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.
Animals - Integrated Production Systems - PDC
9am to 5pm Mullum, $160 pp
Learn how to incorporate animals into the design of your garden or food production system to increase its overall abundance and optimise the health and productivity of your chickens, cows and other animals.
Backyard Chooks
Keeping chickens in the backyard is fun and easy. They eat our kitchen scraps, will happily scratch up every weed, seed and grub as well as give us eggs and manure for our gardens.This workshop will cover every-day care, feeding, popular breeds, problem solving and housing. Keeping even a few chooks has many benefits for living a more sustainable lifestyle.
Beekeeping with Steve Fowler
Sun, 18 August
10am to 6pm, Mullum, $195
This workshop introduces potential bee keepers to the delight and fascination of this rewarding hobby. The session covers safety, myth busting, hands-on bee keeping (Steve will bring along a beehive), legal requirements and the most important thing - how to get started!
Bicycle Repair and Maintenance with Nick Bowden
9am to 4pm, Mullum, $155
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
9am - 5pm, Mullum, $160
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.
Community Design And Social Permaculture - PDC
9am to 5pm, Mullum, $160
Learn about social permaculture design, supporting humans to be effective and thrive together. Explore ideas around collaborative governance and decision-making, social enterprise, localised community living, integrated permaculture lifestyles.
DIY Off Grid Basics with Matthew McGregor-Mento
9am - 5pm, Mullum, $160
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.
Ecology - Weeds, Pests And Diseases In The Garden - PDC
9am to 5pm, Mullum, $160pp
Learn to identify and control a range of common weeds, pests and diseases of food crops through holistic, ecologically sensitive management techniques. This course will build an appreciation of the importance of soil management to nurture crop health for natural pest and disease resistance.
Garden Design Basics with Lauren O'Reilly
9am - 3pm, Mullum, $150
Interested in garden design? In this short course we delve into the art of garden bed design through a comprehensive site analysis. We will also explore the intricacies of reading and working with your soil, as well as identifying suitable plant species for your unique environment.
Managing Your Veggie Garden with Lauren O'Reilly
Sat, 3 August
9am - 3pm, Mullum, $150
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.
Native Bee Keeping
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
9am to 3pm, Mullum, $255
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.
Perennial Greens
Discover the joy of cultivating perennial vegetables that demand minimal care yet yield year-round tender, edible leaves. Say goodbye to frequent replanting and bolting issues and join Sharon as she shares the art of growing, harvesting, and savouring a diverse array of colourful, flavourful, and textured leafy greens for salads and cooked meals. Elevate your gardening experience effortlessly!
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
Sat, 7 September
9am - 5pm, Mullum, $190
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.
Seeds & Weeds with Lauren O'Reilly
9am - 3pm, Mullum, $150
Embark on a fascinating journey into the world of flowers as we unravel the secrets of plant pollination, seed saving and nursery propagation, which can all help save you time and money. We will also delve into the intriguing realm of weed identification, exploring their diverse uses, from medicinal to edible. Come and immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder of flowers!
Urban Permaculture
9.00am to 3.00pm, Mullum, ACE Funded $0*
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.
Water - Systems For The Home And Landscape - PDC
9am to 5pm, Mullum, $160pp
Learn how to work with water in the landscape, exploring theoretical and practical examples of water harvesting, catching, storing and irrigation, changing our mindset from draining to 'sponging' water INTO the landscape. We will investigate and visit a range of local and global examples of swales, keylines, earthworks, wicking beds, dams, aquaponics and water biofiltration methods.