In our next 33-day Intensive Amazonian Permaculture Course, we will discover permaculture strategies for regenerative living from the heart of the Amazon. Living as a community, we will explore regenerative techniques for producing food, learn about renewable energy systems, and discover ways to finance ecological projects.
The topic we will focus on the most is natural building. We will learn techniques to build houses with natural materials, from design, to the full installation of a typical Amazonian tambo.
Our next Intensive Amazonian Permaculture Course is from October 5th to November 6th.
For all info go to: https://chaikuni.org/projects/intensive-amazonian-permaculture-course
Or contact: mailto:[email protected]
Components of the Course
The program is held in English and Spanish. It is divided into four parts and includes 38 hours of theoretical classes, 96 hours of hands-on field learning, and 12 hours of consulting time for the development of a personal design project.
If you cannot attend the full course, it is also possible to participate in one or more of the four parts of the program - please see below or email us for more information.
Part I: Introduction to Permaculture Workshop, October 5th – October 9th
Part II: Permaculture - Practical Learning & Application, October 12th – 21st
Part III: Natural Building - Practical Learning & Application, October 24th – November 1st
Part IV: Natural Building Workshop, November 2nd – 6th
Participation Options & Cost
Full Permaculture Course: 33 days - $560
PART I only: Introduction to Permaculture Workshop - $200
PARTS I & II only: Intro to Permaculture Workshop, 8 days of hands-on learning, one day to enjoy an Amazonian lagoon - $300
PARTS III & IV only: Natural Building Workshop, 8 days of hands-on learning, one day to visit a centenary Lupuna tree - $320
PART IV only: Natural Building Workshop - $250
To register please fill this Form
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A limited number of scholarship spaces are available - please write [email protected] if you would like to attend but the cost is a barrier.
Course Overview
PART I: Introduction to Permaculture Workshop, October 5th – October 9th
This workshop will include theoretical classes and intensive practice spaces for executing permaculture strategies in the field. Topics covered include:
- Food production: Agro-ecological food production, agroforestry production systems, management and care of a vegetable garden, preparation and application of natural fertilizers, harvesting and food preservation
- Integral Health: Healthy cooking and eating, the human microbiome, medicinal plants, natural cosmetics, stretching, yoga, and meditation, fasting for health
- Renewable energy: Bici machines, harnessing solar energy, harvesting water and water treatment, dry toilets, dehydrator building, biodigester maintenance, solar panel system maintenance
- Circular economy: Basic tools for resources management, strategies to reduce expenses, funding, community barter, photo and video registration for project promotion
PART II: Permaculture - Practical Learning & Application, October 12th – 21st
During these 8 days we will deepen the information learned in the workshop with a lot of field practice and community living. We will execute a mini project for each topic covered:
- Natural building: Roofing a cabin with Yarina leaves and Atadido bark
- Food production: Maintenance and development of several agroforestry systems at different stages as well as the maintenance of the vegetable garden system
- Holistic health: Creation of a healthy meal using only ingredients locally sourced or harvested from our farms, creating natural cosmetics, an invitation to experiment with fasting
- Renewable energies: Installation of a biodigester
- Circular economy: Photo and video registry of trees and plants, development of a crowdfunding project to raise funds for Chaikuni's work with local communities.
PART III: Natural Building - Practical Learning & Application, October 24th – November 1st
During these 8 days we will start building a tambo, deepening our learning with field practice and community living. We will focus on natural building:
- Amazonian materials: wood, bamboo, leaves, bark, and resins for construction
- Planting and harvesting Amazonian species for building
- Bioclimatic design
- Natural building with earth
- Construction of an earthen wall
- Weaving and roofing using Yarina leaves
PART IV: Natural Building Workshop, November 2nd – 6th
During these five days we will take a deep dive into the world of natural building, looking into its history, techniques, and complete the building of a typical Amazonian tambo (hut). Topics covered include:
- Design: Bioclimatic design, basic architectural tools to design, budget calculation, general building processes
- Natural building: Earthen building history in Peru, structures and earthen techniques, layers of an earthen wall, natural paint, water resistant earthen wall
- Bamboo preservation: Planting bamboo, natural preservation techniques, structural unions
