Greening The Desert Project

The Middle East Arid Climate Permaculture Demonstration Site

permaculture-design-certificate-course
permaculture-design-certificate-course

Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC) 11th September-15th of November 2025

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What is included

  • 14 Saturday’s
  • Camping Accommodation
  • Hot Showers and Toilet Facilities
  • Nutritious Lunch

 

Eco lodge accommodation available to book separately view options and
Book Here
Bill Mollison Permaculture A Designers Manual

We Teach By The Book

This course is based on the original Permaculture Design Certificate course as taught by Bill Mollison, the founder of the permaculture movement. You will find our course modules correspond to each chapter of The Permaculture Designers’ Manual.



This course is secular in nature, we do not include or make any reference to metaphysics.

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Saturday PDC Schedule

Daily Timings
9.00am – 10.30amFirst Session
10.30am – 10.45amTea Break
10.45am – 12.15pmSecond Session
12.15pm – 13.00pmLunch Break
13.00pm – 14.30pmThird Session (program ends for the day)
14.30pm – 15.00pmReserve Time (only if needed)

1st Saturday

  • Session 1 – Group introduction, course outline, intro to the centre (tour)
  • Session 2 – Philosophy and Ethics
  • Session 3 – Concepts and Themes part 1

2nd Saturday

  • Session 4 – Concepts and Themes part 2
  • Session 5 – Methods of Design part 1
  • Session 6 – Methods of Design part 2

3rd Saturday

  • Session 7 – Pattern Understanding part 1
  • Session 8 – Pattern Understanding part 2
  • Session 9 – Climatic Factors part 1

4th Saturday

  • Session 10 – Climatic Factors part 2
  • Session 11 – Trees and their Energy Transactions part 1
  • Session 12 – Trees and their Energy Transactions part 2

5th Saturday

  • Session 13 – Water part 1
  • Session 14 – Water part 2
  • Session 15 – Water part 3

6th Saturday

  • Session 16 – Soils part 1
  • Session 17 – Soils part 2
  • Session 18 - Soils part 3

7th Saturday

  • Session 19 – Earthworking and Earth Resources part 1
  • Session 20 - Earthworking and Earth Resources part 2
  • Session 21 – Introducing the Design Exercise

8th Saturday

  • Session 21 – Humid Tropics
  • Session 22 – Humid Cool to Cold Climates
  • Session 23 – Design Exercise Q & A/Intro to Dryland Strategies

9th Saturday

  • Session 24 – Dryland Strategies part 2
  • Session 25 – Aquaculture part 1
  • Session 26 – Design Exercise Q&A/Aquaculture part 2

10th Saturday

  • Session 27 – Strategies of an Alternative Nation part 1
  • Session 28 – Strategies of an Alternative Nation part 2
  • Session 29 – Design Exercise Presentations/Permaculture Party
9.00am – 10.30amFirst Session
10.30am – 10.45amTea Break
10.45am – 12.15pmSecond Session
12.15pm – 13.00pmLunch Break
13.00pm – 14.30pmThird Session - Design Exercise Presentation
14.30pm – 14.45pmBreak
14.45pm – 16.15pmPermaculture Party
16.15pm – 17.00pmPizza’s
Eco lodge accommodation available to book separately Book Here

About the Teachers

Mohammad Najjar

Mohammad Najjar


Email: m.najjar@joscapes.com

Phone Number: +962 790156232


Mohammad Najjar, holds a PhD in archaeology with a focus on the Neolithic period (circa 10,000 years ago), the time of early domestication of plants and animals. Through the Permaculture Research Institute, he has completed the Permaculture Design Certificate Course taught by Geoff Lawton. Mohammad and his wife, also a permaculture practitioner, have a house and small plot of land in the arid zone of Faynan/Wadi Araba, Jordan, where they practice the principles of permaculture to increase fertility and production in very dry and poor soil.

Darren Hey


Darren Hey, has been a student of permaculture since 2008, watching Geoff Lawton videos on You-Tube, while building his own garden. He completed his Permaculture Design Certificate under Geoff Lawton at Zaytuna Farm in 2016, shortly followed by Earthworks and Water Harvesting training.

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He was accepted into the Apprenticeship Program directly under Geoff Lawton in 2017, before going on to serve as farm manager at Zaytuna Farm, Permaculture Research Institute in 2018 to beginning 2022.

He is currently stationed at Greening The Desert Project, Jordan assisting the non-profit in their activities while coordinating a project with UN Habitat and Jerash University. Darren’s other passions include natural law, human health and nutrition, both of which dovetail with permaculture nicely, since the principles of permaculture are founded on the same. He also assists Permaculture Sustainable Consulting P/L so that their clients achieve their own dream of off-grid or sustainable and regenerative living.

Darren Hey
Hayel Abu Yahya

Hayel Abu Yahya


Hayel Abu Yahya was one of the first to join the Greening the Desert Project team. He took his Permaculture Design Certificate, in 2011, when Bill Mollison came to teach in Jordan for the first time.

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He has a position as manager of the non-profit Jordanian Association for Quality Environment, which oversees the Greening The Desert project site. Living next door to the centre, he practices arid permaculture daily in his garden, integrating small animal systems, including fish ponds, into his crop gardens and food forest. He assists Permaculture Sustainable Consulting P/L and PRI with project related needs in the country.

Naema Abu-Yahia


Naema Abu-Yahia, is a permaculture teacher and trainer with the Greening The Desert Project in Jawasreh Village, Balqa Governorate, Jordan, in the valley. She has been a practitioner of permaculture since completing her Permaculture Design Certificate training through the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, seven years ago, in 2019.

Read More

Gaining experience by transforming her own garden into a sustainable urban farming practice, and assisting local women to do the same, Naema sees permaculture as a tool and philosophy that can not only help her family eat healthy food, but is also important for all life on earth.

She has helped spread the knowledge of this design science through other organizations including Muslim Aid Australia, Partners For Good, Permaculture Sustainable Consulting P/L and Naua.

Naema Abu-Yahia

Course Outline

Some variations in the outline may occur. Please be ready to be flexible, thank you. Please contact us if you have any questions on: education@perrnaculturenews.org 

chengie Sudavora
Ben Horne
student stories

Reviews

Greening The Desert Project
5.0 Stars - Based on 21 User Reviews
Ann-Britt Sternfeldt AvatarAnn-Britt Sternfeldt
positive review  A great tool for survival on a planet that is facing a very unpredictible future. - 7/16/2019 
Josefine Demelbauer AvatarJosefine Demelbauer
positive review  We have to plant trees. It's hurry!!!!! - 6/22/2019 
Matt Moose AvatarMatt Moose
positive review  Here's a living blueprint for transforming no end of damaged landscapes into productive polycultures. - 3/23/2019 
Aida Iturregui AvatarAida Iturregui
positive review  Amazing project!! Loved the visit, the people, the dates and the smoothie at the Cafe!! Thanks for having us!! - 3/18/2019 
John Pennington AvatarJohn Pennington
positive review  it is amazing what can be accomplished with applied knowledge! - 1/17/2019 
Edi Albert AvatarEdi Albert
positive review  A truly impressive achievement! - 1/17/2019 
Alejandro Al Waheidi AvatarAlejandro Al Waheidi
positive review  it's amazing place , everyone should visit it - 12/23/2018 
Marion Parsons AvatarMarion Parsons
positive review  Helping change things for the better for all - 12/23/2018 
Ian Samson AvatarIan Samson
positive review  Transforming desert into green - 11/07/2018 
Permaculture Jordan Amman AvatarPermaculture Jordan Amman
positive review  one of the most Pioneer projects that gives hope for better future - 9/22/2018 

About The Location

This is a truly eye-opening location to earn your PDC. You will be studying on the lowest point of the earth in one of the most testing climates to practice Permaculture. With arid soil and very little rainfall, you will be viewing permaculture practices at their maximum potential.

The local population is made up of traditional Bedouin tribes and long-term refugees stemming from displacement of local populations from within Palestine. The project site is typical of the area – a marginal arid land low-income settlement.

At the project site you will see examples of energy-efficient appropriate housing with natural cooling systems, arid climate plant nursery, solar electricity, solar hot water, biological waste water treatment recycling, dry compost toilets, rain water harvesting earthworks and diverse interactive plant, animal and tree systems for local food production and processing.

The course will be taught in the lecture room at the project's demonstration house which also features: eco-lodge accommodation options, permaculture cafe and gift shop,  administration office for the project and the local permaculture group.

The project permaculture gardens are designed as a model that can be replicated within the local village, throughout Jordan and other countries in the region.

Getting Here From The Airport

Airport Taxi to the site is JD$40 approximately. Upon request,
The farm is in the South Shouna region, in al Jawfa-Jawasreh Village, second right turn
behind the Jawasreh School for girls. Farm Manager, Hayel : +962 79 534 4376
The Coordinates for the location is: 31.871754,35.631470 or 31°52'18.3"N 35°37'53.3"E
You can find it on Google Maps here.

Here is the Adress in Arabic to show to your taxi driver:

الجمعیة الاردنیة للبیئة النوعي
الشونة الجنوبیة , الجوفة , الجواسرة, ثاني دخلة
على الیمین خلف مدرسة الجواسرة الثانویة
.للبنات
الرجاء الاتصال على الرقم التالي للاست فسار

+962 79 534 4376 هایل

What You Will Need to bring with you?

  • Sun hat and sunglasses
  • Good walking or working shoes
  • Casual and comfortable clothing – natural fabrics recommended for coolness
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle
  • Flashlight/headlamp
  • Your own bedding (sheets etc.)
  • Ample supply of any needed medications
  • Tent if needed (depending on accommodation option)
  • Sleeping bag and hiking mattress if needed
  • Sandals
  • Personal toiletries

Course Times

8.30am to 5.30pm.

Future Studies and Opportunities

The Permaculture Design Course at the Greening The Desert Project PRI Jordan (PDC) serves as a foundation for further permaculture work and study and is a prerequisite for the Diploma in Permaculture Design, offered through The Permaculture Institute. Credit for this course is now accepted by a growing number of universities around the world. To date, thousands of permaculture designers worldwide have been certified through this course, and now comprise a global network of educators, ecological activists who influence major corporations, individuals creating new business alternatives and groups of committed people working together to change the way we view and design into our landscapes.

All prices are in Australian dollars, including GST. An early bird discount is available if the course fee is paid 21 days prior to the course start date.

Refund Policy

Refunds Policy

Sometimes circumstances change and you may be unable to attend a course you have paid for. If so, there are a few options available;

If you notify us at least 14 days prior to the course commencement, PRI will refund your course fee but will deduct an
administration fee of 30%, deposits are not refundable, OR you can apply the full amount as credit towards a future course.

If you notify us less than 14 days prior to the course commencement PRI cannot provide a refund OR you can send
someone else in your place.

The Greening The Desert Project reserves the right to cancel or discontinue advertised courses, if an insufficient number of attendees/ low attendance or due to unforeseen circumstances on the behalf of the GTDP requires us to not proceed with the advertised offer, you will immediately receive a full refund. All other refunds can take between 7-30 days to process.

Please strongly note, that travel to and from the Greening the Desert Project site is the attendee’s responsibility. You are encouraged to liaise with the GTDP about numbers of attendees and the potential of course cancellation prior to booking travel. The PRI/GTDP is not responsible for any loss or travel reimbursement, should the course be discontinued.

Cultural Sensitivity

The Jordan Valley is home to an ancient and classical civilisation that has had many cultures, traditions, and peoples cross through its land and also settle within it. International students are requested to be culturally sensitive to the Islamic traditions and Muslim social protocol. A full orientation will be provided.

General Guidelines for all Participants

  1. Showing respect for oneself.
  2. Open and receptive attitude toward cross cultural communication.
  3. Willingness to ask questions whenever necessary.
  4. Conservative attire is recommended.
  5. Wearing shirts at all times.
  6. For women - Long skirts or pants (Shorts considered offensive).
  7. For men -  Shorts are acceptable (but must be at least to the knee).
  8. Sobriety at all times during the PDC course.
  9. Respect for elders, religious traditions and practice, and community leaders.
  10. Not photographing locals without permission, especially not  local women and children.
  11. Respecting Muslim gender relation etiquette.
  12. Not touching or shaking hands of Muslim adults of the opposite gender without permission.
  13. Not displaying overly intimate affection in public with wife/husband or partner.

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The Jordanian Association for Quality Environment is a non-profit organization under the umbrella of the Ministry of Environment.