Permaculture Forestry Course with David Holmgren & Darren Doherty

Four days of presentations, discussions, site tours and practical activities presented by Holmgren Design and Regrarians for all those engaged or enthusiastic about growing and managing trees and forests for timber and multiple values.

Bringing together the complementary knowledge and skill sets of permaculture co-originator David Holmgren and Regrarians farm planner Darren J. Doherty, the course uses the concepts of permaculture, keyline, riparian rehydration, holistic management and prosilva to provide a deep foundation for practical forestry in both natural and planted timber forests that provide environmental services and secondary yields of fuel, fodder, nectar and food.

Holmgren’s home property of Melliodora and the adjacent Spring Creek Community Forest combined with a side trip to Holmgren’s box forest property adjacent the Fryers Forest ecovillage near Castlemaine will provide a range of examples relevant to urban, riparian and farm forestry in mid and high rainfall temperate Australia.

For owners of small areas of forest, this course shows the low cost ways to reduce fire hazard, improve amenity, obtain a yield and improve future timber and environmental values.

For farmers wanting to better integrate and manage timber trees within their farm landscape, this course provides an overview of tree growing systems, species, management techniques and value added processing options that will diversify and strength the farm economy.

For environmental activists wanting to deepen their knowledge of sustainable forestry, bioenergy, catchment management and novel ecosystems to create a better world, this course is an opportunity to learn from greenies with chainsaws.

For those already with training or experience in farm forestry, this is an opportunity to glean and share new ideas with two sustainable land use innovators from outside the bounds of the forestry profession. People who have made significant contributions over decades to the resurgence of interest in farm forestry.

The course venue is Hepburn Springs primary school adjacent Melliodora and Spring Creek Community, with camping accommodation. The final night’s camping will be at “the Wild” adjacent Fryers Forest ecovillage near Fryers Town.

The course is fully catered, with local, in season, organic and wild food at Melliodora and “the Wild”. David Holmgren’s partner Su Dennett, renowned local food advocate will be catering and their son Oliver will be assisting with course logistics and forestry activities.

David or Darren will lead sessions but both will be present to contribute through the whole course.

David Holmgren is the principle of Holmgren Design, co-owner of Melliodora permaculture demonstration site and principle designer with Fryers Forest Research and Development. Over four decades he has practiced, taught and consulted about permaculture in a wide range of urban and rural contexts. He was the young co-author with Bill Mollison of the seminal Permaculture One (1978) and his more recent Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability (2002) has been recognized globally through translation into 9 languages. Trees On The Treeless Plains: A Revegetation Manual for the Volcanic Landscapes of Central Victoria (1994) provides a wealth of design information for farm tree planting locally and by adaption further afield. A self confessed jack of all trades, tree nut and woodworker, David is passionate about sustainable farm and community forestry to build resilience in the energy descent future. David will be at his best speaking about trees on home territory.

Darren J. Doherty is the principle of Regrarians Ltd., a local but globally networked non profit organisation committed to integrating and disseminating permaculture, keyline, holistic management, and related methodologies to farmers and landholders. Darren has a prodigious track record in whole farm planning, tree crop and timber plantation design and management. He has been a pioneer in the use of GIS (geographic information system) for farm planning and innovative machinery for ground preparation. His global experience teaching and consulting across the dry Mediterranean landscapes of the world have reinforced his local knowledge and networks as a fourth generation down to earth central Victorian. His forthcoming Regrarian Handbook promises to be a classic for those forging their own sustainable farm system.

Online bookings coming soon; Early bird price $550 available until March 13