So he have to follow a set curriculum for the delivery of the PDC course. The course program's are very similar, though. Darren adds on a few bits here and there with regards professional design practice.

Check out Darren's website www.permaculture.biz

Important information about this course
Ranquilco can be accessed through, either Buenos Aires, Argentina, or Santiago, Chile.
Detailed information can be found on http://www.ranquilco.com,
Meals will be prepared and served at the main lodge which is rather first class, but we are used to having ragged students come in from a few weeks in the high wilderness up against Chile, take an outdoor shower and come in for some elegant eats.

Estancia Ranquilco is a unique landholding deep, deep in the Andes Mountains. It combines a traditional livestock ranch with New Age ideas on self-sufficiency and whispering lightly on the land. Participants are advised that there is a three hour hike into the place, with bags coming in on pack animals, and that there are no telephones, televisions, computers etc. All of this preserves, and hopefully, enhances the extreme peaceful power that resides on the lands

Estancia Ranquilco is a unique landholding deep, deep in the Andes Mountains. It combines a traditional livestock ranch with New Age ideas on self-sufficiency and whispering lightly on the land. Participants are advised that there is a three hour hike into the place, with bags coming in on pack animals, and that there are no telephones, televisions, computers etc. All of this preserves, and hopefully, enhances the extreme peaceful power that resides on the lands.
Pricing options in US dollars

$1,750 - 4 suites, available for 1-4 occupancy
$1,250 - 6 bedrooms with shared bath for a total of 10 people
$1000 - Room with outdoor shower and outhouse (5 total people)
$750 - Camping
There is an add-on option for those who would like to extend their experience at the estancia, working in the gardens etc, and immersing in the gaucho culture, for $50 a day.

You will utilise environmentally friendly products during your stay
No pets
Full payment for the PDC course should be recieved by the course convener at least one (1) week prior to the course.
Cancellation of registration will result in forfeiting the paid deposit

Contact for this booking: viella@viella.org or (415) 259 6370