Introduction to Permaculture Courses 2025
Terms and Conditions
By purchasing a place on this course, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions.
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What can I expect?
This indoor 'taster' course will provide an introduction to the basic concepts and practice of permaculture design. It is the first step in learning skills, knowledge, and building an interest in how to 'do' permaculture.
It will explain how permaculture principles can be applied in a range of settings from small gardens to whole farms. And how permaculture integrates land, food, social, economic and health factors to create resilient, abundant and efficient systems.
We also challenge ourselves to explore the big questions of our time, and create space for emotional expression around grief. These weekends provide a lovely opportunity to meet in community, with others who are also passionate about sustainability, regeneration, learning from nature, and skill development.
Topics:
- Ethics and Philosophy
- Permaculture Design - principles, spirals, linking, zone & sector, frameworks, limiting factors
- Permaculture in Action - in the garden; soil, compost, applying Nature's patterns
- Permaculture in Action - in the community; social permaculture, appropriate technology
- Signposting and Next Steps - Development pathways
Teaching Methodology
The course is taught through chalk & talk, audio visuals, group work, individual reflective exercises, and observation in the outdoors. You will be given a range of art materials to work with - and sometimes even the Lego bricks and microscopes get an outing! We aim to teach in a non-traditional way - with more balance in our heart, head and heads.
Our permaculture tutor Tammi leads a working group on Disability, Accessibility, Inclusion and Equity (DAIE) as her part of her Trustee role with the Permaculture Association (Britain). She is also neurodivergent, and has had chronic health challenges for many years. She is passionate about creating teaching safe spaces and cultures that authentically support individual needs and self expression.
Where, When & How (for each 3 day course)
- May 9 / 10 / 11 (venue = not accessible to those unable to use stairs)
Venue: The Pickle Factory, 13 All Hallows Hall, Easton, Bristol BS5 0HH
Doors open 9.30am - come for an early brew and get settled!
Teaching: 10.00am to 16.00pm
Tea and Coffee Refreshments provided
Please bring your own Lunch
Costs:
- Full Fee: £165
- Part-Concession: £125
- Full-Concession: £85
- Community Group Members rate* £85 (please sign up to a full-concession gocardless payment plan)
Visit the Green Bottle Sliding Scale as a guide to deciding what tier of course fee you should pay. We no longer ask people to prove which tier they fall into, and instead trust students to choose with honesty.
*Anyone coming on behalf of their voluntary / not for profit / charitable community group or organisation can join the course at the full-concession rate. With the intention of sharing their new found knowledge and skills with the rest of their group.
There is also the option to pay for the course fees in installments (over 3 / 6 / 9 or 12 months). Visit here to find out how!
Where next?
Although these weekends are focused on giving an overview, people have found that the enthusiasm generated, plus books and other sources of information and opportunities for connection, have been enough to go on to create some very inspiring designs and projects.
All Introduction to Permaculture courses endorsed by the Permaculture Association are now CPD UK Accredited and students can purchase a CPD accredited certificate upon completion for an additional £4 (to be paid on completion of the training).
For those wishing to take on further training and education afterwards, there is the option for signing up to Shift Bristol's Full 12 week Permaculture Design Course, running from Sept to Nov 2025, or the Year-long Practical Sustainability Course , running from Sept 2025 to July 2026.
Permaculture Tutor : Tammi Dallaston
Tammi is a multitalented, dedicated, Permaculture practitioner. Alongside her teaching, she is;
- A Permaculture Association (Britain) trustee; leading a working group on Disability, Accessibility, Inclusion and Equity (DAIE).
- Manager of Field Families (permaculture at events) - which includes the coordination of Glastonbury Festival Permaculture Gardens and permaculture areas at the Green Gathering and Northern Green Gathering. Lead within Dyfi Permaculture - a local voluntary group that meets each month.
- Working for Cambrian Wildwood, a rewilding charity in Wales; Cefn Coch Farm, an agroforestry farm; and CiP - Children in Permaculture.
- Director of Mach Maethlon - a co-op encouraging local food projects in the Dyfi Valley, Wales.
- Founder member of Permaculture Wales (Paramaethu Cymru). Director of Mach Maethlon. Now managing the inception of a community woodland project - Teulu'r Goedwig - near Machynlleth, and Planna Fwyd! community food resilience project.
- One of the founder members of Brighton Permaculture Trust. Former manager of Ragman's Lane Farm. Ex-Chair and trustee of Moulsecoomb Forest Garden Wildlife Project.
Permaculture Facilitator
Rosie Fieldhouse : Introduction and Full courses
Supporting Tammi in running the course will be the very warm and welcoming Rosie.
Rosie has recently completed Shift Bristol's Practical Sustainability Course and feels she has seen "the value and power in small acts with a community as a way of building hope and resilience".
She's a craftsperson and maker, specialising in natural building and traditional heritage crafts and runs workshops for children and adults. She also works as a play worker around Bristol and is curious about how play can be a fundamental way of learning about the world and our surroundings. She often combines play with craft to show people that these traditional crafts aren't just fossils from the past, but sparks for the future to ignite new ideas and engagement.
The Practical Sustainability Course opened up a number of doors including becoming a co-founder of a new community composting scheme; Bristol Living Soil, with Shift Bristol tutor Danny Balla.
Facilitating courses in a new opportunity to apply Rosie's natural aptitude for supporting groups of people to learn in a relaxed and inclusive environment, and she is looking forward to helping others on the journey that she herself has travelled.