Resume of the Permaculture Course in March

Finally I'm having the time to write about the Permaculture course...even though I did write a bit on my blog ...

sorry about that, but after all the work and preparations, I needed a little break afterwards and I was not so fond of siting in front of a computer...

Once again the course was brilliant... the people whom I got to meet are amazing and we had really good times together...

either in the teachings,

around the table during meals,

chopping vegetables,watching mind-blowing documentaries and

hanging out around the fireplace at night...lots of talented musicians I have to say ... It was really nice !!!

I missed a bit of the social aspect because I was also running around doing other things, and in the evenings I was just ready for an early sleep...

I also had to take Christian to the hospital...Oops...he was swinging with a rope on one of our tall Cork tree and hit a rock with his knee... he actually moved the rock out of its place...Ouch!!! he was more excited with it than disturbed... he wouldn't stop taking pictures in the hospital...the nurse was nice too...it looked painful though...

I had really good times with everyone... And it was lovely to be with Lesley again... the more I know her , the more I have to say - She's amazing !!! And all of us here in Portugal ought to be grateful for her teaching and training so many of us will be the future teachers and practitioners of Permaculture here.

It was nice to see the ones I already knew, but most of them I didn't know... so different and interesting people... It's encouraging to see how the portuguese are really interested and involved in permaculture projects, or simply awakening to see the world with different eyes...and willing to do something about it...

The weather was not so bad, but we did have some rain and one day the wind was really annoying...
But everyone was fine with it... at least I didn't hear many complaints...anyway, what could we do?! We are all here to learn how to live with the natural elements, right?

I have to say that I was rubbish at taking pictures... I just forgot about it completely...

If those who were at the course would like to leave a comment with your perspective on it, it would be great...
Thank you all ... I really enjoyed it !!!

getting ready to make the design!!!

preparing the mulch bed... even when the rain was threatening ...

another group preparing for the design...

...and another group...

a nice capture while I was filling up the water containers at the spring...

one of many nice evenings around the fire... I missed most of them, but the ones I managed to be present I really enjoyed...

first group presenting their design... Kin, Filipa and Ana...

really cool structures...

second group...Christian, Hilko, Sonia and Nina...

Each one explaining different details...

after each group presented their design we would all give our opinion... one thing we liked, and one thing we would make different (no negative opinions here...I like that )

After lunch the sillyness came...really fun!!! the sun helped the mood !!!


the third group...Silvia, Valter and Susi...

nice ideas... lots of recycling bins 

and the final group... Ulli, Catarina e Irene...

lots of ideas for the garden and all sorts of plants´ combinations.

sunday night, we all went to the village to have dinner... it was really fun...

Kin brought the guitar and played some nice tunes... we even had a dance hall

Anyway, it was a really pleasant week for all of us I believe... more seeds spread... more hope to see what will come out of it ... I'm already looking forward to the next one in August... 

and the Strawbale workshop, very soon, from the 27th of MAY to the 3rd of June...