Organic garden, agroecology and permaculture training
listening to Gaia
Listening to Gaïa is a cycle of training courses in organic gardening and permaculture, with the transmission of practical knowledge. This series of internships focuses on permaculture applied to the plant world, to humans, to agroecology, and to empowerment (food, energy, health, etc.).
This cycle revolves around strong values and ideas: respect for Nature, conscience, transparency, listening, benevolence, individual and collective actions and responsibilities, peace, positive construction.
Who are these training courses in organic gardening for?
people living in cities and wanting to understand nature
beginners and experienced gardeners
members of collectives and individual enthusiasts
private gardeners and agricultural professionals
It is addressed to all those who wish to experience permaculture applied to both gardening and agriculture, to humans, and to the regeneration of Nature, following the rhythm of the seasons.
Many of the people who have followed this cycle in previous years have become professionals in the world of landscape, and have gained confidence and serenity regarding their future. These are not diploma or qualifying training courses.
The presence of children is possible and free.
Who leads these organic garden training courses?
The sessions are moderated by Mike Metz, certified and graduated in permaculture.
After 25 years of analyzing primary societies and human groups, Mike considers permaculture to be a coherent whole, a philosophy of life. It is an architectural approach, to design viable and resilient human ecosystems, drawing inspiration from the way Nature works, and using a set of techniques and tools that interact effectively.
The overall idea is to change the mode of reasoning and mode of action, for those who want it.
This implies open governance, and the principles of popular education.
When do these trainings in practical agroecology take place?
Here is the 2021 provisional calendar, to be adjusted according to the weather conditions and the participants:
Saturday April 24, 2021 : initiation into the cycle of the seasons, understanding the Earth, knowing the soil, early sowing, soil protection
Saturday May 1 : trees, late sowing and planting, designing a productive garden, taking care of the group
Saturday May 15 : the vegetable garden, planting in the vegetable garden, designing and building rich and productive planters
Saturday May 29 : water or irrigate, take care of the soil with natural products, soil biology
Saturday June 12 : designing your life and supporting collective projects with permaculture
Saturday June 26 : first harvest: how to harvest, where to store, composts, listening to the trees
Saturday July 3 : manage the water, staged vegetation, the forest-garden
Saturday August 7 : harvest management, conservation
Saturday August 21 : drying, bagging, production peaks, self-care
Saturday, September 4 : balances, selling your productions, review of the season
How much does it cost to learn the organic garden?
Participation is free and in conscience, with a minimum requested of 60 euros per person per day. As an indication: in general a day of training in this field costs between 100 and 150 euros to each participant.
A minimum of 5 or 6 people per session day is necessary for the overall balance of activity and training.
Where do these permaculture trainings take place?
This cycle takes place at the Lilas micro-farm, in Longvilliers (in Yvelines), in the heart of the Regional Natural Park of the Chevreuse valley.
The Lilas micro-farm is an autonomous place, off the grid (no running water, no electricity from the network): it is equipped with an autonomous filtered water system, and electricity by solar panels.
Accessible by car or public transport (Dourdan RER station about 1h30 walk or 30 minutes by bike, Albatrans 91-03 bus from Massy-Palaiseau station, Plessis-Mornay stop, 20 minutes walk).
Car pooling can be organized if the participants so wish.
Organization of training days in organic gardens
Schedule :
Arrival at 8:30 am
Beginning of the course: 9h
Meal break: around noon or 1 p.m.
End of the course: 5 p.m.
Each day can be followed independently of the other days.
How are the meals going?
The midday break lasts about an hour.
Meals are collective. They are prepared by each participant, in advance. There is no kitchen on site. A solar oven can be used, if the sunshine conditions allow it, in the respect of the equipment and the places.
Terms & Conditions
In order to comply with legal health rules, wearing a mask is made compulsory at the entrance to the micro-farm. In the field, depending on the conditions and activities, everyone is then free to compose as they wish, while respecting the freedom and protection of others. The tools, adapted clothing, and personal equipment are brought by each participant, and are marked before entering the Lilas micro-farm, in order to be in serene use.