France has
two main Permaculture organisations, The
French Permaculture Association and L'Université
Populaire de Permaculture.
Using the permaculture principal
of using the best and improving the rest the design
for Permaculture organisations in France is based
on existing and durable French models. The Université
Populaire are such examples, the model has existed
for over a century and they are dedicated to the
task of sharing knowledge. The Université
Populaire de Permaculture now organises and helps
projects with stting up and running Introductory
courses, Certified Permaculture design courses,
Diplôma accreditation and Les Compagnons de
Permaculture which is again based on a French model,
one which has existed since the 16th century, organising
apprentices and masters into what people today call
a chaordic structure..
Cours d'initiation, Introductory
events
These can be led by anyone who has
completed a PDC, they are based around the subject
matter of the first chapters of the syllabus. Students
who have completed these courses have a 2 day credit
towards the PDC.
Cours certifié de
Permacultur, Permaculture Design Courses
These are led by those who have
gained their Diploma of Permaculture Design. The
courses are of a minimum of 2 weeks and preferably
around a middle weekend which is less intensive,
relaxation, site visits, design project orientated.
On presentation of a design project of sufficient
quality at the end of the course students can be
awarded a Certificate of permaculture design. With
this they can refer to themselves as Permaculteurs
apprentis, lead cours d'initiation, pass on to the
Diploma system, attend the in-house parts of the
French, European and International Conferences.
There is a second PDC model which
is 6 two day courses, again leading to a Certificate
if the required standard is met.
Eventually these courses will be
free with teachers paid through the Université.
Initially this will be through funding that is currently
being sought but in the longer term through Dana
from PmC projects and from the abundance created
by the resource infrastructure that will be developed
and run by the Université (similar to the
Hospice de Beaumes system)
Diplôme de Permaculture.
Diploma of Permaculture Design
Using either a mentor from the Université
or passing into the Compagnons de Permaculture apprenticeship
scheme a student can continue towards the Diplôme.
This involves 2 years minimum work and the presentation
at an accreditation event of their 'masterpiece°'
and the format/syllabus they would use to lead a
Permaculture Design Course.. These events have at
least 2 Diploma holders present and a group of Diploma
students. They are organised by the Université.
The Diploma pathway/mentoring and Compagnon system
are free.
Assessment
For those who consider that they
have sufficient experience and knowledge (and have
completed a PDC+ a subsequent 6 months of project
work) to shortcut the full Diploma scheme there
is an assessment system where they can pre-present
their work to at least 2 Diploma holders, should
these decide that the required standard is shown
said person can pass onto the next accreditation
event.
Les Compagnons de Permaculture
This involves a Tour de France/world
of Permaculture sites who agree to participate with
the apprenticeship system and have a Diploma holder
in residence who also has at least 5 years of practical
project experience. The apprentice works out a Tour
which will take them to the projects most relevant
to their chosen areas of specialisation. After at
least 2 years they can present their masterpiece°
and the format/syllabus they would use to lead a
Permaculture Design Course to a normal accreditation
event.
The Université is currently
asking for people to apply to be hosts, such projects
would need to have a Designer in residence who has
at least 5 years practical experience.
°A
masterpiece is a the work produced by an apprentice
to show they have developed mastery of their chosen
field, generally for the Diploma these will be a
collection of apprenticepieces which are the works
completed during the 2 years.
Nous
travaillons à informer tous les acteurs de
la Permaculture de la situation actuelle et invitons
ceux qui le veulent à participer à
son évolution, assister aux stages, devenir
apprenti, obtenir leur Diplôme, devenir Compagnon
et à nous
contacter.
