[Pil-pc-oceania] Womens' PDC's

[Deb Guildner]

These are not new at all, Lea Harrison(?) taught them in the mid 1980's, I'm sure Robin Clayfield has been involved as well. And possibly also the other Robins as well, esp those who have taught women PDC's in overseas countries.

It was yours truly who suggested a womens workshop at the 1sr International Permacult Conference at Rollands Plains, near Wauchope, NSW in 1984 (or thereabouts).  And wore the mantle of ecofeminist from the old patriarch for a while afterwards..............memories.............
I raised it as a topic at the first National Permaculture confest here in SA in 1983 as well...I still have an audio tape of that in a box somewhere. lol.

There is a definite need for PDC's with an emphasis on women, as women have a special place and special needs concerning nurturing.  I have often found that family-friendly PDC's  are often hard to find, there has been a perception with some people that children should be left at home with the wife....pity if you are the wife!!  

As I say, such is life without a wife!!  (Handy things, wives).

I would be more than happy to help with planning or designing a course  in whatever capacity, or to teach a specialist segment, or organise someone who can.  My vast library has been mothballed for a couple of years now, but is slowly re-emerging into the light over the next few months. Also shopping for a four wheel drive van currently, to undertake work/study tours in the future.

Cheers
deb


..
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tamara Griffiths 
  To: permacultue discussion list 
  Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 4:21 PM
  Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] National P-Day


    Kerry wrote:

    I really like the idea of a women's PDC - do you think it would have a bit of a different focus? How do you see it playing out?


    Hi Kerry,

    We came up with the idea at APC9. When I spoke about it to the group alot of women came up and said they were interested in helping. Nadia Lawton has offered to teach it, and Beck Lowe offered to help organise it. I would be the convenor, I suppose.

    I haven't caught up with them since APC9 to discuss their ideas, so I have no idea about location, price etc. All I know is that it needs childcare and a good cook! It would be easier for me to convene if it was near Bunyip.

    It is hoped that it could be kept pretty cheap, or that perhaps women could be sponsored. (I'm not expecting to make any money on this first one, but I can see this as my life's work and would like to make a living running women's PDCs one day).

    It would be taught according to the curriculum, and the focus would probably vary according to the teacher and the students. I would hope to be able to do some practical workshops and talk about life after the PDC, helping women get ready to "jump". I am also interested in getting Robyn Francis to come down at the end of the 2 weeks and do a bridging course to get them to APT cert 3. (I have spoken to her and she is interested in knowing more). So women would end up with 2 qualifications, some practical knowledge and a support network when they get home. I am very into Robin Clayfield's CD at the moment and I can see quite a few mediations and relaxing times - as the PDC is pretty full on!

    Perhaps other women could come to the APT bridging course as well.

    The whole course might look like:

    PDC - Mon - Sat, Sunday off, possibly a tour to the Botanical Ark in Warragul, Mon- Sat 
    Mon - Fri bridging, practical and developing a plan for post PDC.

    3 weeks is a lot of time to take off work, away from family or land, and probably much harder to do than the regular 2 weeks, but the bridging week coud be optional, I'm not sure, I'll have to judge from the feedback.
    The good thing is that there will be childcare during the day and a supportive atmosphere for women who bring their children with them.

    I am looking into turning an old house on the swamp that belongs to friends of mine into the women's education centre. There would be some land for us to play with, farm machinery, cows and privacy.

    All the teachers would be women, so I'll need to hear from women out there with practical skills in fencing and other good stuff.

    Once I have run a few locally, I'd like to run women's PDCs in all states, using local teachers...but that's a while off yet. From little things big things grow...

    Anyway, must go and get the animals away,
    Love Tamara






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