2018 PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE AT ATITLAN ORGANICS AND THE YOGA FOREST
The course is held at the stunning Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The lush natural beauty of the landscape, combined with hands-on work alongside Mayan farmers, make this an authentic, truly special experience. You will work in two different sites, which provide a variety of climates and microclimates, giving you so much more information than other similar courses. You will implement your design project in a local community, which means you will have a huge impact by significantly helping community members prepare their land for small-scale food production.
The course is hosted across two amazing permaculture sites, which provides praticipants with a rich diversity of experiences across different regions.
The Yoga Forest is located in San Marcos la Laguna, in the western highlands of Guatemala. There are yoga and meditation areas set amidst a tropical food forest, as well as cabins and personal spaces all over the amazing grounds.
Atitlan Organics has focused on building a profitable small scale permaculture farm, and has recently partnered with swanky The Bambu Guest House to offer farm-to-tanble restaurant and lodging for ourse participants. Together, the two sites provide a truly effective learning model for permaculture study.
What is Permaculture?
There are literally hundreds of definitions of permaculture and as far as we are concerned, they are ALL VALID. Part of respecting and valuing diversity and self-regulation means tolerating ideas or interpretations that one may not agree with. That being said, we have our favourites.
While we spend a lot of time in the garden and working in nature, permaculture is applicable to all aspects of life. A more technical approach to permaculture suggests that we mimic nature and natural patterns to design and implement ecosystems that meet our collective needs. A deeper definition considers the whole of human culture and suggests that permaculture is a tool for designing new ecological culture, considering the whole of the earth in all of its strategies. Whatever definition works for you is cool. We like to say, it doesn't matter what you call it, just so long as the work gets done!
Get connected to your food. From seed to the table!
Work closely with various animal systems!
Harvest and process coffee and other local products!
Get lots of real hands-on practical eperience!
Learn how to propagate plants the easy way in our interactive nursery.
Studying Permaculture in Central America offers amazing opportunities to learn from indigenous cultures, rich natural patterns, and enormous diversity. Permaculture in Central America is representative of the edge effect or Edge Valuing Principle of Design. As one of the world's centres of biodiversity, Central America attracts people from all over the world interested in learning through nature. Permaculture practices can be seen in action via the surviving indigenous traditions that are common in Central America. Studying permaculture in Central America offers designers great opportunities to learn from diverse groups of people in incredibly diverse natural settings.
Lodging and Food
The first week of the PDC will be held at the Yoga Forest in San Marcos la Laguna. The Yoga Forest is a unique retreat space within a tropical food forest with amazing views, confortable beds, delicious vegetarian meals, daily yoga and meditation and friendly community living.
The second week, you'll move to Tzununa and the Bambu Guest House, which is a five minute walk from the Atitlan Organics farm and the place where the participants stay for the duration of the course. The Bambu Guest House is a brand new, natural building boasting bathrooms and balconies in each room, new comfy beds, wifi, super hot water, and amazing views of the lake, mountains, and rivers. The Bambu Guest House is proof that natural building can be clean and luxurious. Lodging is shared, but private rooms are also available for an additional charge.
Permaculture Design Courses have always been known for their excellent, organic, locally grown food and our weeklong intensive is no exception. The Bambu Guest House has a Farm to Table Restaurant that serves up delicious and filling plates mainly composed of Atitlan Organics and other local farm products. Currently, Atitlan Organics supplies all of the milk, yogurt, cheese, salads, cooking greens, honey, coffee, chicken, taro root, pigeon peas, and herbs to the Bambu Guest House Restaurant. The restaurant is run by three young, local, aspiring chefs named Antonio, Maricela, and Petrona. They are amazing!
All food, snacks, coffee, tea, and frescos are included in the weeklong permaculture course, as well as lodging for the duration at The Bambu Guest House. Three meals a day are served, buffet style, as well as coffee and tea throughout most of the day and two daily snacks as well. Basically, you are well-fed and well-kept. It feels soo nice! If you are interested in private housing, please mention that to us when you write.
Travel and Logistics
The Course starts on Friday, August 10th, 2018 at 4pm. Participants are expected to arrive by 2 p.m., to have time to check in and get settled before the start of the course. Once the course starts, all food, lodging, training, and travel is covered and included in the cost of the course. We often travel on local pickups, which makes all excursions fun and exciting. Adventure travel for sure! The course ends Friday, August 24th at noon, following a big brunch, student presentations, certificate awards, and goodbyes. We can help arrange shuttles to/from the airport, Antigua, or anywhere else for that matter. Just let us know if you need this service. Upon writing us to express interest, we will send an FAQ and a food allergy questionnaire. We can accommodate most all requests including vegan, gluten free, vegetarian, etc. We will also send the Permaculture Course Note Packet, which is an amazingly fun, illustrated notebook that contains most of the course curriculum in abbreviated forms.
Directions
Morning Travel Recommended! Please arrange to take an 8-9 a.m. collective shuttle (Q100) from Antigua (or you can request a 9-10 a.m. private shuttle for Q800) in order to get to San Marcos with plenty of time. The Yoga Forest has a free 2:00 p.m. escort service from Circles Cafe. Make sure you arrive by 1:30 to let the staff at Circles know you will be needing the service. Please plan your travels accordingly, either spending a night in Antigua to make a morning shuttle, or stay in San Marcos a night early. For your safety, late arrivals are not permitted. More details available here. Again, we can help you make shuttle reservations from either Guatemala City or Antigua. Just write to let us know you would like this service when you book your ticket.
