18 - 20 December 2007 - Mudgee NSW
Water is the major issue on every Australian farm. Water harvesting and storage earthworks need to be intelligently designed and well implemented. This three day intensive course taught by Geoff Lawton will give you the knowledge to design and construct earthworks that will act as an insurance policy against drought and increase the value of your property.

Please note: this course is completed. Not to worry! Have a look at our upcoming courses ...

 Geoff Lawton is world renowned for designing effective water solutions in the ecological “badlands”. His practical experience is immense, designing and managing hundreds of complex community projects in such diverse places as Jordan, Mexico, Tanzania, Iraq, Morocco, Vietnam and Kiribati as well as large scale private works in the USA and Australia. His ground-breaking work in the Middle East has seen deserts become living food stores though effective hydrological design.

Geoff Lawton's relaxed and informal teaching style ensures you won't be overwhelmed by the theory but his 20 years of experience teaching sustainable farming practices in 21 countries ensures you will get the full picture. 

The Course

This 3-day intensive earthworks course will teach you how tor harvest, direct and retain water on any piece of land, no matter what the rainfall. The course is hands on with dams and water harvesting elements being constructed on site during the course. You will see the works at all stages of completion including newly surveyed and recently constructed dams of many types.

The course covers; Site assessment Water resource identification Soil types for construction Dam types, their strengths and weaknesses Water harvesting systems, swales, check-dams and gabeons Earthmoving equipment - bulldozers, scrapers, excavators etc Surveying your site Plans and drawings Engaging contractors Supervising works                      . . . . . and much much more

This knowledge is crucial for all landholders who want high levels of water retention on their property, an incredible resource that flows on to improved pastures, better cropping, effective beneficial ecosystems and soil carbon sequestration. Geoff Lawton is founding director of the acclaimed Permaculture Research Institute, working in more countries and co-ordinating more projects on the ground than any other Permaculture institute today. This is a rare oppourtunity to see Geoff teach his pet subject as a stand alone short course.

Earthmoving equipment supplied and operated by:
          Anderson's Dozer Hire
          Phone: (02) 6373 5309
          Mobile: 0409 323 419
          Fax: (02) 6373 5309 

Location & Travel

The course will be held on our demonstration site, south of Mudgee NSW. an easy 4 hour drive from the Sydney CBD or 40 minutes from Mudgee Airport (Airlink or Regional Express ).

      Milkwood Farm
      1466 Campbells Creek Rd
      Carcalgong via Mudgee NSW 2850

Please visit our map for the exact location.

Countrylink train services are available to nearby Ilford. Pickups can be provided for a small fee. Please contact us to arrange a pick up.

Bookings

Book your place now via our booking form or for more information contact Kirsten on 02 6373 7763.

To ensure that all participants get the most from this course positions are limited, please book early to ensure your place.

Things you should bring

Please be aware that this course will be taking place on a working farm and heavy machinery will be operating throughout the course. Your assistance in remaining within the designated student areas will be greatly appreciated. 

Please bring the following items with you;

• Appropriate footwear such as sturdy boots (absolutley no open footwear such as sandals or thongs)
• Appropriate sun protection including long sleeve tops, a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• A water bottle
• Pens/pencils and a notepad for taking notes

Accommodation 

Convenient accommodation can be booked at Bushlands Holiday Park, which is situated at Windeyer, 15 minutes drive from our site. Options include cabins, powered and unpowered camp sites. We have organised a special rate for participants willing to share a cabin, contact Dean or Sharon on 02 6373 8252 and mention the 'Earthworks' deal for this special rate.

Other accomodation options in the area include; 

• Protea Farm Cottages - 02 6373 3300
• Thistle Hill Cottage - 02 6373 3546
• Shady Creek Rustic Cabin - 0438 733 317
• Kirima Cottages - 02 6372 0327.

A wide range of accommodation is available throughout the Mudgee area, through Mudgee Tourism