This 2-week program is designed to give participants the inspiration and knowledge they need to become a positive change in the world. The course will include a broad range of topics applicable to life anywhere on this planet, it will be tailored to the needs of the students present as well as the location at hand. We will cover every major topic in Bill Mollison's Permaculture: a Designers Manual in the classroom and also on the farm.

About the Location

Kodaikanal has long been a centre of organic, alternative living. There is a large community of farmers, cheese makers, alternative healers, oil distillers, coffee roasters (and growers), natural builders and basically anything you would need to live a (luxurious) self sustainable life! This wil be the first Permaculture course to be held in Kodaikanal, giving you a chance to study and learn in a sub-tropical environment...we grow Avocado, Oranges, Peaches and are at a height of 3500 feet.

You will be staying in boutique, Tamil-inspired rooms with gorgeous rooms and semi-attached bathrooms. Families and couples could book rooms for themselves.

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About the Teacher

John Champagne

John’s long involvement in permaculture began when he completed a Permaculture Design Course, (PDC) in Chiltern, Victoria in 1992 with Vries & Hugh Gravestein who were taught by Bill Mollison.

It became both a life path and career. With his partner Sharon, they
established Brogo Permaculture Gardens in the Bega Valley, NSW 22 years ago,in the temperate climate as both a home to bring up their 5 children and a demonstration site to showcase permaculture on 11 acres. Abundance was created and excess produce from the property is now sold at local outlets under Organic Certification.

Professionally, John’s work as a design consultant includes private properties,eco-villages and community & school gardens. His PDC teaching career began in 2004 alongside David Holmgren at Mumbulla Steiner School in Bega when the BEND Eco-Neighbourhood idea was just starting. John has now taught over
35 PDC’s throughout the temperate climate of SE Australia as well as the tropics of SE Asia since 2010.

Together with Sharon, in SE Asia they share a commitment to maintain a high standard of permaculture education through workshops and developing local teachers to deliver the PDC in their language.

Where John lives locally in the Bega Valley, he has played the voluntary role of a bioregional strategist in his community. He’s been President of SCPA- South East Producers for 15 years, an NGO community group focused on building a local food economy. With his PDC tutor Hugh Gravestein, they originated the

South Coast Field Days in 1995 that was Australia’s first such event that focused on promoting ‘Sustainable Living & Landuse’. These Field Days also announced the Bega Valley as a prime region for relocalisation. For 2 years, John promoted permaculture regionally on ABC Radio hosting a weekly segment called ‘Future Directions’ with Tim Holt.

John Champagne is recognised as an elder within the Permaculture Movement in Australia and is a well-known and active ‘brand’. Networking constantly in conversations on many topics, John was on the Board of Permaulture Australia for 3 years and is currently the convenor of Permafund, a charitable group that receives funds and then distributes them to needy permaculture projects worldwide.

John brings these 25 years of experience to any event with his unique hard earned background and understanding of the many facets of permaculture.

From its broad application …..to actually living it.

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The International Permaculture Convergene will be held in India this year and this course is a precursor to the event! 

email me at [email protected] to confirm a seat.