Friday, June 17, 2022

Permaculture Design Course, Darjeeling, India

 


Permaculture Design Course

5 November to 20 November 2022

Mineral Springs, Darjeeling

Permaculture Design Course fees, inclusive of training material, food and lodge:

International Candidates Rs. 60,000:00

Indian Nationals residing outside Darjeeling but working in India Rs. 45,000:00

Discounts available for Darjeeling Hills’ residents. Please contact for details

Training venue “Mineral Springs, Dabaipani, Darjeeling”

Mineral Springs, Dabaipani is an internationally certified organic and fair-trade labeled collective of 456 small farmers since 2002. The farmers have come under the Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha since 1996. The collective has been marketing small farmers' organic tea in the international market. The tea is grown as part of a polyculture crop, within thousands of acres of Forest Garden and food systems

The participants will have home stay accommodations facilities with the members of Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha.

Teacher: Rico Zook ( www.i-permaculture.org )

Co-Teachers: Reed.Burnam (Insta: @r33d_b) Guest Teachers: Sailesh Sharma , Siddarth Blone

Host: DLR Prerna. www.darjeelingprerna.org FB: Darjeeling Prerna

For further details

Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna

c/o Hayden Hall Complex,

42 Ladenla Road,

Darjeeling 734 101,

West Bengal, India.

Phone Number: +91 9800869959 (Sailesh Sharma)

darjeelingprerna@gmail.com saileshkharel@gmail.com rairoshan@gmail.com

A working knowledge of English is required by the participant. We do not look for academic qualifications for the course, except an interest to be part of a sustainable lifestyle and be the change you want to see in the world.

NB: **** DLR Prerna and Rico reserves the right to admit candidates to the course. Candidates will be notified of their participation on receipt of the completely filled application form.

Permaculture Design Course Description

Permaculture is a design system to create regenerative, sustainable systems. Envisioned over 25 years ago by Bill Mollison and Dan Holmgren, from Australia, it has now spread to over 120 countries. Though its conception was as a land-based system, its effectiveness has moved it into urban settings and to being applied in various social, political, and economic environments.

Permaculture was created through the synthesis of many design systems, with the emphasis on nature as the penultimate one. Similarly, the insights and value of traditional and indigenous practices and knowledge are acknowledged along with the necessity of molding these with our current understandings and the appropriate technologies of today's world. What Permaculture seeks to do is to create three-dimensional designs that are site specific and sustainable. By bringing together elements (orchard, water system, farmer, cow, etc.), techniques (organic farming, natural building, etc.) and strategies (microclimate, relative placement, etc.) a system is designed or altered based on regenerative relationships. It is these regenerative, beneficial relationships that give a system complexity, three dimensionality, and thus, resiliency.

The world can be looked at as the convergence of many different flows. From ‘natural’ (wind, water, soil, etc.) to human (social, resources, transportation, etc.) to invisible (economic, information, etc.) which interact and create patterns. These flows form our world. Recognizing this, Permaculture teaches Pattern Literacy and Pattern Application. This, along with Sector Analysis (site specific flow mapping), Zonation (a tool for structuring time) and other techniques and tools, Permaculture focuses on creating regenerative relationships that are the key to resilient, sustainable systems.

From its inception Permaculture has quickly spread to over One hundred and twenty countries where farms and other sites are successfully applying its' ideas, techniques and strategies. As further testament to its applicability, Permaculture is now being applied in many urban and suburban areas. In many developed countries these applications hold much promise for dealing with the many issues associated with mass populations.

Permaculture in the last few years has been moving into the invisible structures. In the United States a Permaculture credit union has been formed and 'green' investment firms are using Permaculture principles and ideas to create resilient, sustainable investment systems. Environmentalists and social activists are using Permaculture to give depth and complexity to their approaches to many issues we are dealing with today. These applications are possible because Permaculture is a design system that focuses on relationship and not so much on object.

Permaculture is a multi-faceted, in-depth design system that will help us create appropriate, site-specific designs that are both sustainable and regenerative.

Permaculture principles are a list of attitudes, approaches, and actions that are practical and not system specific. These along with certain tools and techniques allow for a holistic approach and interaction with any type of system. As a tool of analysis,it is an excellent way to look at existing programs, strategies, and interventions to assess their interactions, linkages, and success'. It is a way to reach an understanding of the various influences and flows involved in a system, be it self-help groups, village, or organization. Second, it provides insights and principles by which to intervene or interact with a system. As there is neither a truly independent system, nor sterile 'environment' this aspect is of significant importance. Thirdly, as we have already stated, Permaculture is an excellent approach for designing resilient, site-specific systems, be it disaster preparedness, HIV/AIDS, or women's empowerment.

It is important to understand that Permaculture is not so much about giving you new and improved ideas, techniques, and strategies, though there is some of that. What Permaculture does is allow for a deeper understanding of the situation at hand and, with its principles and strategies, a more holistic, effective way to interact with or design a system.  What Permaculture offers are skills and principles by which we build our awareness of why or why not something was successful. Through this insight we can build on what is successful and modify others to become more successful.

Stepping up another level, Permaculture is an excellent way to weave together the different parts of an organization so that a unity and synergy can be created. In this way unforeseen benefits and ease will emerge within the system. As a real-life experience this course is structured permaculturally, modeled as a regenerative invisible structure, thus creating deeper and synergistic learning

This workshop will present Permaculture with all of these applications in mind. We will focus on land systems with as much hands-on work and examples as possible. In addition, many discussions and examples will be explored of possible applications in what are called the 'Invisible Structures', the social, cultural, political, and economic structures that shape much of our world today.

Subjects will include:

        Permaculture Ethics and Principles

        Pattern Literacy and Application (physical and invisible)

        Energy and Resource Management  

        Site Assessment,Sector Analysis and Zonation

        Water; Harvesting, Holding, and Recycling

        Soil, its health, building and restoration 

       Plants, Cropping, and Seed Saving

       Animal Systems

        Farm as Ecosystem

        Appropriate Technologies

        Climatic Strategies and Micro-climates

        Climate Change and Design for Catastrophe

        Natural Building, siting and orientation

        The Design Process

        Social Permaculture

        Urban Permaculture

        Permaculture in the Developing Countries

        Permaculture and Organizations

AND MORE!

This workshop will culminate with several groups doing real-life design projects that will be relevant to the site of the workshop.

This workshop will contribute to the enrichment of its site and each of its participants. With the goal of having half international students and half local students this workshop will not only be an opportunity to learn about Permaculture, it will also offer an opportunity to understand we can create a regenerative, sustainable world together.

The person attending the Permaculture Design Course will not only gain theoretical and practical knowledge on Permaculture at the end of the workshop but will be handed a Permaculture Design Course Certificate. This certificate will enable the participant to be a certified Permaculture Practitioner.

Richard Rico Zook

Permaculture Designer, Consultant and Educator

www.i-permaculture.org 

Rico brings over four decades of experience in nature to his work. As well as creating and working with a wide variety of land-based systems in all types of climatic environments, for the past 24 years he has been a Permaculture designer, consultant and educator working with farmers, villagers, private individuals, and local organizations in India, Cambodia, Spain, USA, the mid-east and other parts of the world. This work focuses on assisting all levels of our global community to create culturally and environmentally appropriate life systems that are resilient and regenerative.

With a degree in Environmental Studies focused on Land Restoration, minors in biology and philosophy, with years of homesteading in northern California and working in Yosemite Nat’l Park, Rico came to permaculture with almost all the elements, but no organizing structure or system. From 1996 to 2005 he was first co-director and crew foreman for the land restoration crew, then land manager at a wilderness community decimated by wildfire in the mountain wilderness of northern New Mexico. Guided and mentored by Ben Haggard (https://regenesisgroup.com/team), for ten years Rico did hands-on permaculture design and installation rebuilding a community and village from the ground up.

Over the years he has worked from the village level to the international. For the International Permaculture Convergence in India he organized, managed and taught the pre convergence PDC, with Robyn Francis and an Int’l instructor crew of of Jude Hobbs, Starhawk, Govinda Sharma and others; and the Teacher Training, with Jude Hobbs(https://cascadiapermaculture.com/).  Currently, when not developing his farm in Hawaii,  much of his work is assisting and mentoring his advanced students who are now working in permaculture and evolving as instructors. 

For more information about Rico and his work go to www.i-permaculture.org

Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna (DLR Prerna) www.darjeelingprerna.org FB: Darjeeling Prerna

DLR Prerna is a Darjeeling based NGO working in the Darjeeling Hills since 1996.

Vision Statement

Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna believes in a world that sees the need to live as one family where the environment is preserved and protected, where conscious efforts are made to remove unjust structures while striving to build a just and humane society.

Mission statement 

Our mission is to build sustainable human communities in the Darjeeling hills and the adjoining areas by promoting people's participation, gender equality and living in harmony with the environment. 

Darjeeling Prerna works towards having regenerative relationships with small farmers, forest villagers, tea plantations workers, CBOs, CSOs, Educational Institutions and NGOs in furthering the vision and mission of the organisation. We are a Darjeeling based organisation and our interventions are grounded in the specificities and long term lived experiences within the Darjeeling Himalaya. Our relationships extend across Sikkim as part of the Darjeeling Sikkim Himalaya. We bring these experiences to the larger discussion tables negotiating invisible systems that needs supportive policy environments. Darjeeling Prerna believes in a participatory, inclusive and environment friendly approach to development and is the organisational philosophy of good governance within and in all our interventions.

Current focal areas:

1.  Community conservation

We work with communities living next to forests especially protected areas in Darjeeling and Sikkim focussing on sustainable agro-ecology, and managing mountain human wildlife conflict and advocating for mountain human wildlife conflict policies. Agro-biodiversity conservation is an integral part of the intervention.

2. Climate resilient communities

We work with small farmers in Darjeeling and Sikkim evolving and promoting climate smart agriculture and agro-forestry. Promotion of diversity of local food cultures is a critical aspect of our climate resilience intervention and nutrition sensitive agro-ecology.

3. Community Health

We work with tea plantation workers, small farmers and educational institutions especially in rural Darjeeling.

a.    Water and Sanitation: Knowledge, institution and infrastructure strengthening to access clean and safe water for all. We are piloting bio-digesters; evapo-transpiration systems, grey water management systems as well as springshed recharge as part of our work. We promote sustainable menstrual health and hygiene. 

b.    School Health:

                      i.      Preventive health education inclusion in curriculum, screening and referrals in partnership with rural primary schools.

                    ii.        TeaLeaF: Teacher leading frontline addressing mental health and promoting mental wellbeing of rural children.

4. Zero Waste

We promote zero waste principles and practices as a member of Zero Waste Himalaya. We facilitate direct interventions in Darjeeling and Sikkim with local self-governance institutions, community-based institutions, government institutions and educational institutions. We share need for a change in narrative of waste to not producing waste, no-burn, demanding systemic and design changes across the Indian Himalayan Region through the Integrated Mountain Initiative. Zero Waste discussions include changing food choices and the need to go local and unpackaged.

5. Knowledge

Contextualised sustainability knowledge and practise within the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalaya that is evolved in partnership with small farmers, forest villagers, plantation workers and educational institutions.

Permaculture: DLR Prerna’s philosophy and practice has evolved with permaculture principles and ethics and is woven in our invisible and visible interventions. We have beenoffering the Permaculture Design Courses in the Darjeeling Hills with Rico Zook as the trainer since 2005. Shorter term courses for farmers, community leaders and teachers are being facilitated by the DLR Prerna team in the local language.

6. Platforms, Networks and Partnerships

We believe that our effectiveness, reach and impacts are made manifold through Platforms, Networks and Partnerships. Our intervention experiences are transferred to policy landscapes as well as bring solidarity across the Indian Himalayan Region through the Integrated Mountain Initiative a platform of elected, bureaucrats and civil societies advocating for mountain sensitive policies. Our waste interventions are taken forward under the Zero Waste Himalaya, a pan Himalayan platform of individuals and organisations promoting principles of zero waste.

** IMPORTANT NOTE **

Full Fee deposit is required to secure your spot in this course. Registration without deposit will only hold a spot in the course until we are filled. If you have not deposited the fee by this time your spot will be given to someone who does make the deposit.

International Candidates please contact Darjeeling Prerna for details.

CANCELLATION POLICY

This course is offered at the lowest possible pricing to make it accessible to as many people as possible. As such a late cancellation can have a significant impact on our budget. For this reason we have the following cancellation policy.

6 weeks or more notice: full refund minus 5% processing fee

4 to 6 weeks notice: refund minus 25%

2 to 4 weeks notice: refund minus 50%

2 weeks or less notice: refund minus 75%

KINDLY NOTE THAT WE WILL BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE COVID19 SITUATION.

WE WILL FOLLOW COVID19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

CANCELLATION IF NEEDED DUE TO COVID19 WILL BE CONSIDERED AND THE CANCELLATION POLICY WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE THEN AND WILL WORK ON FULL REFUND



 

Monday, January 29, 2018

Permaculture Design Course 2018, Darjeeling


PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE 
MINERAL SPRINGS, DARJEELING, INDIA
24 MARCH TO 8 APRIL 2018
THE COURSE FEES, INCLUSIVE OF TRAINING MATERIAL, FOOD AND LODGE:
INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATES RS. 39,000
INDIAN NATIONALS RESIDING OUTSIDE DARJEELING BUT WORKING IN INDIA RS. 31,000
DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR DARJEELING HILLS’ RESIDENTS. PLEASE CONTACT FOR DETAILS

TRAINING VENUE “MINERAL SPRINGS, DABAIPANI, DARJEELING”
MINERAL SPRINGS DABAIPANI IS AN INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC AREA AND FAIR-TRADE LABELED COLLECTIVE OF 456 SMALL FARMERS SINCE 2002. THE FARMERS HAVE COME UNDER THE MINERAL SPRING SANJUKTA VIKAS SANSTHA SINCE 1996. THE COLLECTIVE HAS BEEN MARKETING SMALL FARMERS ORGANIC TEA IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET, WHICH IS GROWN AS A POLYCULTURE CROP.

THE PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE HOME STAY ACCOMMODATIONS FACILITIES WITH THE MEMBERS OF MINERAL SPRING SANJUKTA VIKAS SANSTHA. LOCAL FOOD WILL BE PROMOTED DURING THE COURSE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS.
    TRAINERS: RICO ZOOK, I-PERMACULTURE GUEST INSTRUCTOR: MEMBERS OF DARJEELING PRERNA
FOR FURTHER DETAILS
DARJEELING LADENLA ROAD PRERNA
C/O HAYDEN HALL COMPLEX,
42 LADENLA ROAD,
DARJEELING 734 101,
WEST BENGAL, INDIA.
PHONE NUMBER 91 354 2255894
EMAIL: DARJEELINGPRERNA@GMAIL.COM

A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH IS REQUIRED BY THE PARTICIPANT. WE DO NOT LOOK FOR ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE COURSE, EXCEPT AN INTEREST TO BE PART OF A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE AND BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.
NB: **** DLR PRERNA AND RICO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADMIT CANDIDATES TO THE COURSE. CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR PARTICIPATION ON RECEIPT OF THE COMPLETELY FILLED APPLICATION FORM.

** IMPORTANT NOTE **
FULL FEE DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED TO SECURE YOUR SPOT IN THIS COURSE. REGISTRATION WITHOUT DEPOSIT WILL ONLY HOLD A SPOT IN THE COURSE UNTIL WE ARE FILLED. IF YOU HAVE NOT DEPOSITED THE FEE BY THIS TIME YOUR SPOT WILL BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE WHO DOES MAKE THE DEPOSIT.

FOREIGNERS PLEASE CONTACT DLR PRERNA FOR DETAILS.

CANCELLATION POLICY
THIS COURSE IS OFFERED AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICING TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. AS SUCH A LATE CANCELLATION CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET. FOR THIS REASON WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING CANCELLATION POLICY.

6 WEEKS OR MORE NOTICE: FULL REFUND MINUS 5% PROCESSING FEE
4 TO 6 WEEKS NOTICE: REFUND MINUS 25%
2 TO 4 WEEKS NOTICE: REFUND MINUS 50%

2 WEEKS OR LESS NOTICE: REFUND MINUS 75%

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE DESCRIPTION
PERMACULTURE IS A DESIGN SYSTEM TO CREATE REGENERATIVE, SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS. ENVISIONED OVER 25 YEARS AGO BY BILL MOLLISON AND DAN HOLMGREN, FROM AUSTRALIA, IT HAS NOW SPREAD TO OVER 120 COUNTRIES. THOUGH ITS CONCEPTION WAS AS A LAND BASED SYSTEM, ITS EFFECTIVENESS HAS MOVED IT INTO URBAN SETTINGS AND TO BEING APPLIED IN VARIOUS SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTS.

PERMACULTURE WAS CREATED THROUGH THE SYNTHESIS OF MANY DESIGN SYSTEMS, WITH THE EMPHASIS ON NATURE AS THE PENULTIMATE ONE. SIMILARLY, THE INSIGHTS AND VALUE OF TRADITIONAL AND INDIGENOUS PRACTICES AND KNOWLEDGE ARE ACKNOWLEDGED ALONG WITH THE NECESSITY OF MOLDING THESE WITH OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDINGS AND THE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES OF TODAY'S WORLD. WHAT PERMACULTURE SEEKS TO DO IS TO CREATE THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGNS THAT ARE SITE SPECIFIC AND SUSTAINABLE. BY BRINGING TOGETHER ELEMENTS (ORCHARD, WATER SYSTEM, FARMER, COW, ETC.), TECHNIQUES (ORGANIC FRAMING, NATURAL BUILDING, ETC.) AND STRATEGIES (MICROCLIMATE, RELATIVE PLACEMENT, ETC.) A SYSTEM IS DESIGNED OR ALTERED BASED ON REGENERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS. IT IS THESE REGENERATIVE, BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT GIVE A SYSTEM COMPLEXITY, THREE DIMENSIONALITY, AND THUS, RESILIENCY.

THE WORLD CAN BE LOOKED AT AS THE CONVERGENCE OF MANY DIFFERENT FLOWS. FROM ‘NATURAL’ (WIND, WATER, SOIL, ETC.) TO HUMAN (SOCIAL, RESOURCES, TRANSPORTATION, ETC.) TO INVISIBLE (ECONOMIC, INFORMATION, ETC.) WHICH INTERACT AND CREATE PATTERNS. THESE FLOWS FORM OUR WORLD. RECOGNIZING THIS, PERMACULTURE TEACHES PATTERN LITERACY AND PATTERN APPLICATION. THIS, ALONG WITH SECTOR ANALYSIS (SITE SPECIFIC FLOW MAPPING), ZONATION (A TOOL FOR STRUCTURING TIME) AND OTHER TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS, PERMACULTURE FOCUSES ON CREATING REGENERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE THE KEY TO RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS.

FROM ITS INCEPTION PERMACULTURE HAS QUICKLY SPREAD TO OVER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY COUNTRIES WHERE FARMS AND OTHER SITES ARE SUCCESSFULLY APPLYING ITS' IDEAS, TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES. AS FURTHER TESTAMENT TO ITS APPLICABILITY, PERMACULTURE IS NOW BEING APPLIED IN MANY URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS. IN MANY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES THESE APPLICATIONS HOLD MUCH PROMISE FOR DEALING WITH THE MANY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH MASS POPULATIONS.

PERMACULTURE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN MOVING INTO THE INVISIBLE STRUCTURES. IN THE UNITED STATES A PERMACULTURE CREDIT UNION HAS BEEN FORMED AND 'GREEN' INVESTMENT FIRMS ARE USING PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLES AND IDEAS TO CREATE RESILIENT, SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT SYSTEMS. ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND SOCIAL ACTIVISTS ARE USING PERMACULTURE TO GIVE DEPTH AND COMPLEXITY TO THEIR APPROACHES TO MANY ISSUES WE ARE DEALING WITH TODAY. THESE APPLICATIONS ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE PERMACULTURE IS A DESIGN SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON RELATIONSHIP AND NOT SO MUCH ON OBJECT.

PERMACULTURE IS A MULTI-FACETED, IN DEPTH DESIGN SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP US CREATE APPROPRIATE, SITE-SPECIFIC DESIGNS THAT ARE BOTH SUSTAINABLE AND REGENERATIVE.

PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLES ARE A LIST OF ATTITUDES, APPROACHES, AND ACTIONS THAT ARE PRACTICAL AND NOT SYSTEM SPECIFIC. THESE ALONG WITH CERTAIN TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES ALLOW FOR A HOLISTIC APPROACH AND INTERACTION WITH ANY TYPE OF SYSTEM. AS A TOOL OF ANALYSIS IT IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO LOOK AT EXISTING PROGRAMS, STRATEGIES, AND INTERVENTIONS TO ASSESS THEIR INTERACTIONS, LINKAGES, AND SUCCESS'. IT IS A WAY TO REACH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIOUS INFLUENCES AND FLOWS INVOLVED IN A SYSTEM, BE IT SELF HELP GROUPS, VILLAGE, OR ORGANIZATION. SECOND, IT PROVIDES INSIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES BY WHICH TO INTERVENE OR INTERACT WITH A SYSTEM. AS THERE IS NEITHER A TRULY INDEPENDENT SYSTEM, NOR STERILE 'ENVIRONMENT' THIS ASPECT IS OF SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE. THIRDLY, AS WE HAVE ALREADY STATED, PERMACULTURE IS AN EXCELLENT APPROACH FOR DESIGNING RESILIENT, SITE-SPECIFIC SYSTEMS, BE IT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, HIV/AIDS, OR WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT PERMACULTURE IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT GIVING YOU NEW AND IMPROVED IDEAS, TECHNIQUES, AND STRATEGIES, THOUGH THERE IS SOME OF THAT. WHAT PERMACULTURE DOES IS ALLOW FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION AT HAND AND, WITH ITS PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES, A MORE HOLISTIC, EFFECTIVE WAY TO INTERACT WITH OR DESIGN A SYSTEM.  WHAT PERMACULTURE OFFERS ARE SKILLS AND PRINCIPLES BY WHICH WE BUILD OUR AWARENESS OF WHY OR WHY NOT SOMETHING WAS SUCCESSFUL. THROUGH THIS INSIGHT WE CAN BUILD ON WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL AND MODIFY OTHERS TO BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL.

STEPPING UP ANOTHER LEVEL, PERMACULTURE IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO WEAVE TOGETHER THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF AN ORGANIZATION SO THAT A UNITY AND SYNERGY CAN BE CREATED. IN THIS WAY UNFORESEEN BENEFITS AND EASE WILL RAISE WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

THIS WORKSHOP WILL PRESENT PERMACULTURE WITH ALL OF THESE APPLICATIONS IN MIND. WE WILL FOCUS ON LAND SYSTEMS WITH AS MUCH HANDS ON WORK AND EXAMPLES AS POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION, MANY DISCUSSIONS AND EXAMPLES WILL BE EXPLORED OF POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS IN WHAT ARE CALLED THE 'INVISIBLE STRUCTURES', THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES THAT SHAPE MUCH OF OUR WORLD TODAY.

SUBJECTS WILL INCLUDE:
        PERMACULTURE ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES
        PATTERN LITERACY AND APPLICATION (PHYSICAL AND INVISIBLE)
        ENERGY AND FLOWS          
        SECTOR ANALYSIS AND ZONATION
        WATER; HARVESTING, HOLDING, AND RECYCLING
        SOIL, PLANTS, AND ENVIRONMENTS
        AGRICULTURE; FROM YOUR DOORSTEP TO THE WORLD
        BUILDINGS
        THE DESIGN PROCESS
        URBAN PERMACULTURE
        PERMACULTURE IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
        PERMACULTURE AND ORGANIZATIONS

THIS WORKSHOP WILL CULMINATE WITH SEVERAL GROUPS DOING A REAL LIFE DESIGN PROJECTS THAT WILL BE RELEVANT TO THE SITE OF THE WORKSHOP. NOT ONLY WILL THE TEACHING BE ABOUT PERMACULTURE, BUT IT WILL ALSO MODEL IT BY ITS STRUCTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT WE CREATE TOGETHER IN THE COURSE.

THIS WORKSHOP WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE ENRICHMENT OF ITS SITE AND EACH OF ITS PARTICIPANTS. WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING HALF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND HALF LOCAL STUDENTS THIS WORKSHOP WILL NOT ONLY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT PERMACULTURE, IT WILL ALSO OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WE CAN CREATE A REGENERATIVE, SUSTAINABLE WORLD TOGETHER.

THE PERSON ATTENDING THE PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE WILL NOT ONLY GAIN THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE ON PERMACULTURE AT THE END OF THE WORKSHOP BUT WILL BE HANDED A PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE CERTIFICATE. THIS CERTIFICATE WILL ENABLE THE PARTICIPANT TO BE A CERTIFIED PERMACULTURE PRACTITIONER. THIS COURSE HAS BEEN SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE MANY ENTHUSIASTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO INVEST TWO WEEKS AT ONE GO IN THE EAST NEPAL AND DARJEELING AND SIKKIM HIMALAYAS TO GET CERTIFIED.

INSTRUCTOR: RICHARD RICO ZOOK, I-PERMACULTURE
PERMACULTURE DESIGNER, CONSULTANT AND EDUCATOR

RICHARD RICO ZOOK IS A PERMACULTURE DESIGNER, CONSULTANT AND INSTRUCTOR.  HE WORKS WITH PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, FARMERS, VILLAGERS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LIFE SYSTEMS IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, INDIA, CAMBODIA, AND PLACES IN BETWEEN.  MR. ZOOK'S WORK FOCUSES ON ASSISTING LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS CULTURES TO PRESERVE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGIES WHILE ADAPTING TO AND BECOMING ACTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR RAPIDLY GLOBALIZING WORLD.  RICO IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE GROUNDBREAKING FIRM PERMACULTURE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, A FULL SERVICE, HIGH QUALITY DESIGN AND BUILD FIRM SPECIALIZING IN ECOLOGICAL DESIGN FOR FARM, RANCH, HOMESTEAD, BUSINESS, COMMUNITY, DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZATION.

RICO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE 13TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL PERMACULTURE CONFERENCE AND CONVERGENCE IS HAPPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN INDIA, NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 2, 2017. HE WAS PART OF A TEAM THAT TAUGHT THE TEACHERS TRAINING AND EXTENDED PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE PRIOR TO THE CONFERENCE AND CONVERGENCE. 

IN INDIA, MANY OF THE PROJECTS HE IS INVOLVED IN ARE BASED OUT OF DARJEELING, WEST BENGAL, WHICH IS HIS HOME FOR PART OF THE YEAR.  THESE INCLUDE A BIO-CONSERVATION PROJECT UTILIZING A PARTICIPATORY MODEL, DLR PRERNA (A LOCAL NGO) AND MR. ZOOK ARE TRAINING FIVE FOREST VILLAGES IN PERMACULTURE AND WORKING WITH THEM TO INTERNALIZE AND CYCLE THEIR RESOURCE NEEDS, THUS MINIMIZING THEIR IMPACTS ON THE CRITICAL BIO-CORRIDOR IN WHICH THE VILLAGES ARE LOCATED. A TEAM HEADED BY ANUGYALAYA (ANOTHER LOCAL NGO), AND INCLUDING PRERNA, THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE AND MR. ZOOK, HAVE INITIATED THE DESIGN PROCESS ON A 16 ACRE PERMACULTURE DEMONSTRATION AND EDUCATION SITE.  THIS PROCESS AND THE DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE FOR SEVERAL LOCAL, LONG-TERM STUDENTS OF MR. ZOOK.  

IN SOUTH INDIA MR. ZOOK WORKS WITH SEVERAL PRIVATE CLIENTS WHOSE PROJECTS INCLUDE A UNIVERSITY, A HEALING CENTRE, A CHILDREN'S CAMP, AND ASSISTING LOCAL FARMERS AND TRIBALS CONVERT TO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.  PAST PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED WETLANDS CONSTRUCTION FOR WILDLIFE, A CHILDREN'S SCHOOL, AND MANY PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS ON FARMS AND HOMESTEADS.  AN ONGOING FOCUS IS THE CONVERSION OF A TRADITIONAL FAMILY FARM INTO A MODEL OF SUSTAINABILITY AND PERMACULTURE.  LOCATED 15KM SOUTH OF UDIPI IN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA PUNARVASU FARM ANNUALLY HOSTS SEVERAL WORK WEEKS FOR FOREIGNERS AND INDIANS WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING AND CULTURAL IMMERSION.

IN CAMBODIA MR. ZOOK IS BUILDING A NETWORK OF PROJECTS AND ASSOCIATIONS WITH NGO’S SIMILAR TO THAT IN INDIA.  HE ALSO CONDUCTS SEVERAL TRAININGS FOR KHMER FARMERS, AS WELL AS ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERAL DEMONSTRATION SITES.  THIS PAST YEAR HE TRAINED A GROUP OF TEACHERS FROM THE TEACHER’S COLLEGE IN SIEM REAP, AND IS WORKING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP A CURRICULUM THAT WILL BECOME PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM THAT IS PART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL’S CURRICULUM.

IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO (USA) MR. ZOOK IS WORKING WITH THE HANUMAN TEMPLE IN CREATING A 5 ACRE URBAN PERMACULTURE FARM.  HE IS ALSO WORKING WITH THE SAN CRISTOBAL YOUTH RANCH IN CONVERTING TO A HOLISTIC RANCH MODEL, AS WELL AS INTERACTING WITH YOUTH CAMPERS IN EDUCATING THEM WITH HANDS-ON APPLIED PERMACULTURE TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES.  AT TIMES HE PROVIDES CONSULTATIONS TO PRIVATE CLIENTS. 

EVERY YEAR MR. ZOOK VISITS NEW SITES, MEETS NEW NGO’S, AND TEACHES NUMEROUS COURSES, FROM 1 DAY INTRODUCTIONS TO 2 WEEK DESIGN COURSES WITH CERTIFICATION, FOR FARMERS, VILLAGERS, NGO WORKERS, AND FOREIGNERS.  THE DARJEELING PDC IS THE LONGEST RUNNING COURSE OF THIS TYPE IN INDIA.  HE IS ALWAYS OPEN TO INQUIRIES AND REQUESTS.  HE ALSO ACCEPTS QUALIFIED APPRENTICES.
           
IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS, MR. ZOOK HAS SPENT MORE THAN 25 YEARS LIVING IN NATURE, INCLUDING LONG-TERM RESIDENCIES IN CALIFORNIA’S YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, THE DEMANDING SANGRIA DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, AND AS A HOMESTEADER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AS LAND MANAGER FOR THE LAMA FOUNDATION, A SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY AND RETREAT CENTER NORTH OF TAOS, NM, MR. ZOOK DESIGNED AND TRANSFORMED THE RUGGED, SEMIARID HIGH-ALTITUDE SITE THAT HAD BEEN DECIMATED BY WILDFIRE INTO ONE OF BEAUTY AND PRODUCTIVITY. USING PERMACULTURE PRACTICES AND A LIFETIME OF OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND HOW TO CREATE HUMAN HARMONY WITH IT, HE HAS BUILT A VISIBLE AND SUCCESSFUL PERMACULTURE DEMONSTRATION AND TEACHING SITE. IT IS A MODEL OF DESIGN INTEGRATING THE NEEDS, RESOURCES AND YIELDS OF COMMUNITY AND NATURE IN PROACTIVE AND ABUNDANT WAYS WITH RESPECTFUL AND RESTORATIVE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

MR. ZOOK IS A GRADUATE OF SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, FROM WHICH HE HOLDS A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES FOCUSED ON LAND RESTORATION, WITH MINORS IN BIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MR. ZOOK AND HIS WORK GO TO I-PERMACULTURE.ORG

PDC HOST: DARJEELING LADENLA ROAD PRERNA (DLR PRERNA) DARJEELING PRERNA FB:DARJEELING-PRERNA

DLR PRERNA IS A DARJEELING BASED NGO WORKING IN THE DARJEELING HIMALAYA SINCE 1996.

Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna believes in a world that sees the need to live as one family where the environment is preserved and protected, where conscious efforts are made to remove unjust structures while striving to build a just and humane society. Our mission is to build sustainable human communities in the Darjeeling hills and the adjoining areas by promoting peoples participation, gender equality and living in harmony with the environment.

DLR Prerna is pioneering Permaculture Design Courses in the Darjeeling Hills, offering certified basic course with Mr. Richard Zook as the trainer since 2005. Shorter term courses for farmers are being facilitated by Rico and the DLR Prerna team in the local language. We have have been incorporating permaculture in all our initiatives. 


DLR Prerna has partnered with the communites of Harsing Dabaipani and Yangkhoo Busties(Villages), Darjeeling resulting in the formation of Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha (MSSVS) with 450 families as members in 1996. It is the first certified organic small farmers in Darjeeling, undertaking poly-culture farming and selling tea as Mineral Springs Tea in the international fair trade market. For this experience MSSVS and DLR Prerna is mentioned in the World Resources 2005.


Sailesh, a member of DLR Prerna are accredited organic certifying inspectors with Institute of Market Ecology India specializing on small farmers and is the key person for the PDC, Darjeeling. He has facilitated capacity building initiatives with farmers on sustainable agro-ecology in Darjeeling, Sikkim and Nepal since 2008 and has off late working on climate smart agriculture. He also works on community based conservation with communities of Darjeeling and Sikkim, especially communities living in close proximity of protected forests.   

DLR Prerna partners forest fringe communities especially communities in close proximity of protected forests promoting community based conservation. There is a special emphasis in managing human wildlife conflict.  We also partner communities living in tea plantations to address issues of water access and sanitation through knowledge management and infrastructure development. We have been partnering communities to evolve climate smart agriculture in Darjeeling and Sikkim. 


We promote zero waste principles and sustainable lifestyles as a member of Zero Waste Himalaya a pan Himalayan platform. Sustainable mountain policies in India are advocated as a member of the Darjeeling Himalayan Initiative and Integrated Mountain Initiative. We partner with academia on critical research in the region like transboundary landscapes, water, waste and lives of marginal mountain communities. 

Friday, July 1, 2016

International Plastic Bag Free Day 3 July 2016

All we need to do is to CARRY OUR OWN BAG, to make Darjeeling Hills Plastic Bag Free as part of the global challenge International Plastic Bag Free Day, 3 July (www.plasticbagfreeday.org). 

This global challenge is pertinent to us too, "In India 4 million tonnes of plastic is used annually; with plastic or polythene bags being a major part. The toxic constituents and non-biodegradable nature of plastic bags make it visibly one of the most serious concerns for the environment." (http://toxicslink.org). In India, approximately 12 million tonnes of plastic products are consumed every year, according to trade bodies. Nearly 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated per day in the country of which 6,000 tonnes does not even get collected.(Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (Environment Ministry)).

​Plastic bags in most instances are a single use product with an extremely short usage time. Internationally, on an average a plastic bag is used for just 25 minutes. Their flimsy nature, lack of segregation and storage at source and physical characteristics make it the least collected waste by the informal recycling industry in India. It ends up contaminating water and soil, the air when it burns, thus affecting our health. It also contributes to landslides.

“There are some environmental problems that are hard to solve, that involve complex economic and social trade offs. The problem of disposable plastic bags is not one of these. It’s simple – just get rid of them. We don’t need them and they aren’t worth the massive problems they cause. There are easy replacements that are better for public health, the environment and the economy.” Annie Leonard The Story of Stuffwww.storyofstuff.org

Darjeeling has in the past banned plastic bags. “The lesson learnt from it is that 'Ban' is just one part of the larger solution and in isolation is not as effective as it was thought to be. A congruence of community awareness and initiatives makes the ban successful as has been the experience in Darjeeling, Sikkim and Delhi. "Plastic ban - Who Cares New Delhi, 23 December 2014”. (http://toxicslink.org). 


Post ban has seen a bigger threat that comes from non-woven PP (polypropelene) bags, that have flooded the market. These bags are essentially plastic bags, even though they look like cloth bags. They have the same ill-effects as the other plastic bags. The Delhi High Court's Judgment delivered on: 28.08.2009 is explicit " non-woven bags comprise of 98.3% polypropylene. Therefore, the conclusion is simple that the end product is nothing but plastic. Since the products manufactured by the petitioner are admittedly bags, they would fall within the expression “plastic bags”."

On the occasion of International Plastic Bag Free we look forward for your commitment and stewardship in the movement to make Darjeeling Hills, plastic bag free. 

Take the lead and share more details from our social media posts: https://www.facebook.com/Darjeeling-Prerna

The movement is being taken forward under the banner of Zero Waste Himalaya, a platform of individuals, Government Organisations, Non-Government Organisations, Faith Based Organisations promoting zero waste principles of waste management in Bhutan, India and Nepal. In Darjeeling Hills the organisations involved are DLR Prerna, WWF India, ATREE, FTF - Mirik, NEPA, Mirik. The group has actively worked with local self government institutions, community groups, educational institutions, faith based organisations and media in promoting zero waste practices in the transboundary landscape.


Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Permaculture Design Course 2018

Permaculture Design Course in the Darjeeling Hills
Mineral Springs, Darjeeling

24 March to 8 April 2018

The course fees, inclusive of training material, food and lodge:
International Candidates Rs. 39,000
Indian Nationals residing outside Darjeeling but working in India Rs. 31,000
Discounts available for Darjeeling hills’ residents. Please contact for details

Training venue “Mineral Springs, Dabaipani, Darjeeling”

Mineral Springs Dabaipani is an internationally certified organic area and fair-trade labeled collective of 456 small farmers since 2002. The farmers have come under the Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha since 1996. The collective has been marketing small farmers organic tea in the international market, which is grown as a polyculture crop.

The participants will have home stay accommodations facilities with the members of Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha. Local food will be promoted during the course for the participants.

Trainers: Rico Zook ( www.i-permaculture.org) Guest Instructor: members of DLR Prerna.

For further details

Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna
c/o Hayden Hall Complex,
42 Ladenla Road,
Darjeeling 734 101,
West Bengal, India.
Phone Number 91 354 2255894
email: darjeelingprerna@gmail.com, dlrprerna@yahoo.com

A working knowledge of English is required by the participant. We do not look for academic qualifications for the course, except an interest to be part of a sustainable lifestyle and be the change you want to see in the world.

NB: **** DLR Prerna and Rico reserves the right to admit candidates to the course. Candidates will be notified of their participation on receipt of the completely filled application form.

** IMPORTANT NOTE **
Full Fee deposit is required to secure your spot in this course. Registration without deposit will only hold a spot in the course until we are filled. If you have not deposited the fee by this time your spot will be given to someone who does make the deposit.

Foreigners please contact Prerna for details.

CANCELLATION POLICY
This course is offered at the lowest possible pricing to make it accessible to as many people as possible. As such a late cancellation can have a significant impact on our budget. For this reason we have the following cancellation policy.

6 weeks or more notice: full refund minus 5% processing fee
4 to 6 weeks notice: refund minus 25%
2 to 4 weeks notice: refund minus 50%
2 weeks or less notice: refund minus 75%

Permaculture Design Course Description

Permaculture is a design system to create regenerative, sustainable systems. Envisioned over 25 years ago by Bill Mollison and Dan Holmgren, from Australia, it has now spread to over 120 countries. Though its conception was as a land based system, its effectiveness has moved it into urban settings and to being applied in various social, political, and economic environments.

Permaculture was created through the synthesis of many design systems, with the emphasis on nature as the penultimate one. Similarly, the insights and value of traditional and indigenous practices and knowledge are acknowledged along with the necessity of molding these with our current understandings and the appropriate technologies of today's world. What Permaculture seeks to do is to create three-dimensional designs that are site specific and sustainable. By bringing together elements (orchard, water system, farmer, cow, etc.), techniques (organic framing, natural building, etc.) and strategies (microclimate, relative placement, etc.) a system is designed or altered based on regenerative relationships. It is these regenerative, beneficial relationships that give a system complexity, three dimensionality, and thus, resiliency.

The world can be looked at as the convergence of many different flows. From ‘natural’ (wind, water, soil, etc.) to human (social, resources, transportation, etc.) to invisible (economic, information, etc.) which interact and create patterns. These flows form our world. Recognizing this, Permaculture teaches Pattern Literacy and Pattern Application. This, along with Sector Analysis (site specific flow mapping), Zonation (a tool for structuring time) and other techniques and tools, Permaculture focuses on creating regenerative relationships that are the key to resilient, sustainable systems.

From its inception Permaculture has quickly spread to over One hundred and twenty countries where farms and other sites are successfully applying its' ideas, techniques and strategies. As further testament to its applicability, Permaculture is now being applied in many urban and suburban areas. In many developed countries these applications hold much promise for dealing with the many issues associated with mass populations.

Permaculture in the last few years has been moving into the invisible structures. In the United States a Permaculture credit union has been formed and 'green' investment firms are using Permaculture principles and ideas to create resilient, sustainable investment systems. Environmentalists and social activists are using Permaculture to give depth and complexity to their approaches to many issues we are dealing with today. These applications are possible because Permaculture is a design system that focuses on relationship and not so much on object.

Permaculture is a multi-faceted, in depth design system that will help us create appropriate, site-specific designs that are both sustainable and regenerative.

Permaculture principles are a list of attitudes, approaches, and actions that are practical and not system specific. These along with certain tools and techniques allow for a holistic approach and interaction with any type of system. As a tool of analysis it is an excellent way to look at existing programs, strategies, and interventions to assess their interactions, linkages, and success'. It is a way to reach an understanding of the various influences and flows involved in a system, be it self help groups, village, or organization. Second, it provides insights and principles by which to intervene or interact with a system. As there is neither a truly independent system, nor sterile 'environment' this aspect is of significant importance. Thirdly, as we have already stated, Permaculture is an excellent approach for designing resilient, site-specific systems, be it disaster preparedness, HIV/AIDS, or women's empowerment.

It is important to understand that Permaculture is not so much about giving you new and improved ideas, techniques, and strategies, though there is some of that. What Permaculture does is allow for a deeper understanding of the situation at hand and, with its principles and strategies, a more holistic, effective way to interact with or design a system.  What Permaculture offers are skills and principles by which we build our awareness of why or why not something was successful. Through this insight we can build on what is successful and modify others to become more successful.

Stepping up another level, Permaculture is an excellent way to weave together the different parts of an organization so that a unity and synergy can be created. In this way unforeseen benefits and ease will raise within the system.

This workshop will present Permaculture with all of these applications in mind. We will focus on land systems with as much hands on work and examples as possible. In addition, many discussions and examples will be explored of possible applications in what are called the 'Invisible Structures', the social, cultural, political, and economic structures that shape much of our world today.

Subjects will include:
        Permaculture Ethics and Principles
        Pattern Literacy and Application (physical and invisible)
        Energy and Flows          
        Sector Analysis and Zonation
        Water; Harvesting, Holding, and Recycling
        Soil, Plants, and Environments
        Agriculture; From Your Doorstep to the World
        Buildings
        The Design Process
        Urban Permaculture
        Permaculture in the Developing Countries
        Permaculture and Organizations

This workshop will culminate with several groups doing a real life design projects that will be relevant to the site of the workshop. Not only will the teaching be about Permaculture, but it will also model it by its structure and the environment we create together in the course.

This workshop will contribute to the enrichment of its site and each of its participants. With the goal of having half international students and half local students this workshop will not only be an opportunity to learn about Permaculture, it will also offer an opportunity to understand we can create a regenerative, sustainable world together.

The person attending the Permaculture Design Course will not only gain theoretical and practical knowledge on Permaculture at the end of the workshop but will be handed a Permaculture Design Course Certificate. This certificate will enable the participant to be a certified Permaculture Practitioner. This course has been specially designed for the many enthusiasts who are unable to invest two weeks at one go in the East Nepal and Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas to get certified.
  
Richard Rico Zook
Permaculture Designer, Consultant and Educator

Richard Rico Zook is a Permaculture designer, consultant and instructor.  He works with private individuals, farmers, villagers and local organizations to create cultural and environmentally appropriate life systems in northern New Mexico, India, Cambodia, and places in between.  Mr. Zook's work focuses on assisting local and indigenous cultures to preserve traditional knowledge and technologies while adapting to and becoming active members of our rapidly globalizing world.  Currently (2011) his year is divided into 6 months in India, 2 months in Cambodia, 3 months in the states, and 1 month in a different place each year.

In India, many of the projects he is involved in are based out of Darjeeling, West Bengal, which is his home for part of the year.  These include a bio-conservation project funded by the Critical Ecosystem Protection Fund (CEPF).  Utilizing a participatory model, DLR Prerna (a local NGO) and Mr. Zook are training five forest villages in permaculture and working with them to internalize and cycle their resource needs, thus minimizing their impacts on the critical bio-corridor in which the villages are located. A team headed by Anugyalaya (another local NGO), and including Prerna, the Catholic Diocese and Mr. Zook, have initiated the design process on a 16 acre Permaculture demonstration and education site.  This process and the design implementation will be a hands-on experience for several local, long-term students of Mr. Zook.  Other projects in the planning stages include: tea worker trainings in Permaculture for improved quality of life (e.g. water processing and cycling for health, home gardens, humanure, etc.); and conversion of a working tea estate to a socially just and environmentally appropriate model.

In south India Mr. Zook works with several private clients whose projects include a university, a healing centre, a children's camp, and assisting local farmers and tribals convert to organic agriculture.  Past projects have included wetlands construction for wildlife, a children's school, and many private consultations on farms and homesteads.  An ongoing focus is the conversion of a traditional family farm into a model of sustainability and Permaculture.  Located 15km south of Udipi in the state of Karnataka Punarvasu Farm annually hosts several work weeks for foreigners and Indians with hands-on learning and cultural immersion.

In Cambodia Mr. Zook is building a network of projects and associations with NGO’s similar to that in India.  He also conducts several trainings for Khmer farmers, as well as assisting in the development of several demonstration sites.  This past year he trained a group of teachers from the Teacher’s College in Siem Reap, and is working with them to develop a curriculum that will become part of the government’s Life Skills Program that is part of the public school’s curriculum.
In Taos, New Mexico (USA) Mr. Zook is working with the Hanuman Temple in creating a 5 acre urban Permaculture farm.  He is also working with the San Cristobal Youth Ranch in converting to a holistic ranch model, as well as interacting with youth campers in educating them with hands-on applied Permaculture techniques and strategies.  At times he provides consultations to private clients. 

Every year Mr. Zook visits new sites, meets new NGO’s, and teaches numerous courses, from 1 day introductions to 2 week design courses with certification, for farmers, villagers, NGO workers, and foreigners.  This year will be the 7th annual Permaculture Design Course in Darjeeling, the longest running course of this type in India.  He is always open to inquiries and requests.  He also accepts qualified apprentices.
           
In addition to academic and professional credentials, Mr. Zook has spent more than 25 years living in nature, including long-term residencies in California’s Yosemite National Park, the demanding Sangria de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico, and as a homesteader in Northern California wilderness. For more than a decade as Land Manager for the Lama Foundation, a spiritual community and retreat center North of Taos, NM, Mr. Zook designed and transformed the rugged, semiarid high-altitude site that had been decimated by wildfire into one of beauty and productivity. Using permaculture practices and a lifetime of observation and interpretation of the natural world and how to create human harmony with it, he has built a visible and successful permaculture demonstration and teaching site. It is a model of design integrating the needs, resources and yields of community and nature in proactive and abundant ways with respectful and restorative impacts on the environment.

Mr. Zook is a graduate of Sonoma State University, from which he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies focused on land restoration, with minors in Biology and Philosophy.

For more information about Mr. Zook and his work go to www.i-permaculture.org

Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna (DLR Prerna) : 2015

DLR Prerna is a Darjeeling based NGO working in the Darjeeling Hills since 1996.
Vision Statement
Darjeeling Ladenla Road Prerna believes in a world that sees the need to live as one family where the environment is preserved and protected, where conscious efforts are made to remove unjust structures while striving to build a just and humane society.
Mission statement
Our mission is to build sustainable human communities in the Darjeeling hills and the adjoining areas by promoting peoples participation, gender equality and living in harmony with the environment.

DLR Prerna has undertaken community development of Harsing Dabaipani and Yangkhoo Busties(Villages), Darjeeling. Mineral Spring Sanjukta Vikas Sanstha (MSSVS) has been established by the communities with 440 families as members in 1996. It is the first certified organic small farmers in Darjeeling, undertaking poly-culture farming and selling tea as Mineral Springs Tea in the international fair trade market. For this experience MSSVS and DLR Prerna is mentioned in the World Resources 2005.

A member of DLR Prerna are accredited organic certifying inspectors with Institute of Market Ecology India specializing on small farmers. 

DLR Prerna has conducted and been part of researches with specific references to the issues of the Darjeeling Hills including the Area and Issue Profile of Darjeeling and Sikkim and Village Level Planning on Developing a Transboundary Conservation Landscape in the Kangchenjunga Complex – Senchel & Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuaries.

DLR Prerna has also managed and implemented all the programmes of Anugyalaya DDSSS from 2001 primarily focusing on small farmers organics and community based disaster preparedness. In 2006 November DLR Prerna phased over Anugyalaya DDSSS as we feel the capacity of the organization has been enhanced to manage her own programme. 

DLR Prerna has been instrumental in community and student campaigns like:
• Clean and Green Darjeeling
• Campaign for the judicious use of plastics
• Clean Darjeeling Clean River Rungeet – focus on Solid Waste Management with the Darjeeling Municipality 

DLR Prerna has been a founder member of the Darjeeling NGO Network, a network of 14 NGOs in the Darjeeling Hills who come together to share expertise and resources and have in the recent times undertaken the campaign, ‘Conserve Water Reduce Your Waste’. 

Since 2008,  DLR Prerna has initiated a community-based sustainable livelihoods option conservation efforts with 5 villages in the fringes of the Singalila National Park, Darjeeling. In 2011 taking the community conservation efforts forward, DLR Prerna is engaging with the Forest Villages, looking at
human wildlife conflict management.  

DLR Prerna is pioneering Permaculture Design Courses in the Darjeeling Hills, offering certified basic course with Mr. Richard Zook as the trainer since 2005. Shorter term courses for farmers are being facilitated by Rico and the DLR Prerna team in the local language.

DLR Prerna is the secretariat of Darjeeling Himalayan Initiative, an advocacy and lobby group linked with the Integrated Mountain Initiative for mountain specific policies.