Course Accommodation, Directions and Other Specifics

The following is information pertinent to people intending to attend a course with the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia and includes general information about the farm, course accommodation, directions for travelling, our cancellation policy, etc. If you are looking for details to make a course payment, click here.

Zaytuna Farm

The farm is situated on a sixty-six acre property that fronts Terania Creek and is opposite the village of The Channon, Northern NSW. The property contains 800m of creek frontage, numerous swimming holes and abundant wildlife. The landscape is diverse, covering high frost-free hilltops, ridges and valleys with both cleared paddocks and forested areas.
Zaytuna Farm is a working permaculture education and demonstration farm under development in sub-tropical Northern New South Wales. It offers students the opportunity to learn while experiencing a real life permaculture-farming situation. In addition to classroom time, students will spend some time in the field, looking at design in the landscape, making compost, testing soil, surveying and completing design exercises.

After day one, students will have the option of volunteering to work with staff in the early morning before class or after class in the afternoon to assist with the wide variety of daily and essential farm work. This includes assisting with the milking and feeding the cows, horses, ducks and chickens, turning compost, working in the food forest, moving the grazing cells and working in the kitchen gardens and main crop garden.

Several dams have been installed on the property. There are three high dams located 20m above the main infrastructure connected by catchment back flood swale which gravity feed irrigation throughout the farm. The main house and classroom are straw bale constructions and overlook a large and attractive feature dam where students and staff can enjoy a swim. Farm operation systems include a large solar power electricity system, solar hot water and wood fired hot water, composting toilets and a reed-bed grey water system. Food production and livestock systems at the farm include a large vegetable and herb garden, food forests, a one-acre main crop, mixed small animal systems and grazing animals.

There is also a large selection of bamboo in productive cultivation throughout the property. Farm forestry and reforestation of the creek for stability are ongoing.

Accommodation and Course Specifics

Accommodation is in student self-provided tents in our campground. If you don’t have your own camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, etc.) they can be purchased in neighboring Lismore. The camp site includes a composting toilet and a shower with hot water being provided by a wood fired hot water system. Students must provide their own camping gear including tent, sleeping bag, toiletries, a torch etc.

We have installed a limited number of tent platforms. These provide a dry base and a roof for the erection of a tent. The shelters have a 4 x 2.5metre footprint which includes the frame, so if your tent fits inside these dimensions you might like to camp on a shelter. However, if you miss out on a sheltered site, or your tent is too large to fit into the shelter, there is no need to worry as there is plenty of camping space available. It is anticipated we will have more substantial and comfortable small scale dormitory style student accommodation available by the end of 2012.

All the water taps, which are connected to the main kitchen, house, common room and campground shower, are safe to drink and there is one, clearly labelled tap in the camp area which provides safe drinking water. However, please be aware that all other taps around the property are connected to dam water supplies, which are not suitable for drinking.

Given our proximity to a watercourse we ask that you ensure that your toiletries, soaps, etc., are eco-friendly. That means free of any chemicals and labelled as such. Please ensure you bring your own towel as we have a limited supply.

Alternative options for accommodation are:

• Eternity Springs website (www.eternitysprings.com) for more information. Location here.
• Havans Ecotourist Retreat website (www.rainbowregion.com.au/havan) for more information.
• There are also plenty of accommodation options in Lismore, which is 19 kilometers away.

Common Room

Adjacent to the camping ground is the students’ common room. It is housed in a section of our front shed, which is fully insulated. This is our temporary common room until the new education centre is built mid-end 2012. It includes couches, a TV, a sink, a small gas stove, refrigeration, a projector for evening slide shows, tea and coffee making facility, a telephone and internet access. The telephone can be used to make free local phone calls or can be used to receive phone calls.

The common room has timers on the lights, the power points and the wireless internet (wireless only internet provided). This is to keep the power load on the stand-alone solar power system to a minimum.

The lights will be on from 5pm to 10pm. The power points will be on from 8am to 4pm. You will be able to charge your items in the class room as well but only during the same hours (day light). (You can plug things in and turn them on before this time and the power will still turn on.)

Food

For all students, food is included in the cost of tuition. However the Sunday lay day for PDC students is self catered and for Interns, weekends are self catered. Access to a camp kitchen is provided on weekends and after hours. Meals are fresh and healthy and most of the ingredients come from our very own gardens. Meals are not standard “Australian” and include different cuisines from around the world dependent upon available ingredients and often, the nationality of those working in the kitchen. Rest assured it is always good tucker!

On the free Sunday, students can take the opportunity to explore the local area including local waterfalls and national parks. The Channon Craft Market, the oldest in the region, is held every second Sunday of the month in the village, an easy 15 minute walk from the farm. The market has a diverse and interesting range of food options to choose from. For more information, visit the Channon Market website.

Internet and Mobiles

The wireless internet will be on from 6pm to 9pm. This is provided for emails, research, web browsing, and skype (or similar), but it is not to be used for downloading, i.e. movies, music, pictures, and large files (small Word and PDFs are ok) or streaming (i.e. movies, music, videos). No internet assess will be provided for use in the class room or the eating area, so please do not ask as refusal may offend. Internet access will be provided in the classroom only during an exercise that requires it. It is recommended that you bring your laptop as it will be of great use (file swapping between students is very common). Assess to a computer will not be provided unless it is an emergency, so please do not ask as refusal may offend. Most students will bring a laptop and many are generally happy to loan so you can check your emails.

Laptops need to be unplugged after sunset.

Free local phone calls may be made from the common room. A phone card can also be used to make calls from this phone.

Please be aware that mobile phone reception is weak or non-existent for most service providers at the farm, but students usually find reception with many mobile phone service providers just a short distance walk up the road.

Zaytuna Farm’s electricity comes from a stand-alone solar system. This means that as the sun shines we have plenty of power and outside of daylight hours we try to limit our power usage as much as possible. So while it is possible to recharge your electrical items, please keep in mind that if it is overcast, or night-time, there will be no power available to recharge.

Organising Independent Access to Phone and Internet

The only reliable mobile phone reception on the farm is from Telstra Next G network. You can research purchasing a SIM card or mobile phone on the Telstra Next G network via this link.

Climate

The climate in The Channon is subtropical. This means it is cool to cold on winter nights and hot and humid in mid-summer. Rain is frequent throughout the year with the main wet season in summer. It is recommended to bring boots and wet weather gear.

Visas

Download information on Visas here (62kb PDF).

Institute Policies

The PRI is a registered non-profit organisation, which rents Zaytuna Farm for the purpose of running and teaching permaculture courses. For this reason we ask that all students observe some rules put in place by Zaytuna Farm.

Incoming students should be aware that although Zaytuna Farm is still within its development stage, we consider ourselves a serious educational facility and as such we have a few policies in place. These include:

• Care of the Earth
• Care of People
• We expect that all staff, volunteers, guests and students conduct themselves in a cooperative manner and show respect to others
• Zaytuna Farm is a DRUG and ALCOHOL free zone
• We expect everyone to dress modestly. As with most other educational institutions, clothing with foul language or obscene images, tank tops or muscle shirts and mini-skirts are not acceptable
• Due to Occupational Health and Safety you must wear appropriate protective or safety clothing when required. At no stage are guests, volunteers or students allowed to operate any of the equipment on site unless directed by PRI staff.

Directions to Zaytuna Farm

Zaytuna Farm is located 1 kilometre from the Village of The Channon, 20 km outside of Lismore, in northern New South Wales. The closest airport is located in Lismore and is serviced by ReX (Regional Express) Airlines. Other regional airports with reasonable access to the PRI include Coolangatta and Ballina. Brisbane Airport is the closest major international airport with limited international services available through Coolangatta airport.

By Car From Brisbane

The Channon is located roughly a three hour drive from Brisbane. Follow the Pacific Hwy south past Tweed Heads and the NSW/Queensland border, continuing past the Byron Bay exit for approximately two kilometres to the Bangalow exit. Take this exit and continue on to the roundabout at the top of the hill in Bangalow (just over the bridge) and turn right towards Lismore. Then drive for approximately 14.6 kilometres to Clunes. Just after entering the village of Clunes, at the top of the hill, turn right towards Dunoon and The Channon. Continue to follow the signs towards Dunoon and The Channon.

Turn right into The Channon Road at the sign for ‘The Channon’ and continue driving until you reach the village. Carry on past The Channon Tavern and take the first left onto Koonorigan Road. Continue over the bridge and at the fork in the road keep to the left. You will then move onto Pinchin Road which is a gravel road. The farm entry is the first driveway on the left at 1158 Pinchin Road. There is a sign labelled “Permaculture Research Institute” at the entrance to the driveway.

From Byron Bay

Drive west from Byron to the Pacific Highway entrance and head south. Then follow the directions as above.

From Sydney and the South

Take Pacific Highway north, continuing on past Ballina and Lennox head. Take the exit labelled Bangalow and follow the directions as above from Bangalow.

Lismore to the Channon

Quinns Bus Service Monday to Friday:

• 0555 Lismore Transit Centre at Molesworth Street to The Channon
• 1530 The Channon (Bus # 652 and need to hail) to Lismore

Quinns Bus Service Saturday:

• 0545 Lismore Transit Centre, Molesworth Street to The Channon
• 0730 The Channon to Lismore (need to hail).

On School holidays, the bus from The Channon to Lismore departs from The Channon shop otherwise the times are the same.

The trip to/from The Channon takes approximately 20-30 minutes.

Contact Quinns on: (02) 6621 3095

Public Transportation Bus

Premier Motor Services and Countrylink run daily bus services leaving from Brisbane airport and Brisbane Transit Centre to Lismore.

Train

Countrylink operates rail and connecting coach services to country regions of New South Wales and some interstate locations. Services vary, dependent on from where you are coming, so please check their website to validate routes and times.

Student Pick-up from Lismore

For information please contact education (at) permaculture.org.au

Cancellation Policy

• More than 30 days prior to course commencement: If you wish to cancel your course outside of 30 days prior to the course start date, the deposit will be forfeited unless it is to be used to transfer to another course. One transfer is allowed.
• Between 14-30 days from course commencement: If you cancel your course within 30 days but outside of 14 days of the start date of the course fee will be refunded but the deposit withheld.
• Between 0-14 days from course commencement: If you cancel your course within 14 days of the start date, no refund will be provided. (In cases of extreme hardship, you are welcome to contact the Institute and discuss the matter with staff. In these cases an administration fee still applies.)

Welcome to Zaytuna Farm and the Permaculture Research Institute!

We invite you to come to learn, share knowledge and meals and experience the diversity of the natural systems of which we are a part. We expect your learning experience will be one you will treasure forever and that will, perhaps, even be transformative. It will serve you and your community no matter where you live and what you do.