An Introduction to Permaculture with Aranya

CULTIVATING THE GOOD LIFE

Here in the château gardens, we have been embracing permaculture for three decades. Many of us want to live more sustainably, but with so many 'green' options and such busy lives it can be really hard to know where to start. Permaculture offers an approach that helps us identify the best tools and techniques to use in each of our circumstances. We are delighted that Aranya - distinguished author, veteran leader of over 100 courses and owner of an impressively flourishing Cornish garden - is joining us. His course will cover the key principles of permaculture and how we can apply them in redesigning our gardens, in particular, to be both more sustainable and abundant.

We'll use group work, discussions, video, observation and practical activities as learning methods to create a lively and inclusive experience with a full schedule of workshops before and after lunch. As a group we will benefit from collaborative learning and from having fun together. No previous permaculture knowledge is needed.

You'll have your own room (or the bell tent), all house meals and wine provided, as well as yoga classes and outings. Scroll down for details.

What you'll learn about:

Day One - Permaculture Basics

🌿 Permaculture ethics 🌿 Principles of attitude

🌿 Principles of ecology. 🌿 Energy efficient planning tools

Day Two - The Permaculture Garden

🪴 Soil basics 🪴 The Soil food web

🪴 Building soil and fertility. 🪴 Permaculture gardening factors & techniques

Day Three - Trees and Water

💦 Fruit trees - choosing and care. 💦 Small scale forest gardens

💦 Water harvesting and conservation. 💦 Seeds and seed saving

Day Four - The Permaculture Design Process

🌱 The permaculture design process 🌱 Site observations & client needs

🌱 Tools & methods for analysis. 🌱 Placement & integration

Course schedule and Aranya's bio here.

On the last evening, after all all that education, there'll be a celebration 🥳

YOGA

The beautiful old barn (or the front lawn) makes a perfect space for pre-breakfast Vinyasa Flow yoga classes, run for all levels by popular Sacy regular Megane Thiboust. These will clear your mind and prepare you for the focus of the day ahead. 

FOOD AND DRINK

• Meals will be Ottolenghi-inspired, largely vegetarian, nutritious and locally sourced where possible. We can cater for various diets on request.

  
  

• Each participant will pair up with another to prepare one dinner, with ingredients and recipe supplied and help at hand.

  
  

• Coffee, tea, fruit, pastries, bread and cheese will be available throughout the day in a separate communal kitchen. 

  
  

• Wine will be served with dinner.

  
  

ACCOMMODATION

We offer a range to suit different budgets - from a furnished bell tent in the orchard that can be shared with a friend, to an en suite with windows giving on to both sides of the garden. All the rooms are private. You can find out more about each option here or by clicking on the images below.

Apartment

Furnished Bell Tent in the Orchard

Blue Room

End Room

Mansarde

Archive room

Gambetta Room

THURSDAY OUTING

Farm tour and lunch at nearby L'Arbre A Poule. a market farm run on permaculture principles

FREE TIME

• Walk through the nearby woods to the Chapelle Saint Catherine, a spot visited by Joan of Arc

• Swim in a large, gorgeous lake surrounded by wildlife

• Explore the countryside on our bikes

• Learn to walk our tightrope or exercise on the trapeze

• Play piano, table tennis or French billiards

• Dive into the theatrical dresses, suits and hats of the Dressing-up Room

• Book a massage (extra cost)

• Or just relax and soak up the atmosphere at the château

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Six nights in your own room or bell tent at the château (sheets, towels, toiletries provided)

• Four Days of Morning and Afternoon classes with Aranya

• Four yoga classes, with equipment provided

• Lifts to and from the station

• Welcome cocktail

• Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the château

• Wine (within reason) at dinner

• Coffee, tea, juice, snacks at all times

• Use of the communal kitchen

• Run of (most of) the house, gardens and outdoor buildings

• Use of our bikes, including an electric bike

• Wifi

• Parking space

• Outings to local lake and farms

• Travel advice

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Travel costs

• Airport transfers

• Travel Insurance

• Visa fee if required

• One lunch away from the house

  
  
  
  

TESTIMONIALS FROM ARANYA'S PAST COURSES

'This great course exactly met my needs and expectations... with enough familiar stuff to give me confidence and enough new stuff to make my brain ache, and enough challenge to test my commitment. We are already taking some of those small, achievable steps that make the whole task of 'going over' to permacultural practices so much less daunting. There were so many interesting sessions, but I  have to say that the highlight of the theory sessions was the SOIL day. When I first saw the timetable for that day, I was quite frankly horrified, but it was totally fascinating and absorbing, and I can't recall ever having been so enlightened about so much in such a short time. Face to face teaching still beats book-reading and googling any day for impact and relevance. And the whole course was so much fun too' Hazel-Ann Morris

'Re-immersion back into the other world has indeed been a bit of a shock. Mostly because of the way I am re-evaluation everything. It's like like looking at the same world with different eyes, and it feels good. Thanks so much for all your time and effort over the course, you have an amazing ability to convey knowledge and skills and it's been a pleasure to be on the receiving end. It took me about an hour to walk to the allotment yesterday (normally 15 minutes) as I stopped to notice the trees, the edge, the relationships between the light and growth.' Phil Geraghty

AND FROM PREVIOUS CHATEAU RETREATS

'Thank you a lot for an amazing experience and unique adventure. The food was incredible!' Ala Kuzniatsova

'What a rare and magical place! It was like a spell was cast as we stepped through the mirror back in time to another world. Thank you Murphy for welcoming us in and for such a lovely group . I was looking for a little adventure and I found it – unforgettable' Anne Noble-Partridge

 Find out more about Aranya and the schedule here. More about each room here.