Intensive Amazonian Permaculture Course
In our next 33-day Intensive Amazonian Permaculture Course, we will discover permaculture strategies for regenerative living from the heart of the Amazon. Living as a community, we will explore regenerative techniques for producing food, learn about renewable energy systems, and discover ways to finance ecological projects.
The topic we will focus on most is natural building. We will learn techniques to build houses with natural materials, from design, to the full installation of a typical Amazonian tambo.
Our next Intensive Amazonian Permaculture Course is from October 5th to November 6th
Components of the Course
The program is held in English and Spanish. It is divided into four parts and includes 38 hours of theoretical classes, 96 hours of hands-on field learning, and 12 hours of consulting time for the development of a personal design project.
If you cannot attend the full course, it is also possible to participate in one or more of the four parts of the program - please see below or email us for more information.
Part I: Introduction to Permaculture Workshop, October 5th – October 9th
Part II: Permaculture - Practical Learning & Application, October 12th – 21st
Part III: Natural Building - Practical Learning & Application, October 24th – November 1st
Part IV: Natural Building Workshop, November 2nd – 6th
To register, email yann@chaikuni.org
Participation Options & Cost
Full Permaculture Course: 33 days - $560
PART I only: Introduction to Permaculture Workshop - $200
PARTS I & II only: Intro to Permaculture Workshop, 8 days of hands-on learning, one day to enjoy an Amazonian lagoon - $300
PARTS III & IV only: Natural Building Workshop, 8 days of hands-on learning, one day to visit a centenary Lupuna tree - $320
PART IV only: Natural Building Workshop - $250
A limited number of scholarship spaces are available - please write yann@chaikuni.org if you would like to attend but the cost is a barrier.
Course Overview
PART I: Introduction to Permaculture Workshop, October 5th – October 9th
This workshop will include theoretical classes and intensive practice spaces for executing permaculture strategies in the field. Topics covered include:
- Food production: Agro-ecological food production, agroforestry production systems, management and care of a vegetable garden, preparation and application of natural fertilizers, harvesting and food preservation
- Integral Health: Healthy cooking and eating, the human microbiome, medicinal plants, natural cosmetics, stretching, yoga, and meditation, fasting for health
- Renewable energy: Bici machines, harnessing solar energy, harvesting water and water treatment, dry toilets, dehydrator building, biodigester maintenance, solar panel system maintenance
- Circular economy: Basic tools for resources management, strategies to reduce expenses, funding, community barter, photo and video registration for project promotion
PART II: Permaculture - Practical Learning & Application, October 12th – 21st
During these 8 days we will deepen the information learned in the workshop with a lot of field practice and community living. We will execute a mini project for each topic covered:
- Natural building: Roofing a cabin with Yarina leaves and Atadido bark
- Food production: Maintenance and development of several agroforestry systems at different stages as well as the maintenance of the vegetable garden system
- Holistic health: Creation of a healthy meal using only ingredients locally sourced or harvested from our farms, creating natural cosmetics, an invitation to experiment with fasting
- Renewable energies: Installation of a biodigester
- Circular economy: Photo and video registry of trees and plants, development of a crowdfunding project to raise funds for Chaikuni's work with local communities.
PART III: Natural Building - Practical Learning & Application, October 24th – November 1st
During these 8 days we will start building a tambo, deepening our learning with field practice and community living. We will focus on natural building:
- Amazonian materials: wood, bamboo, leaves, bark, and resins for construction
- Planting and harvesting Amazonian species for building
- Bioclimatic design
- Natural building with earth
- Construction of an earthen wall
- Weaving and roofing using Yarina leaves
PART IV: Natural Building Workshop, November 2nd – 6th
During these five days we will take a deep dive into the world of natural building, looking into its history, techniques, and complete the building of a typical Amazonian tambo (hut). Topics covered include:
- Design: Bioclimatic design, basic architectural tools to design, budget calculation, general building processes
- Natural building: Earthen building history in Peru, structures and earthen techniques, layers of an earthen wall, natural paint, water resistant earthen wall
- Bamboo preservation: Planting bamboo, natural preservation techniques, structural unions
Example Schedule
The program includes 33 days of intense learning during morning hours and community spaces in the afternoons and evenings. We will also organize some special evenings with activities such as a movie, games, or a fire pit with dancing and music. The schedule below is just an example and may change.
Workshop Schedule:
6:45 – 7:00 Snack - tea or coffee and fruit
7:00 – 9:00 Practical field work
9:00 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:00 – 12:00 Theoretical classes
13:00 – 15:00 Lunch and rest
15:00 – 17:00 Theoretical classes or field work
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
20:00 – 21:00 Theoretical classes, documentary night, fire circle, open conversation, etc.
Practical Learning Schedule:
6:15 – 6:45 Stretching, yoga, or meditation
6:45 – 7:00 Snack - tea or coffee and fruit
7:00 – 9:00 Practical field work
9:00 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:00 – 11:00 Theoretical classes
11:00 – 13:00 Practical field work
13:00 – 15:00 Lunch and rest
15:00 – Open space (skills sharing among the group)
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
Your Facilitators
Mauricio Arnillas - Natural Earth Builder, Founder of the Earth Building School Ecorigenes, Author of “Introducción a la Construcción con Tierra”
Diego Carhuaricra - Architect, Specialist in natural building, Founder of Salvaje Peru, Coordinator of the Chaikuni Institute Permaculture Center
Darrell Emery - Permaculturist, Specialist in agroecological food production, Sustainability Coordinator at the Temple of the Way of Light
Silvia del Aguila - Forestry Engineer, Chaikuni Institute Permaculture and Community Outreach Coordinator
Yann Filippi - Team Manager, trained in agroforestry systems of the Ernst Götsch model, Educational Platform Coordinator of the Chaikuni Institute Permaculture Center
Shipibo Onanyabo - Teachers and healers specialized in natural-ancestral medicine with Amazonian plants
Carlos Maytahuari, Alfredo Asipali, Juan Asipali, Eder Baneo, Jorge Guzmán, and Jampier Gutierrez - Local Trainers, Specialists in field work in the Amazon
The Chaikuni Permaculture Center
How to get here:
We will organize group transportation from a meeting point in Iquitos to our Center before the course. Our journey will be via moto-taxi, boat, and then a 45-minute hike to arrive at our Permaculture Center.
Facilities:
Living/dining room: A spacious lounge with hammocks and tables where we will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Library: Mainly with books in English and free to use with care and conscience, donations are very welcome
Bathrooms: Four showers, two dry toilets, and two sinks
Laundry: Two areas prepared for hand-washing clothes
Semi-private accommodations: Each tambo (rustic sleeping hut) has three private rooms, each with a view of the forest, a bed, mattress, mosquito net, bedsheets, pillow, blanket, and shelf
Private cabins: We have four spacious cabins, each with a private compost toilet and a hammock to accommodate one person or one couple *Please note, these are for an additional cost and must be booked in advance
Maloka: Our beautiful circular space where most of the communal learning and some of the theoretical classes will take place
Resting areas: Outdoor spaces with hammocks or benches to reconnect with nature
Water supply: Three water tanks that sourced from a natural spring, one with an industrial carbon filter for drinking water
Electricity: A solar panel system produces a limited supply of electricity for use in our kitchen, living room, dining room, and office (only cell phones, flashlights, and laptops can be charged)
Our Culture & Commitments
- Constant communication and punctuality
- No single-use plastics
- Correct separation of all waste
- Eat food produced in the region, with some necessary exceptions
- Prepare healthy meals that maintain a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and prebiotics
- Keep all spaces clean and tidy
- Create communal learning spaces where we all share our passions with the group
- Free time to rest and enjoy nature with bonfires, walks, games, music, etc.
- Respect hours of silence from 8:00 pm to 6:15 am in the common areas near the rooms
If you have any questions, or to register for the Intensive Amazonian Permaculture Course, email yann@chaikuni.org
