Design Course at The Gathering Fields (2017)

This course has now finished.

Information about our 2018 course is here

This course is for people who care about the future and want do something about it. We will share the skills and perspectives that help us to meet the challenges ahead and to manage the transition towards a more friendly and peaceful society.

This is a full Permaculture Design course, certificated internationally by the Permaculture Research Institute. It will run from September 4th to September 15th 2017 at The Gathering Fields in the beautiful surroundings of Over Wyresdale, Lancashire. On-site overnight accommodation is provided.

Reserve a place on this course

The course is open to all, regardless of any previous experience or literacy levels. We will follow the international guidelines to cover the course syllabus in full. The content and teaching style is aimed at those wishing to apply permaculture in a diversity of settings. The course content has a wide and flexible application, not only for home and garden design, but also for those wishing to apply the permaculture design techniques within their business or career. We aim to provide you with the tools to enhance and facilitate community-based projects of all kinds. Many of our students go on to set up permaculture-inspired initiatives of their own. You can read more about people who will benefit from the course.

Our approach is based on creative thinking and learning from natural systems. We cut through the complexities of modern life and look at the basics of human needs and communal activity. The approach to food, energy and local resilience has a wide and flexible application that can be tuned to almost any location.

The course will be led by Angus Soutar and a team from the Northern School of Permaculture. Angus has rich experience of guiding and implementing permaculture design in a variety of commercial settings. He is keen to share this growing body of knowledge during, and after, the life of this course.

What will we study?

The aim is to help you to make the transition to a practical and peaceful future, in the way that you want it to. You can read more about the course topics here.

What will it cost?

The "early bird" price for the course is £700 for bookings placed before the 31st July 2017. The full course price is £790. This price includes all food and overnight accommodation in the camping barn. (Outdoor camping and "bed and breakfast" options are also available.) We will ask for a deposit of £180 when you book to secure your place.

Reserve a place on this course