Established permaculture farm

Permaculture Design Certificate Portugal

Welcome to the Permaculture Design Course in Portugal, offered by Keela Permaculture Farm! Our course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of permaculture principles and practices, and empower you to create sustainable, regenerative systems in your own life and community.

Permaculture Design Course Portugal

We will cover the standard 72-hour PDC syllabus emphasising integrated permaculture systems, practical work and permaculture design. You will experience living off-grid in a community setting, connect with nature, and enjoy healthy organic food and yoga classes. On completion of the course, you will receive a PDC certificate from the Permaculture Association UK.

You will see a working permaculture farm with food forests, agroforests, various Natural Buildings, many working examples of permaculture systems, and animal husbandry and enjoy yoga and meditation classes.

Permaculture Design Course Portugal

What is included in this Permaculture Design Course?

The standard 72-hour PDC syllabus and certified PDC certificate

Two theory classes every day

Two practical sessions every day

Homesteading workshops

Offgrid living workshops

An event with the local community, eco markets or a workday on a local farm

3 healthy organic meals per day – a chef cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner for you.

At least three yoga classes per week, plus meditation classes

Permaculture Design Course Dates

All our PDCs are followed by a one week specialist course. Either Advanced Permaculture Design, food forest course or a natural building course. Join the PDC, Food Forest or Natural Building course alone or stay for both.

The PDC courses are €950. And the specalçist courses are €500. Join both and get €150 discount.  Further discounts available for part volunteering. You will also enjoy three days of relaxing on the farm between courses if you join both. For full pricing info please select your dates on the booking form page.

15th-28th September 2023 followed by optional Food Forest course

Janurary 2025 PDC

19th Jan - 1st Feb 2025 - followed by a practical permaculture course

Spring 2025 PDC

Date tbc

This course is certified by the Permaculture Association UK

Video from our Summer 2023 PDC

Permaculture Design Course Portugal

Your Permaculture Design Course hosts and Teachers

Laurence Manchee

PDC Lead Teacher

Co-founder of Keela Yoga Farm. Laurence is certified by the Permaculture Association to teach certified PDCs. He is on the board of the WOOF Portugal Association, an author in Permaculture Magazine and leads Agroforestry, Permaculture Design and Natural Building Courses. Laurence will be the lead teacher on all courses

Tom Henfrey

Certified PDC Tutor

Tom is a co-teacher at Keela Yoga Farm’s Permaculture Design Courses. He is the only certified Permaculture Diploma tutor in Portugal. He is an author of various permaculture and ecology books and has 20 years of experience in Permaculture and Ecology. Tom co-leads the Diploma course at Keela Yoga Farm and guest teaches at some of our PDC courses. Visit his profile

Yoga Teacher

Kimberly will teach you how to preserve food via fermentation for a healthy gut biome. Visit her profile here

Jonathan Ives

Forester

Jonathan has lived in Portugal for nearly 5 years. He has worked in the forest industry at all levels for 30 years. Jonathan is especially interested in sustainable forest management and rewilding projects.

Prices & travel information

Traveling to Keela Permaculture Farm

Keela is Based in the Village Mata Da Rainha near Fundao in Central Portugal

  1. Fly to either Lisbon or Porto Airport.
  2. Take a coach or Train to Fundao Station
  3. Arrive by group taxi from Fundao station to the farm

Click here for full information about arriving

Breakdown of PDC costs

  • Full PDC Course (including food): €950
  • Permaculture Association membership (optional) – €35
  • Extra nights (including food): €50 per night
  • Accommodation (more info)
    • Your tent of Cravan (free)
    • Caravan €150 (2 people)
    • Tent or tipi €100 
  • Discounts available:
    • €250 for Portuguese residents
    • €250 for volunteering during the course (must arrive and volunteer 1 week before)
    • €150 if joining the following specialist course

What to expect?

  • Check out the photos from the September 2023 Permaculture Design Course – click here
  • This permaculture design course will teach you about permaculture philosophy, ecological foundations, design methodologies, and real-world applications.
  • You will get your hands dirty during practical classes on vegetable gardens, composting systems, worm farming, propagation of plants, natural building, fermenting, soap making, food forests, silvopasture, appropriate technology systems, and managed woodlands on an established 18-hectare site.
  • This course will suit you if you are thinking of applying permaculture in your own life by setting up or joining your own land-based project.
  • It also works well for people seeking ideas, skills and inspiration to embark on a more fulfilling path in life and make positive contributions to the state of the world.
  • The course is certified by the Permaculture Association (Britain), it offers a foundation to further your permaculture journey via the Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design or other advanced training.

What our past students have say

Google and Facebook Reviews

Bookings

Please select the date from the drop down menu below. Then select your course
Ticket Price Quantity
PDC 15th – 28th Sept 2024 Deposit €100.00 Sold out
PDC 14th – 27th April 2024 Deposit €100.00 Sold out
PDC Jan 2025 Deposit €100.00 Sold out
PDC 16th – 29th June 2024 Deposit €100.00 Sold out
Foundation Diploma 29th April – 5th May 2024 Deposit €100.00 Sold out
Shared tipi with bed and bedding €150.00 Sold out
Twin Tent private pod with mattrace and bedding €100.00 Sold out
Caravan with bedding €150.00 Sold out
I will bring my own camper €0.00 Sold out
I will bring my own tent €0.00 Sold out
Plant a tree to offset your carbon €20.00 Sold out
Natural Building Course Deposit €50.00 Sold out

Stay in Touch

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed to create sustainable systems that benefit both people and the environment. Register now and start your journey towards becoming a permaculture designer! Click here to secure your spot.
Please join our mailing list to stay updated on future dates