Perth City Farm: Urban Permaculture Design Course 2026
TL;DR: This 10-day Permaculture Design Course in Perth offers hands-on training for transforming urban and suburban spaces into productive, sustainable ecosystems.
- Learn permaculture ethics and principles for sustainable design.
- Master small-space growing techniques for urban plots.
- Develop fertile soil with composting and worm farming methods.
- Propagate plants for self-sufficient nurseries.
- Integrate greywater systems and energy-efficient home modifications.
- Design drought-resilient water management solutions.
- Incorporate animals like chickens and aquaponics into small properties.
- Build community through tool-sharing and neighborhood guilds.
Why it matters: This course offers practical solutions for creating resilient, food-producing landscapes in urban environments, crucial for local food security and environmental health.
Do this next: Research local permaculture groups or urban farms in your area to connect with practitioners and learn about opportunities for hands-on experience.
Recommended for: Urban and suburban residents interested in transforming their properties into productive and sustainable permaculture systems.
The Permaculture Design Course 2026 at Perth City Farm in Perth, Australia, is a comprehensive 10-day hands-on program (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) offered in collaboration with the Permaculture Educators Alliance (PEA). Designed specifically for urban and suburban applications, it equips participants with practical skills to transform small spaces into productive, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing landscapes that mimic natural patterns for abundant food, fiber, and energy production. Ideal for beginners or those with introductory knowledge, the course starts from foundational levels and provides extension materials for advanced learners.
Key topics include permaculture ethics, principles, zones, elements, and functions, providing the theoretical backbone for ethical design centered on earth care, people care, and fair share. Practical modules cover small-space growing solutions, such as intensive planting techniques and vertical gardening tailored to limited urban plots. Participants engage in theory and hands-on practice with soil biology, composting methods (including hot composting and sheet mulching), and worm farming systems to build fertile soils without synthetic inputs. Plant propagation techniques are taught, including seed saving, cuttings, layering, and division, enabling self-sufficient nursery development.
The curriculum addresses retrofitting existing homes for sustainability, such as integrating food forests into backyards, installing greywater systems, and energy-efficient modifications. Water management focuses on responsible harvesting, storage (rainwater tanks, swales), and use in arid Australian contexts, with emphasis on drought-resilient designs. Animals for small properties are explored, covering chickens, ducks, rabbits, and aquaponics for integrated pest control, manure cycling, and protein production. Community building strategies promote social permaculture, like tool-sharing networks and neighborhood guilds. Alternative technologies include solar dehydrators, rocket stoves, and passive solar design.
Learning occurs through a mix of classroom sessions at the vibrant urban farm site—conveniently next to Claisebrook Station—and direct garden work, fostering skills in observation, pattern recognition, and site-specific design. Field excursions to real-world implementations, such as Ecoburbia and Jetto’s Patch, allow participants to document and analyze successful urban permaculture systems, including retrofitted suburbs with food-producing streets and closed-loop resource systems. Graduates leave with a Permaculture Design Certificate (meeting 72+ hour standards), a portfolio of designs, new networks, and actionable inspiration for resilience-building in everyday living. Testimonials highlight its transformative impact, with hands-on elements building confidence for immediate application in home gardens and community projects. This course stands out for its specificity to Australian urban challenges, blending proven methods with site-verified case studies for practitioner-level implementation.