Introduction to Permaculture-Module 1-3 @ Bandusia - Sep 2026

📅 19 September 2026 – 20 September 2026 | 📍 Bandusia Country Retreat, 1056 Upper Macdonald Rd, Upper MacDonald (St Albans), NSW, Australia

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For those wanting a comprehensive overview of Permaculture and to acquire the skills and knowledge to design and develop their own Permaculture home garden.

About PSI’s Introduction to Permaculture Course

Permaculture Sydney Institute (PSI) is committed to a top quality Permaculture course training and experience. That’s why we provide a full comprehensive introduction to Permaculture course – the longest and we believe the best anywhere to be found. Two-day introductions are not sufficient in our view. PSI aims to provide the participants with both the skills and the confidence to start “doing it” themselves. It is committed to quality education, quality outcomes and quality of life for each participant.

Course Description

This course shows you how to design, construct and manage a permaculture home garden that is productive, ‘eco-friendly’, organic, healthy and low maintenance. Learn about the basic concepts of permaculture as well as its design principles, systems, techniques and strategies and everything you need to know to create and enjoy your own permaculture home garden. It is appropriate for people with balcony or small space gardens, school or community gardens, suburban gardens or large acreage properties.

PSI is offering this comprehensive Introduction to Permaculture Course divided into ten 4-hour modules throughout the year.  The course modules are offered mid week evenings at Karonga School Epping and also weekends at our rural site; Bandusia Country Retreat in St Albans.

The module approach provides;

The ten 4 hour modules each provide both theory and a practical experience.

Flexible learning experiences for you, allowing you to learn at a time and place that meets your needs.

Capacity to mix and match your modules – complete them in town or country, a weekend of multiple modules, single modules on a weeknight or a week day option. This allows you to control the pace and the process of your learning

Do it as fast or slow as you like – Take 5 days or a whole year, it’s all up to you! Do them in sequence or fit modules in when you choose.

Please note; in the past when demand has been high we have run additional programs to meet student requests, so please register your interest so we can try and accommodate our students.

Course outcomes

On completion of the 10 modules participants will:

Obtain a thorough understanding of what permaculture is, its principles and techniques, how it came about, why it is critical in obtaining a truly sustainable society.

Learn how to design and create a permaculture system in town or country – applicable to balcony, small space, quarter acre block or broadacre scale.

Have acquired the skills and confidence to proceed on their own garden design and construction (with some help of their Pc group and friends)

Have developed a design for their own garden.

Course Program

The curriculum covers all major topics from the text for the course “Introduction to Permaculture” by Bill Mollison including:

Permaculture principles

Broadscale site design

Pattern understanding

Structures

The home garden

Orchards and food forests

Animal forage systems & aquaculture

Urban and community strategies

Copies will be available for reading and are available for purchase at discounted rates.

Assessment

Each course participant will be required to produce a design of a place of their choosing that will be presented in module 10 of the course. This gives every participant a chance to work through the design process on a meaningful project and think through the detail. It also provides an opportunity for participants to discuss issues with the trainers and get suggestions and feedback about their design. Each participant then will emerge from the course with a design they will be ready to implement.

A certificate from Permaculture Sydney Institute is issued to participants when they have completed all 10 modules of the Introduction to Permaculture course and presented their successful permaculture design.

Costs and inclusions

There are two options and fees for this course

1) Upfront payment for 4 sessions is discounted to $495.

2) Upfront payment for all 10 modules is discounted to just $695.

All of these options allow you to complete modules in any order convenient to you. The course fee includes an organic supper (on evening courses), morning and afternoon tea (daytime courses) as well as extensive class notes and materials.

About the trainer

Penny Pyett BA (UNSW), Cert. Welfare Work (St George TAFE), Dip Hort Science (Ryde TAFE), PDC (Permaculture Institute).

Penny Pyett is the director of the Permaculture Sydney Institute, an institute she is currently developing with others as a Permaculture Education and Demonstration Centre on 55 acres in St Albans on the outskirts of Sydney. Penny has extensive knowledge and experience in permaculture, horticulture, community development, management and business. Over the last ten years Penny has been teaching Permaculture and Horticulture courses for community organisations and at various colleges for TAFE NSW including Permaculture Introduction; Permaculture Design Certificate Courses; and Gardening for People with disabilities. Through TAFE outreach she also teaches permaculture design courses for school and community garden groups, facilitating groups with the design and development of their own school or community garden.

In 2002 Penny completed her PDC with Bill Mollison and since then has played a leading management role with Permaculture Sydney North (the leading group of permaculturalists in the Sydney bioregion) on the management committee and as President (2005-09). She was one of the key initiators and the national coordinator of National Permaculture Day and convener for the National Permaculture Convergence APC9 in 2010.

In 1999 Penny designed and developed her own urban permaculture garden at Ryde, which has won numerous awards and acknowledgment for best sustainable eco-garden and edible landscapes.

A community development worker for many years, for both local government and the community services sector, Penny has worked with many individuals and community groups in developing programs and services for their communities as well as neighborhood precinct committees. She has provided facilitative training for community groups, schools and organisations for over 20 years.

As the sometime owner of successful secondhand businesses, Penny likes to reduce waste and re-use second-hand materials in landscape design that is functional and aesthetic.

As well as quality permaculture and sustainability education, the Permaculture Sydney Institute (PSI) also offers Permaculture consultation, design and community development and group facilitation services.

Introduction to Permaculture Booking Form

Bookings are essential. Please call Penny Pyett on (02) 4568 2036 to reserve your place or complete the form below.

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1-3

4-8

9-10

All 10 (5 Day Course)

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Preferred Dates

March 8-9, 2025

April 12-13, 2025

May 10, 2025

September 20-21, 2025

October 18-19, 2025

November 15, 2025

5 Day Course 10 Modules (Upfront Payment) Quantity

Price:

$ 695.00

Quantity

10 Modules (Upfront Payment) Quantity

Price:

$ 695.00

Quantity

4 Modules Quantity

Price:

$ 495.00

Quantity

AccomodationDo you wish to book accomodation? (For Bandusia classes only)*NoYesBreakfast and Dinner is included in accommodation fee.Room typePlease SelectDouble private room with ensuite for couple (room, breakfast and dinner) - $180Private double room for one person (room with ensuite, breakfast and dinner) - $150Twin share room (Breakfast, dinner and room with another person) -$90Prices Per Night.Number of NightsCamping or CampervanPlease SelectCamping (breakfast, dinner and use of Bandusia site and facilities) per tent $ 55.00Campervan (breakfast, dinner and use of Bandusia site and facilities) per campervan $ 55.00Campers need to bring own tent or campervan. Prices per night. Includes breakfast and dinner plus use of all on-site facilities ie pool, the common rooms, the pool table, shower and toilets etc.Number of NightsAdditional Camper Supplement Quantity

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$ 30.00

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$30 per extra person per night.

Enter Number of nights in Quantity Field.Any special dietary requirements? Do you require additional dinners? Quantity

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$ 20.00

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Per person, per dinner for those not enrolled in a course.Additional daytime meals for non-course participants? Quantity

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$ 20.00

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Includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Per person, per day for those not enrolled in a course.Please select which of our free shuttle services you requireNot requiredPick up from Epping StationPick up from Macquarie University StationPick up from International Airport TerminalTotalTotal

$ 0.00

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Permaculture Sydney Institute

1056 Upper Macdonald Rd, Upper Macdonald. NSW 2775Direct Deposit:

Bendigo Bank

Permaculture Sydney Institute

BSB: 633-000 / Acc Number: 1432 50355

Please include your name with payment!An invoice will be sent to you via PayPal with a 2.7% Surcharge added to the total.

Cancellation Policy: Due to the size and nature of our workshops, we have a no refund policy once payment has been made. If, after booking an event you are unable to attend, you are welcome to nominate someone else to attend in your place. Terms and Conditions*

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