We are excited to announce our second Permaculture PDC event and two month Practicum.
16 Day Permaculture PDC is 15 November to 1 December 2011
Two Month Permaculture Practicum Program begins the 3 of January, 2012 and ends the 28 February.
What is Permaculture?
From Wikipedia “Permaculture is sustainable land use design. This is based on ecological and biological principles, often using patterns that occur in nature to maximise effect while minimizing wasted energy. Permaculture aims to create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs, harmoniously integrating the land with its inhabitants. The ecological processes of plants, animals, their nutrient cycles, climatic factors and weather cycles are all part of the picture. Inhabitants’ needs are provided for using proven technologies for food, energy, shelter and infrastructure. Elements in a system are viewed in relationship to other elements, where the outputs of one element become the inputs of another. Within a Permaculture system, work is minimized, “wastes” become resources, productivity and yields increase, and environments are restored. Permaculture principles can be applied to any environment, at any scale from dense urban settlements to individual homes, from farms to entire regions.”
This season we will be joined by a top shelf collection of Presenters, Doug Crouch, Sara Wuerstle, and Eva Wimmer of TreeYo Permaculture who will be living with us for six months endeavoring to share with us, and with any of you qualified to join in, their expertise and energies to afford Ranquilco a large leap as we go forward on our journey into sustainable self-sufficiency.
Ranquilco is uniquely situated and orientated to serve as a venue for these courses as well as for inner journeys for personal growth. Many who have dedicated sufficient time to be on our vast lands, high and deep in the cordillera of the Argentine Patagonia Andes, have experienced the magic which seems to roam over the mountains, down the valleys, and through the crystalline river waters. Thus it seems to be an Earth power point, somewhat disguised as a traditional working cattle ranch, replete with hundreds of livestock and horses, gauchos etc. We have long striven for the benefits and blessings of self-sufficiency and have achieved notable progress in such fields as dairy, organic meats, bee keeping, electricity production, draft animal husbandry, leather working etc. etc.
Please contact Ashley Carrithers, ashleykentc@hotmail.com for any questions not covered on the website.
Estancia Ranquilco is a unique piece of real estate – as such there are some considerations which need to be taken into account for a planned visit. First, it is reachable on foot. There is a track into the estancia, a one hour “drive” from the trail head where we prefer to mount our steady steeds for a great, stimulating three hour ride down to the river and across to the HQ. For any who are unable to either ride or hike in, we can offer the services of the estancia 4×4 truck. (please let us know – there is a $40 charge per person, minimum 2 people). We have plenty of sturdy, steady and guest happy horses which you will be invited to ride down. Non riders usually have no real problems and it is a fun, traditional way to engage the energies of Ranquilco.
Travel from Buenos Aires is best enjoyed by taking the full bed sleeper overnight bus, which leaves B.A. at 1600 and delivers to Zapala at 0900 the next morning with hot dinner, wine and champagne included. You can visit www.viabariloche.com.ar for information and booking. (Note: it is a timed site, two minutes to fill out the
booking – you are looking for their “tutto letto” – full cama service, and the place to pick up the tickets is “boleteria 121, retiro”). Most of us were wary of this trip until we tried it and now we never fly. From Zapala there is a bus leaving at 1330, on Cono Sur, which arrives in Zapala at 1700 and from there we will pick you up for the one hour drive to the trail head. Cono sur does not have a reservation online system, but Ashley can help reserve space. The B.A. bus costs $125, and the Zapala to el Huecu bus around $12, three hours.
Yes, you can take a 1.5 hour flight from B.A. into Neuquen and then either take a taxi to Zapala or a bus. A driver is also available from Zapala to the trail head for $125. Cost of the flight varies, but think around $225. It is possible to come down through B.A. and then take a bus over to Chile for departure from Santiago….check with your travel agent. There are buses from Temuco, Chile over to Zapala, a 4-5 hour trip, around $50.
There is limited communication at Ranquilco. No telephone or internet, but we do have a satellite, email only (and not hotmail etc, rather its own system) which can be used for $5 a message (no attachments are possible). We do have cell phone reception (Claro’) up a small mountain a half hour hike from the HQ, which also includes internet access via a modem.
We have electricity at Ranquilco, produced by our nifty hydro turbine, which runs to many of the housing options. Hairdryers etc which demand a lot of electricity are not possible, but there is plenty for light, music, and charging of techno goodies……
The PDC begins the morning of the 15 of November, and ends after lunch on the 1st of December. To facilitate the logistics of moving large numbers of people, we are inviting participants to consider different arrival/departure dates. For regular course members, plan to arrive el Huecu on the 14th, and return to Zapala either the afternoon of the 1st of December, if a private driver is utilized, or taking the 0600 a.m. Cono Sur bus back to Zapala for a 1000 arrival. Alternate dates are the 11th November for arrival, and the 5 December for departure. Extra days are charged at $70/day and there are many ways to enjoy the quieter time: hiking, camping, drinking mate’ etc. Riding and fishing can be arranged if so desired at an extra cost. Check with Ashley if a longer experience is desired.
Permaculture PDC – Sixteen Day course at Estancia Ranquilco with the following pricing considerations:
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ESTANCIA OFFERS A VARIETY OF OPTIONS WITHIN EACH CATEGORY. CHOICE WILL BE GIVEN ON A FIRST SIGN UP, FIRST SERVE BASIS
Basic course fee is $600 with an “early bird” discount of $100 if registered and paid by 1 October, 2011 – plus the following housing options:
Basic camping with outdoor hot showers and outhouses provided plus indoor kitchens (number of students – 1-10) : $400
Rustic Stream house, 15 mins off site, with indoor shared shower and toilet, wood stove kitchen (double occupancy, number 4) : $500
Indoor housing with outdoor toilet and hot shower (double occupancy, number 4) : $600
Indoor housing with outdoor toilet and hot shower (single occupancy, number 2) : $750
Indoor deluxe guest suite housing, indoor bath (double occupancy, number 6) : $850
Indoor deluxe guest suite housing, indoor bath (single occupancy, number 3) : $1,000
Two Month Practicum at Estancia Ranquilco with the following pricing considerations:
Basic course cost of $2,000 plus the following housing options:
Basic camping with outdoor hot showers and outhouses provided plus indoor kitchens : $500
Rustic Stream House, 15 minutes off site, with indoor shared hot shower and toilet, wood stove kitchen : $650
Indoor housing with outdoor toilet and hot shower : $750
Indoor housing with indoor toilet and hot shower : $850
