'The Eco-Village movement is a conscious response to the complex challenges of moving the planet towards a society of sustainable communities.
Eco-villages look at sustainability not only in environmental terms, but also socially, economically and spiritually.
Its principals can be applied as equally to urban locations as to rural settings, to developing and developed countries, providing solutions to human and social needs, whilst at the same time protecting the environment and offering an enhanced quality of life for all."
Findhorn Foundation.

Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet (est. 1994), designed by Robyn Francis, was the first rural Community Title and first permaculture designed ecovillage project in NSW. Robyn has been involved in intentional community planning and design since 1978 and has contributed to innovative ecological planning guidelines in State and local government.

Nimbin Eco-Village Projects

Explore creative solutions for an holistic approach to the design of new and existing urban and rural communities based on permaculture and the principles of Ecollogically Sustainable Development (ESD).

Develope the tools and skills to translate dreams into reality, clarify your vision and goals, identify pathways and develop strategies in parnership with people, organisations and with nature.

This course will serve the needs of people involved in intentional communities, professionals and students from architectural, planning and engineering sectors, permaculture and landscape architecture, alternative technology and building, social planners, business people and developers interested in ethical investment, enterprise and development, local government, public housing and community organisations.

The course will address:
• Bioregional and catchment planning process, land ownership and settlement patterns
• Working creatively and influencing state and local governments and planning policy.
• Land tenure options, resident agreements, community resource management and by-laws
• Working with social, legal, economic and environmental design parameters within the context of spirit of place
• Practical and wholistic approach to a diversity of settlement type & forms: Co-housing, expanded houses, hamlet, urban and rural village design, building new & retrofitting existing communities
• Design for the full human life-cycle and diversity of lifestyle needs
• Options for efficient services & alternative technologies from household to community scale.
• Effective techniques and processes for community participation, consultation and design facilitation.
• Case studies and tour of rural and urban eco-settlements

Conducted at Djanbung Gardens, next door to Jarlanbah and new Nimbin Eco-Village sites. Nimbin is a centre for numerous intentional communities and home to an ever evolving grassroots driven social experiment involving the wider community in taking affirmative action to solve its problems and shape its future. The course will include visits to several intentional communities and sustainable community development projects.

TUTORS:

Peter Cuming: permaculture designer andenvironmental planner, Peter has worked extensively with local councils, government departments, intentional communities & private clients in a wide range of projects including community titles, planning policy development, rural and urban planning, & community consultation.

Robyn Francis has consulted for communities, local councils, government departments and private clients on a wide range of community planning & settlement design projects including the design of Jarlanbah Permaculture Hamlet and the new Nimbin Eco-Village project.

Both tutors are renowned for their innovative teaching styles and draw upon a wealth of practical experience as facilitators and designers. Together they create a dynamic team and have worked jointly on eco-village and planning projects including the development of a new Rural Settlement planning policy for the NSW Dept of Planning which received State & National Planning Awards.

Special guest presenters may include
WROTH WALL: environmental lawyer specialising in community legal structures
WENDY SARKISSIAN: Australia's leading researcher in social planning & design
ROBERT ROSEN: community and ethical finance systems, public housing & funding

Fee: $890-$750 (sliding scale waged-concession) includes tuition, course notes & lunches. NB fee does not include accommodation