Permaculture and Sustainable Living
Embark on a journey of sustainability, ecology, resilience and ethical living with our exciting Permaculture and Sustainable Living courses!
Imagine gaining the skills to design harmonious systems that provide sustainable food, energy, and shelter for communities. Our hands-on Permaculture courses and certificates will do just that!
Byron Community College is renowned for our nationally accredited and FEE-FREE Certificate Courses. Not to mention a great collection of one day workshops and short courses to dive deep into the art of creating a more sustainable and integrated way of life. You won’t just learn theory; you’ll roll up your sleeves and work on real permaculture projects right here in the beautiful Byron Bay area.
Whether you’re passionate about design, management, or simply making a positive impact on the world, our range of permaculture and sustainability courses can match your interests and aspirations. Plus, they open doors to transforming local spaces, advancing your sustainability knowledge, and landing rewarding jobs and careers.
At the Byron Centre For Permaculture, we offer:
- Certificate III in Permaculture
- Certificate IV in Permaculture
- Permaculture Design Courses (PDC)
- Sustainability Living courses and much more…
Join us in creating a greener, more resilient and sustainable future.
AHC33822 - Certificate III in Permaculture
Embark on a transformative journey towards sustainable living with our Permaculture course at Byron Community College. Nestled in the green heart of the North Coast in Byron Shire, this highly practical program offers you the chance to acquire essential skills that go beyond the classroom, fostering connections with like-minded individuals who share your passion for sustainability.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of permaculture, where organic farming, animal systems, natural building, food preservation, systems thinking, and community development converge into a holistic philosophy. Gain inspiration from natural ecosystems as you progress through this work ready qualification, equipping you to operate independently and skilfully in developing permaculture systems.
Experience the best of both worlds with a blend of classroom learning and hands-on training at our purpose-designed 1-acre permaculture site, nestled within the Mullumbimby Community Gardens. This unique setup provides you with practical insights and confidence to lead the way towards a better future.
Join us, in collaboration with Mullumbimby Community Gardens and Permaculture Australia, to become a catalyst for positive change in sustainability. Enrol now and be part of the movement shaping lives, homes, and communities towards a more sustainable tomorrow.
Beekeeping - An Introduction with Kelvin Scandrett
This workshop introduces potential bee keepers to the delight and fascination of this rewarding hobby. The session covers safety, myth busting, legal requirements, bee keeping and the most important thing - how to get started!
Bicycle Repair and Maintenance with Nick Bowden
Designed for bike riders wishing to learn how to carry out basic maintenance and repairs to their bike, this workshop is led by a professional bike mechanic, who makes understanding bike mechanics easy. By the end of the workshop, we aim for you to be able to perform basic maintenance and repairs to your bike, saving you money and making your bike safer and more enjoyable to ride.
Building a Greenwall/Vertical Garden with Matthew McGregor-Mento
Learn how to build a vertical garden using the simple system created by their inventor (Patrick Blanc) and used throughout the world. Vertical gardens can be indoors or outdoors, grow plants, food, flowers, and more. They are easy to build and conserve water.
Compost Workshop with Alice Hoffman Ross and Dan Souza
Nutrient cycling is the basis of life, sounds deep we know, but it's the truth of it. Without this system of turning the waste of one thing, into a food source for another, we would be no more.
Nature does it exquisitely, and in this workshop we teach you the best way we know how in emulating and assisting her. There are many modes of compost to suit absolutely every individual and their household set up. We'll take you through worm farms, bokashi, cold compost and hot compost. So no matter your space at home, your time and physical capabilities, we have you covered.
After a day in compost world you will go home with a deep understanding of compost and soil, determine what compost is best suited to you, get cracking on starting your own compost at home and/ or have the knowledge to improve your existing system.
The benefits of composting are endless... for your garden, for the planet, for the future and for yourself.
Cooking with Perennial Vegetables with Sharon Gibson
Explore the culinary aspect of perennial vegetables commonly grown in permaculture and Syntropic gardens. Sharon has been cooking with these rare and unusual plants for years, learning traditional techniques and creating her own delicious dishes. The workshop will focus on the different flavours, textures, and cooking methods, providing participants with the knowledge and confidence to adapt and use these plants in their own favourite recipes. Together, we will cook a delicious meal using perennial vegetables and discover new ways to make the most of the harvest.
DIY Off Grid Basics with Matthew McGregor-Mento
Learn how to build basic off grid systems on the cheap in the Northern Rivers; simple solar setups, water, cheap and free construction materials, DIY compost toilet, and more.
Intro to Permaculture with Alice Hoffman Ross
A wonderful chance to gain knowledge on the key elements of Permaculture and how to integrate this into your home garden system.
We'll take a brief look at Permacultures foundations, zones, mapping, the soil food web, integrated pest management, compost, perennial species, weeds and integrated animal systems.
It's the perfect opportunity to see what Perm is all about and acquire ready to use, practical skills and knowledge.
Suited for beginners, it will be a mix of theory and practical activities, so wear your boots!
Managing Your Veggie Garden with Lauren O'Reilly
Got a veggie garden that’s not producing the abundance of produce you’d love? In this workshop, we'll share techniques for pest and disease management, succession planting, crop rotation, and planting by the seasons. Learn the secrets to bountiful harvests and effective storage to avoid waste as you work with nature rather than against her. We will also cover composting and closed-loop systems, to help you unlock the full potential of your garden.
Marketing For Small Scale Farmers with Andrew Cameron
Farming is a tough gig and generally marketing is a part of the job that gets left behind, when it is a crucial part of what a small-scale farmer must do.
This workshop is designed to help small scale farmers identify their “unique selling point” and how to communicate that in a way that best suites your personality and business approach.
We will look at your WHY, getting to know your own produce more deeply as well as your customer so you can more easily connect to your consumer and make sales more efficiently and easily. Selling is not a dirty word.
Native Bee Keeping with Frank Adcock
Social, semi-social and stingless bees all play a hugely important role in the Australian ecosystem, pollinating our unique wildflowers and more. Learn about bee morphology, nesting biology, foraging behaviour, the importance of bees in natural systems, and the effectiveness of stingless bees as a pollinator of farms and gardens.
Natural Building Introduction with Dani Wolff
Step into the fascinating world of working with natural building materials as you discover the versatility and beauty of straw bales, cob, mud bricks, and light earth. Learn the artistry behind these age-old techniques and uncover the boundless possibilities they offer for your next project. Let us inspire you to create sustainable, eco-friendly spaces that harmonise with the environment.
Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
Learn how to design, build and maintain abundantly productive food gardens and human settlements with a deep reverence for nature's patterns and cycles. This Modular Permaculture Design Course is run over 14 days and is designed for flexible learning. There is a strong focus upon practical activities including successional agroforestry, vegetable gardening, seed saving, plant propagation, animal care, composting and more...
Planted Fishtank Ecosystems with Matthew McGregor-Mento
Learn to build a filterless self sustaining planted fishtank with a well rounded ecosystem. Learn the fundamentals and build your own mini-underwater garden featuring aquatic and riparian plants and a multitude of organisms that keep the aquarium clean and healthy.
Repair and Rewear with Christina Cameron
Sustainable Floristry with Leena Martens
4 x Thurs 14th Nov - 5th Dec 2024‚
9.30am to 2.30pm, Mullum, ACE Funded $0*
Join our class on creating beautiful floral arrangements with a focus on environmental sustainability. Emphasising seasonal Australian-grown flowers, you will learn to celebrate the beauty and imperfections that nature offers. Discover techniques for arranging flowers using alternative containers and mechanics that promote sustainability.
Tofu and Miso Making with Kiriko Satsuma
A fun vegan cooking workshop where you'll experience traditional Japanese culture making White Miso and fresh ocean water Tofu. Your Chef Kiriko will share recipes from her mother's lineage, and at the end of the workshop you'll take home with you 100g of Tofu, 1Kg of Miso and Soy pulp to enjoy and devour.
Urban Permaculture with Sharon Gibson
Vegan Nut Cheeses and Milk
Creating yummy, tasty cheese without dairy is easier than you think! Learn to make a spreadable cheese, a bechamel cheesy pasta sauce, parmesan and a feta style cheese, as well as almond mylk and almond flour. Discover how to add different flavours to your cheeses using cashews, walnuts, almonds, macadamias, brazil nuts and seeds. We will sample what we make during the day and you'll get to take home some goodies too.