Permaculture knowledge blooms
Travelling to Perth for a weekend of study once a month was a small price to pay, according to Andrea Chapman – who has reached a milestone in environmental studies history.
Ms Chapman is the first person to complete her Diploma of Permaculture using resources from WA.
Most people wanting to study this course have had to travel interstate to get comprehensive training but thanks to a lecturer based in Perth and Ms Chapman’s dedication, that trend has changed.
Ms Chapman said the course taught her how to create environmentally friendly and sustainable gardens.
“I started horticulture years ago and did a permaculture design course. I was hooked after that, ” she said.
“I was the first one to finish, there was five in the group who did it in Perth.
“I handed my stuff in three weeks ago and the lecturer told me I was the first to get it using the WA course. There are others in the State who have the qualification but they had to study interstate.”
The diploma usually takes a year to complete but because the training was only held monthly it took Ms Chapman three years to finish.
Ms Chapman said she hoped to teach others the course from SWIT in the future.
“There is a lady in Margaret River who teaches up to a certain level so hopefully we can work in cahoots with her, ” she said.
“I would like to do volunteer work in communities and schools as well, ” she said.
