Let’s do this! Welcome to our 4-Month PDC
We are so excited to offer our first 4-month, in house PDC. Our goal is that you receive the perfect mix of theory and practice, while enjoying a paradise-like environment and a great human atmosphere.
This is your crew
We have worked hard to find the best crew of six (now five) we could put together. Our goal is that an environment of enthusiasm and passion for permaculture is created, and a joyful network of permaculture designers starts to flourish.
Lou Baker
Hallo! My name is Lou and I am from a little village near Glastonbury, south-west England.
Oddly, it is amidst the concrete and chaos of London that I first discovered permaculture. A university tutor could sense my restlessness for the outdoors – for plants, greenery and for nature – and so encouraged the creation of a rooftop garden. The rewards of building that first wooden plant container, and from picking the very first ripened strawberry felt like real-life magic! In light of this, I am particularly inspired by how permaculture affects both our external and internal landscapes – how working with nature weaves together both head and heart. I hope to experience this connection more fully during my four months with Danyadara.
For now I dream of one day owning my own greenhouse; of growing an abundance of blueberries, nasturtiums and aromatic herbs; of having a treehouse studio where I can work and create! For me the joy of permaculture is its application to any physical environment and so from the many skills that I learn, I then hope to participate in new ways of sustainable design for the benefit of both people and the planet alike.
I look forward to meeting you all 🙂
Richard Stringer
Hey, my name’s Rich, I’m from Yorkshire and I’ve just recently graduated from Leeds Arts University where I studied sculpture. Much of my practice during those three years attempted to break down the parameters between ourselves and the natural world. It wasn’t until my final year that I discovered permaculture, but when I did become familiar with it, I realised it was the missing link preventing my practice from reaching its potential. I am by no means completely satisfied by where my practice is currently, but as it will be a lifelong obsession I aim to be constantly developing it from the influences of varied environment’s. I believe this to be similar for permaculture, a relatively new topic where everyday there will be something new to learn, no matter how familiar you are with it, which is a prospect that really excites me. It already has the potential for greatness as long as people are directing it forward and spreading the message wherever possible.I aim to use the knowledge and new skills that I’ll gain to create art that represents permaculture and the mentality of the participants that come with it, to show it in new forms and to further the reach of this philosophy to new audiences. I believe education to be one of the most vital parts of our existence, and so I am keen to learn and then spread the knowledge to others that haven’t had the opportunities that I have been fortunate to have. Very excited, looking forward to meeting you all, take it easy!
Eduarda Pires
Hello!My name is Eduarda Pires. I was born and raised in Brazil, but moved to Porto, Portugal, more than two years ago.My interest in permaculture began four years ago, when I started the architecture course. Issues related to the environment were often of my interest and it kept growing. During this time I also became vegetarian and, after, vegan – what changed, one more time, my life completly. My conception of life, the way I used to look at animals, myself, others, and natural life. In recent years I have been through many changes in habits/attitudes and my philosophy of life. I believe that everything that we do and choose in our lives with counscience is a political act and that togheter we can transform our path – that is the life itself – with more positive impacts and vibrations – even a little. It’s not about living in peace with the nature, it is about recognizing that we are part of it and that we must do something.My goal is to learn, keep changing and growing, as well as help and inspire others to join us in this journey for a better and counscious life. For this next 4 months together, what I wish is that we can live in harmony and increase our knowledge to chase our individual and collective dreams.Looking forward to meeting and growing with you all 🙂
FAQ
What are the best dates to arrive and leave?
The course starts September 1st and finishes in the week of December 10th to 16th. There will be an option to stay during Christmas. If you need more information, do ask 🙂
We are flexible with your departure date, but you should be here for the course start on September 1st. That means that you can arrive one or two days earlier. If you absolutely must arrive after September 1st, please send us an email and we will talk!
Do I buy a round ticket or can I keep my options open?
We will need a couple of people to stay during Christmas and January. If you would like to be open to this possibility, then it is best not to commit to a return ticket.
How do I arrive to Danyadara?
There are three airports nearby-ish: Jerez, Sevilla and Malaga.
The closest one is Jerez, then Sevilla, then Malaga.
The cheapest way to get here from any of those airports is by bus. It is not always convenient due to different bus times. You can find the timetables here: http://www.damas-sa.es/index.php/rutas-y-horarios/ – You need to select Villamartín as the destination (we know that the duration of the journey is way less than advertised on the site).
We want to pick you up from the local bus station, so please let us know in advance which bus are you taking, and let’s be in touch by phone during that day.
We also have deals with a local taxi company. If you would like to arrange a taxi to pick you up, please let us know in advance and we will set it up.
What do we have to bring?
We provide bedsheets, towels and meals, so just bring your luggage, laptop, phone or tablet and whatever you would bring on a long holiday.
You will arrive in September so it is still swimming pool season. Bring your swimsuit and suncream to enjoy the pool.
You also will leave in December, so pack for cold. Not extremely cold, but it can get to 0C at night in December and some mornings we have a bit of frost.
When it rains, it pours, so pack a raincoat and make sure your shoes can take the rain.
Also, the sun here is fierce, so bring your favorite hat and sunglasses.
Bring a good pair of shoes that you are happy to wear all day, everyday. They are going to get wet, muddy and well used.
Other useful stuff: water bottle, school bag, pen and paper, a bit of cash and yourself.
How is the accommodation?
We have recently finished a new house, Casa Paloma, that is specifically for students. It has two dorms, one for men and another one for ladies. They have two bunk beds each, so 4 beds in each dorm in total. They are not the biggest rooms in the world but they are cozy and do the job.
You have a toilet and shower to share in Casa Paloma. Also, you are in the vecinity of San Pedro, our house for staff. We have a couple of extra eco-showers and outside toilets there.
San Pedro also fashions a great living area, where staff and students normally hang out or simply sit to read or watch life go by.
During the day you will most likely be around Suryalila, so there are plenty of space that you can use if you need to roam or find a place to sit quietly.