Join us September 25th – October 9th for another exquisite opportunity to learn about permaculture principles and techniques. With renowned international teacher Starhawk, as well as the permaculture specialists Jillian Hovey and Murad Al Khuffash,  join us in gaining skills and a certification in Permaculture- while experiencing the culture, food and traditions of beautiful Palestine!

When: September 25 – October 9

Where: Marda Permaculture Farm, in Marda, Palestine. Marda Farm seeks to address critical issues in the Palestinian community like food security, health, self-reliance and community empowerment through reviving traditional agriculture and promoting a range of permaculture techniques that support chemical-free, diverse food production in balance with the cultural and biological landscape, while conserving and recycling water, energy, and other resources.

Languages: English with Arabic translation

About: This course includes 14 nights board in a comfortable house (camping if you prefer) with internet, showers, washing machine etc. Everyone is welcome to this 14 day event. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn Permaculture Design at Marda’s demonstration site and to experience Palestinian culture at its richest. Marda is an ancient, peaceful stone village nestled in the mountains one hour from Jerusalem and surrounded by olive groves. The mild climate and rich soil support a great diversity of flora and fauna and being close to the soil here in the Holy Land is a life changing experience. Please contact us to book and for help with travel advice.

Instructors: 

Starhawk is one of the most respected voices in modern earth-based spirituality. She is also well known as a global justice activist and organizer, whose work and writings have inspired many to action. She is the author or coauthor of twelve books including The Fifth Sacred Thing, The Earth Path and The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups. She holds an MA in Psychology from Antioch West University, and received her Permaculture Design Certificate in 1996 from Penny Livingston-Stark. Since 2000, she has been teaching and directing Earth Activist Trainings, which offer training in permaculture with a grounding in spirit and a focus on organizing and activism, with a mission to bring the tools and insights of regenerative design to communities with the greatest need. EAT has trained hundreds of students over the past thirteen years, as well as providing support for social justice mobilizations and encampments, disaster aid and bioremediation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and ongoing training for at-risk youth, community gardens and job training programs in inner city San Francisco. Starhawk has a special interest in the people-care aspects of social permaculture, in conflict resolution and group decision-making, and in urban permaculture. Together with EAT teacher Charles Williams, she is also developing model permaculture systems for Mediterranean climates on her Sonoma County, CA ranch, integrating olives, lavender, food forests, chickens and a holistic management rotational grazing program for sheep. She also has a deep love for soil biology and the roll soil building can play in mitigating climate change.

Jillian Hovey is a seasoned international permaculture teacher who is dedicated to inspiration and education about healthy and sustainable living. She has worked across North America and down into Central America, and she recently supported a forming ecovillage projects in Quebec and Costa Rica, and is presently helping to create a sustainable, off-gird community with a Mohawk tribe in Ontario.
She is also the founder of the Sustainable Living Network, her organization offers courses and workshops on a wide range of aspects of permaculture, and is extensively networked with other people and organizations in Ontario, and around the world.

Murad Al Khuffash is Marda Permaculture Farm founder and permaculture specialist. In 2006, after studying permaculture at the Farm Ecovillage Training Center in Summertown, Tennessee, Murad Alkhfash founded Marda Permaculture Farm. He is creating a teaching center and model farm in Marda for local farmers and international permaculture students who want to learn about permaculture. He has been practicing sustainable agriculture to help the local economy while training others in permaculture practices. His project is supported in part by The Institute for Appropriate Technology, which is affiliated with the Ecovillage Training Center.

Price:
International students: $1600

Local students: $400 (a limited number of scholarships might be available)

Register now! mardapermaculture@gmail.com