Intensive Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC)
Intensive PDC course with Hélder Valente
Highly regarded portuguese permaculturist who was a student of Bill Molinson, the father of permaculture.
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Pictures of Festança’s 2022 PDC – with Hélder Valente
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Testimonials
One thing was clear to me right from the start – if in the midst of all this worldwide pandemic chaos, all these people are still coming to the course from the other side of the Atlantic, it will be special! I felt inspired, supported, understood, challenged, encouraged. As they say, every conflict is an opportunity, and if we see this pandemic as a global conflict, then it can be a great opportunity for change, for slowing down, for going deeper and not further, for getting our hands in the garden (interior ), of Permaculture! I am grateful for all the amazing people I met during the courses, so much laughter, hugs, spontaneous dancing, building and burning in our first fireplace. Our Perma tribe was led by our eco-shaman Hélder, the most unusual and nonconformist teacher I’ve ever had, with his great sense of humor and observation skills, he knows how to bring out the best in people. Lots of really cool (horror) stories from his many experiences around the world. Bring popcorn.
About Hélder and his work
“Permaculture emerged as a very natural response. Deep down, I wanted to be more self-sufficient, to live less dependent on external resources.”
— Hélder Valente, Permaculturist
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BIO
Hélder was born in Cinfães, a village of Viseu bathed by the Douro River, within a family that lived from agriculture for several generations. He was still new when he migrated with his parents to Lisbon and early on to understand whether he belonged to the countryside or the city. He still had gifts “all the memories of the difficulties of living in the countryside” and this momentarily removed him from agriculture. He wanted to be an artist.
And so it was. He worked as a tattoo artist for about 10 years, but eventually saturated: “As an artist, he felt all the frustrations of being closed in a place to draw and have to receive people. Permaculture emerged as a very natural response. Deep down, I wanted to be more self-sufficient, to live less dependent on external resources. ”
Then he started studying. He took several courses related to the theme, one with Bill Mollison, one of the creators of the concept of permaculture, and founded the new permaculture school, a nomadic school that “escapes the old paradigms of teaching”, promoting “alternative education, creative and empowering ”. The goal, he says, “is that students speak more and share the knowledge they have instead of looking at the master, teacher or guru, holder of all wisdom.”
Hélder, who has always seen himself as a “professional revolutionary”, is always aware of the appearance of ideas that explore a new life system. Sociocracy is one of its latest passions and it is in this concept, it is the great challenge of our civilization: “make decisions together and solve the problems in a way that everyone feels that participates.”
In Portugal, Hélder has been involved in various projects, such as the creation of Quinta do Vale da Lama, in Lagos, which promotes permaculture and regenerative agriculture. The teacher emphasizes that “we are one of the countries where permaculture is present in Europe”, but adds that “the great challenge continues to find ways to work on a network and to organize ourselves collectively”: “Portuguese are very emotional people and the Working in a team in a pragmatic way is not so easy for us [laughs]. ”
And so it was. He worked as a tattoo artist for about 10 years, but eventually saturated: “As an artist, he felt all the frustrations of being closed in a place to draw and have to receive people. Permaculture emerged as a very natural response. Deep down, I wanted to be more self-sufficient, to live less dependent on external resources. ”
Then he started studying. He took several courses related to the theme, one with Bill Mollison, one of the creators of the concept of permaculture, and founded the new permaculture school, a nomadic school that “escapes the old paradigms of teaching”, promoting “alternative education, creative and empowering ”. The goal, he says, “is that students speak more and share the knowledge they have instead of looking at the master, teacher or guru, holder of all wisdom.”
Hélder, who has always seen himself as a “professional revolutionary”, is always aware of the appearance of ideas that explore a new life system. Sociocracy is one of its latest passions and it is in this concept, it is the great challenge of our civilization: “make decisions together and solve the problems in a way that everyone feels that participates.”
In Portugal, Hélder has been involved in various projects, such as the creation of Quinta do Vale da Lama, in Lagos, which promotes permaculture and regenerative agriculture. The teacher emphasizes that “we are one of the countries where permaculture is present in Europe”, but adds that “the great challenge continues to find ways to work on a network and to organize ourselves collectively”: “Portuguese are very emotional people and the Working in a team in a pragmatic way is not so easy for us [laughs]. ”
New School Permaculture