What is this course about?
This internationally accredited course will equip you to design your dream project- a farm, a socio-environmental business, an educational organization, or simply your life- in alignment with regenerative permaculture principles. You will go home with an in-depth understanding of the theoretical principles of permaculture, as well as practical, hands-on knowledge of using permaculture’s powerful methodology.
You could learn permaculture on any farm around the world, or even online! So why would you choose to do your certification at this course in Dularia? We believe it’s because you’ll:
- be facilitated by two experienced permaculture practitioners with very complementary expertise, who have been fully involved in running projects in very different ecosystems (Dularia in the plains of West Bengal and HASERA in the mountains of Nepal) and very different styles (community-led Dularia and family-led HASERA)
- learn a completely unique way of leading with courage and clarity by interacting with Dularia’s one-of-a-kind community-led ecosystem
- immerse in an ancient indigenous tribal culture that has been connected with nature for centuries and can pass down it’s wisdom to the modern world
- have great fun getting your hands dirty while learning practical techniques of regenerating soil, composting, natural pest management, seed-saving, and natural building, on a developing farm
- improve the farm infrastructure at Dularia, so you’ll get a feeling of accomplishment and contribution
- get valuable guidance and feedback while participating in two group and one individual permaculture design project, so you go home with confidence and clarity to do your own designing in the future
Details
Dates: Dec 17, 2023 - Jan 1, 2024 (Yes! You’ll step into the new year with a brand new permaculture certification!)
Fees:
Tuition fees: INR 42,000/- (*excludes food & accommodation). See below for food and accommodation pricing.
Participants:
Min 6 - Max 12
The course will be conducted in a very practical and interactive way. A brief outline of the content is as follows:
1. Concepts and principles of permaculture:
- Impacts of modern development on global ecosystems, culture and agriculture
- Introduction, importance, history, ethics, characteristics and principles of permaculture
2. Permaculture Designing strategies
- Natural system analysis
- Social system analysis
- Agricultural system analysis
- Farm observation and mapping
- Zone identification and sector planning
3. Inputs for an integrated farm designing
- Energy efficient house designing
- Identification of crops suitable various climatic zones
- Seed production, storage and variety improvements
- Bed preparation for different crops
- Planting techniques of different vegetables, herbs and fruits
- Preparation and application of different types of compost and plant nutrients
- Identification of different beneficial and harmful organisms in the field
- Organic pest management techniques
- Designing for health and happiness
- Designing for energy conservation and natural balance
4. Design practice
- Two group design projects for specific scenarios
- One dream permaculture project of each participant
- Design presentation and detailed feedback
5. Permaculture in action
- Areas of Permaculture
- Permaculture diploma and acquiring systems
- National, regional and international networks of permaculture
Your instructor
Bibek Dhital (main instructor) and Sharmishtha Dattagupta (co-facilitator)
Bibek was born and brought up on HASERA permaculture farm in Nepal and he lives and breathes permaculture! When learning from him, you can feel his commitment, dedication, and lived experience that cannot be paralleled by only theoretical knowledge. Nevertheless, he formalised his education by obtaining a Maters degree in Agriculture Economics from Tribhuvan University, and has been working in the sector of Permaculture, Organic farming and Agrotourism since 2012. He is involved with HASERA Agriculture Research and Training Center, an organisation dedicated for the promotion of sustainable agriculture and Permaculture, and is actively involved in different projects to help farmers in permaculture design, organic certification and market linkage.
Sharmishtha is the founder of Dularia, her work of love in this world. She holds a PhD in Biology and has previously been an assistant professor at a leading university in Germany. She is also an internationally recognised leadership coach and facilitator. She was certified in permaculture design in 2017, after which she founded Dularia. She has an in-depth understanding of the science of permaculture and living systems, and also specialises in empowering people through social permaculture.
The accommodation
We have two options for accommodation: either in our gorgeous Earthhome (limited to four people on a first-come, first serve basis), or in canvas tents pitched in the midst of our food forest. All accommodation options are shared among four people, unless you want to bring your own tent and pitch it on our plot. Bathrooms and showers are also shared.
Meals consist of simple yet wholesome vegetarian food containing fresh vegetables and greens harvested from our farm, and often cooked on our wood-fired stove in the Santal tribal tradition. We serve three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) plus tea and snacks to keep you well-fed and energized for the tasks of the day.
Pricing:
Food and accommodation in our Earthhome: INR 32,000/-
Food and accommodation in canvas tents/ own tent: INR 20,800/-
Training Fees
Location
Dularia Learning Center, next to RSV school, Khanjanpur - Bandnobogram Rd, Bandh Nabagram, West Bengal 731235
Dularia is located in a rural setting, just ten kilometers away from Shantiniketan, which has been recently recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1375/) for it’s historical and cultural value. This makes it all the more attractive to visit Dularia and to take a few days extra to visit the surroundings.
The closest train stations to Dularia are Prantik and Bolpur stations, and the closest airport is Durgapur (https://kniairport.com/).
If you want to come by flight, you could fly into Kolkata airport, followed by either a train journey from Howrah/ Sealdah stations to Bolpur/Prantik stations, or take a 5-hour taxi ride directly to Dularia. Alternately, you could fly into Durgapur airport, followed by a 2-hour taxi ride to Dularia. Kolkata has several more flight options than Durgapur does, so both airports have their advantages/disadvantages.
If you want to arrive by train, you can come to Bolpur/Prantik stations, and then take an electric rickshaw (Toto) to Dularia. There are better and faster train connections to Durgapur train station, from which you can take a 2-hour taxi ride to Dularia.
We can support you with travel arrangements and booking taxis or totos. Please inform us in advance of your travel plans.