Water through the Permaculture Lens

“Water is the first design decision. In an era marked by both droughts and torrential downpours, the ability to understand, slow down, channel and collect water is one of the most important skills in regenerative landscape design.”

A 4-day intensive course

Permaculture Denmark invites you to an in-depth course in water design, where you will learn to read the landscape, understand the paths of water and design regenerative solutions – from the large watershed down to the water cycle in your own home. The course alternates between theory, fieldwork, map and topography exercises, and collaborative design of concrete solutions for Avnø Oasis.

The course is for those who wish to acquire the tools to plan water design themselves on their own land, in their local community, or as part of their work as a designer, farmer, gardener, communicator or activist. You will gain both a shared language (pattern language for watersheds) and very concrete methods – including Aline’s 4×4 method: Collect • Channel • Store • Distribute.

Tutor: Aline van Moerbeke

Aline is a Belgian-born permaculture designer, facilitator and mentor, based in Catalonia since 2000. She is co-founder of La Casa Integral – a design studio and living lab in Alt Maresme – and co-founder of PermaMed (Permacultura Mediterránea). Aline is accredited as a trainer by the Permaculture Association UK and is one of Europe’s most experienced voices in the fields of water, watersheds and regenerative landscape design. Among other things, she facilitates Gaia Education’s Design for Resilience course and Water Resilience Masterclass.

Special price for registered teachers, gardens and LAND(starter) centres from Permaculture DenmarkWhat you will learn

• 2600 kr / standard price 3700
• Reading a landscape – watersheds, topography, key points and sectors
• Applying a pattern language for large and small watersheds
• Concrete strategies and techniques for retaining water in the landscape for longer
• The water cycle at home – collection, storage, reuse and regeneration
• Creating your own water design using the 4×4 method (collect, channel, store, distribute)
• An ethical and bioregional framework for water management in a Danish context

Timetable – 4 days at Avnø

Each day builds on the previous one. We start with a morning circle and finish with reflection and Q&A. Meals and breaks are fixed; the rest we adapt to the group.

DAY 1Water is lifeDAY 2Water in the landscapeDAY 3Water in the homeDAY 4Water work in practice

MORNINGWelcome, group agreements, the nature of water and the hydrological cycle MORNINGOpening circle + pattern language: the major watershed MORNINGOpening circle + pattern language: the minor watershed MORNINGOpening circle + review of water in the landscape and home

MORNINGWhat is water? Properties and characteristics MORNINGMap reading and topography exercises – key points in the field MORNINGMap reading – key points on plans and in the field MORNINGWater work in practice – key points at Avnø

AFTERNOONTopography exercises in the landscape AFTERNOONStrategies and techniques for water retention in the landscape AFTERNOONTopography exercises – from pattern to detail AFTERNOONWater management in practice – design and interventions

EVENINGReflection, Q&A and review dynamics EVENINGQ&A and discussion EVENINGQ&A and discussion EVENINGPresentation of group designs + Q&A
 

Fixed times: breakfast 08.00–08.30 • lunch 13.30–15.00. The day begins at 09.30 and ends at approximately 18.30.

Venue: Avnø Oasis

Avnø Oasis is located in South Zealand and is a permaculture and folk high school project set in beautiful coastal surroundings. The site serves as both a practical setting and a living lab for the course – giving you the opportunity to design water solutions for a truly Danish context, with both salt and fresh water close by.

Price

Standard participation 3,700 kr.

Reduced price (low income / students) 2,600 kr.
 

We believe that good education should be accessible. That is why we offer a reduced price to those who are studying or on a low income – in exchange for a few hours of help with practical tasks before the course starts (preparing the venue, materials, kitchen or reception). This is our way of making economics and community part of the course’s ethos. Please write to us when you register, and we’ll arrange the work exchange together.

Practical infoPermakultur Danmark is an association for anyone wishing to contribute to a regenerative transition. This course is an open door into a wider conversation about how we can collectively become better protectors and friends of water

• Language: English with Danish support (questions and sharing circles in Danish)
• Catering: Vegetarian, regeneratively sourced meals at Avnø
• Materials: You will have access to Aline’s slides and a design folder
• Group size: min. 8 participants – max. 20
• Registration: Via permakultur.dk – fill in the form https://forms.gle/ausdDis8rgtUkug16 , if you have any questions, please email uddannelse@permakultur.dk

course content covered by Erasmus+ funds

Price quoted is to cover accomodation and meals