The ASPDC is the "All Seasons Permaculture Design Course".

          On top of the practical, common sense information and activities with esteemed lecturers, the ASPDC put me in touch with a great group of people from all sorts of backgrounds who were generous in sharing the wealth of their combined knowledge. It was valuable in helping me make good choices in building our home and designing our garden from scratch. It taught me to pay attention to my own knowledge and learn through my own observations, not just relying on information available from secondary sources. It encouraged me to explore and experiment, to try new things and come up with solutions that were most suited to the site I was developing. It gave me the skills to begin creating a permaculture garden with my daughters school. It taught me the processes to follow in order to make things happen and to see possibilities in challenges. It made me aware that self sufficiency is less of the answer than building strong community networks that rely on and look after each other. It gave me hope that the world can become a healthier and more satisfying place if we look after our own actions and care for those in the community around us.  Jodie

           Joining a group of keen trainee permaculturists is exciting.  Eager to learn, share and support each other in this new venture and adventure, it's evident that the format of a weekend a month is proving very useful.  It gives one time to reflect, discuss and practise key permaculture principles verbally and practically.  The course structure is building on my own knowledge and exposing me to a group of experienced hands on practitioners who are teaching skills that will last a lifetime. I do struggle as a 'greenie' with the altered landscape view because I feel that the protection of our own indigenous vegetation would add to the principles and reinforce that fact that it is not all about 'us humans'. Brenda

          The Permaculture Compost Cycle. Following an inspiring visit to John Ditchburnís urban food garden, my chicken coop underwent reconstruction to improve productivity in the veggie garden. A three-bay compost bin, built from recycled solar water heater plates and cover, was installed in the  coop. Daily kitchen scraps and straw encourage the chooks to scratch and turn the mass constantly. Silverbeet crops are also used to feed the chooks each day and the benefits of increased dietary iron are obvious in the size and quality of their egg production. In turn, their droppings are added to garden compost bins as additional fertiliser. The integration and cyclical nature of this process is rewarding and highly productive. Michelle

          Permaculture goes Underground. Inspired by a tour of David Holmgrenís Hepburn property, Melliodora, the home cellar was begun. With minimal excavation to allow a person to stand, and the installation of recycled timber shelves on bricks, a functional storage space was created under the eastern end of our split-level, double-brick dwelling. This provides for cool storage of preserves, all of which are the result of permaculture practices. By improving the organic structure of the soil, and therefore its moisture retention through composting via bins, worm farm and chicken run, the excess garden produce has allowed green tomato pickles, plum jam, apricot & ginger jam, preserved fruits and pumpkins. A veritable feast. Robyn