Syntropic Agroforestry Foundations
Online Course
A solid substratum for you to grow on...
The most comprehensive and individually supported Syntropic Agroforestry course in the world.
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Course Summary
100% online training
2 year access
12 weekly Q&A live sessions
20+ hours recorded content
In-depth Syntropic Theory
Weekly practical tasks
Individual feedback
12 places only
2 timezones
All climates catered
Course Summary
100% online training
Life-time access
12 weekly Q&A live sessions
20+ hours recorded content
In-depth Syntropic Theory
Weekly practical tasks
Individual feedback
12 places only
2 timezones
All climates catered
Course Curriculum Summary
Wk 1. Syntropic Agroforestry Worldview
Wk 2. Macro Syntropic Elements
Wk 3. Elemental Relationship and Decision-Making framework
Wk 4. Forest Dynamics and Plant Ecophysiology
Wk 5. Living Systems Dynamics and Life-sustaining Practices
Wk 6. Natural Succession and Forest Stratification
Wk 7. Syntropic Practices and Principles
Wk 8. Implementation - Considerations and Process
Wk 9. Management Theory and Observations
Wk 10. Syntropic Agroforestry Systems' Design
Wk 11. Agroforestry Planning
Wk 12. Review
2 Timezones for you to choose...
Syntropic Agroforestry
Foundations
COHORT 1 - Sundays
9am-11am AEST (UTC+10)
Brisbane - 9am; Tokyo - 8am; Singapore - 7am;
Jakarta - 6am; Los Angeles (Sat) 3pm;
Honolulu (Sat) 1pm; New York (Sat) 6pm;
Sao Paulo (Sat) 8pm.
Syntropic Agroforestry
Foundations
COHORT 2 - Sundays
7pm-9pm AEST (UTC+10)
Brisbane 7pm; New York - 4am;;
Sao Paulo - 6am; London 9am;
Paris - 10am; Johannesburg - 11am;
Tehran - 12:30pm; New Delhi - 2:30pm; Tokyo 6pm
Past Students Experiences...
Syntropic Agroforestry Foundations
Course Outline
Introduction
Syntropic Agroforestry is a lot more than simply planting specific plants
into a pre-determined spatial configuration.
Syntropic Agroforestry involves an immersive and time-consuming process of decision making, where many variables regarding crops, land, values, climate, relationships, resources, rhythms, emotions, goals, people (and many others) must come together harmoniously in order to be able to withstand the uncertainties of the economic, social and natural worlds.
The quality of the interaction between the wo/man and Nature is what largely determines the longevity and "success" of this relationship (like in any other co-creative process). Success is by no means solely measured in kilograms of food output, but also in quality and quantity of consolidated life - both below and above soil, as well as in the household.
Inevitably, agricultural production and land regeneration are the outcomes of this relationship -
not the goal!
The focus of the Foundation Program is on understanding and applying appropriate principles, processes and practices to increase the quantity and quality of consolidated life in all climates and geographies.
This 3 month-long program facilitates a gradual process where philosophy, theory and practice are integrated contextually by each participant. That is, the individualised approach ensures that all participants, regardless of their climatic and geographical challenges and opportunities, are able to assimilate and translate the principles, processes and practices into their context - their life.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), I cannot tell you what to plant, what to do and how to manage. These MUST be your own decisions, you must have ownership of all facets of this relationship.
There are no recipes! Only you can decide what is right, good and beautiful for you.
I will present and we will dialogue on numerous contextual, theoretical and practical concepts that will support you in that decision-making process, both during and after the course.
We are together for the long journey!
Despite being delivered online, the pre-recorded content is the least important part of this journey. Most importantly, it will be your regular practice and your participation in the live sessions. Theory alone will get you nowhere (apart from some nice pub conversations), theory integrated with practice will take you where you want to go!!
The trainee does the training, what you put in, you get out. Simple!!!
Course Objectives
- Offer a practice-oriented online course that is theoretically and philosophically rich.
- Present and discuss theories, practices and philosophies related to syntropic agroforestry, holistic management, ecology, plant propagation and identification, soil health, water dynamics, nature’s rhythms and patterns, irrigation, and others.
- Facilitate a process where participants feel welcomed, supported and encouraged to interact with their land and community open-heartedly;
- Guide participants through the discovery journey of their context and the possibilities that exist therein.
- Allow time and offer individual support for participants to incorporate all concepts and practices.
Participant Objectives
-
At the end of the course, all active participants will:
- - Have a deep understanding of the Syntropic Worldview and its practices;
- - Have understood the living dynamics of their own land;
- - Have put together a cohesive system design for their property;
- - Have created a context-specific implementation plan.
Delivery
100% Online - 12 Live Q&A Sessions - 20+ Hours of Recorded Content
- 12 Weeks duration (3 months);
- Weekly live Q&A sessions - Sundays for about 2 hours;
- 1-3 hours of online content released weekly;
- 2-5 hours weekly of structured homework;
- Private Telegram group;
-
2 timezones/cohorts:
- Cohort 1 - Sundays 9am AEST (UTC+10) - Please check your local time
- Cohort 2 - Sundays 7pm AEST (UTC+10) - Please check your local time
Participation
Only 12 participants per cohort
- Next Program intake: Not yet defined - likely September 2023
- Live Q&A sessions:
- Audience: anyone with an open mind and desire to work with Nature holistically regardless of their climate and level of expertise;
- Pre-requisite: no pre-requisite but a willingness to attend all live sessions and engage meaningfully with the content as well as homework;
- 2-year access to all online content including future additions and updates;
Tuition Fees: AUD$699 (approx. US$480.00 - Euro440)
Payment: Humanitix, direct deposit, PaylPal invoice or trustworthy payment plan (discussed individually – please get in touch).
Next Course Starts Soon
That's excitting...
Syntropic Agroforestry
Foundations
COHORT 1 - Sundays
9am-11am AEST (UTC+10)
Brisbane - 9am; Tokyo - 8am; Singapore - 7am;
Jakarta - 6am; Los Angeles (Sat) 3pm;
Honolulu (Sat) 1pm; New York (Sat) 6pm;
Sao Paulo (Sat) 8pm.
Syntropic Agroforestry
Foundations
COHORT 2 - Sundays
7pm-9pm AEST (UTC+10)
Brisbane 7pm; New York - 4am;;
Sao Paulo - 6am; London 9am;
Paris - 10am; Johannesburg - 11am;
Tehran - 12:30pm; New Delhi - 2:30pm; Tokyo 6pm
Course Curriculum
Week 1: Syntropic Agroforestry Worldview
A detailed explanation of the philosophy behind syntropic practices. Such understanding allows us to "behave appropriately" not only in our forest systems but also with other fellow humans in our journey for a more empathic world order.
Week 2: Macro Syntropic Agroforestry Processes
The worldview presented in week 1 is decanted into a set of conceptual relationships that help us to understand how our participation is a fundamental part in bringing harmony between concepts and our agroforesty-making reality.
Week 3: Elemental Relationships and the Decision-Making Process
In order for us to bring harmony to our agroforestry creation process, we must familiarise ourselves with the qualitative nature of the elements - Earth, Water, Air and Fire. By understanding the relationships between the nutrient cycle (Earth), water cycle (Water), community dynamics (Air) and energy cycle (Fire), we are able to have a tangible measuring stick and decision-making framework to help us evaluate how our actions will best serve to increase the quantity and quality of life on our land.
Week 4: Forest Dynamics and Plant Ecophysiology
Before we can start to create resilient Agroforestry systems, we must understand the dynamics that exist within our natural forests. By familiarising ourselves with Nature's strategies, we are able to apply them in our systems in a lawful manner, which allows us to speed up regeneration by an order of magnitude (10 years in 1).
Week 5: Living Systems and Living Practices
Syntropic agroforestry has as its main goal to foster living relationships, especially those underground. In order to do so, we will explore some fundamental characteristics of living systems, as well as explore some simple practices that we can apply to increase and maintain vitality in our systems.
Week 6: Natural Succession and Stratification
Natural succession is the engine behind Nature's regenerative and evolutionary processes. By understanding how our plants move in both time and space, we are able to play in 4 dimensions - yes, we start to play with time very effectively!!
Week 7: Syntropic Principles and Practices
In the second half of the Foundation's course we immerse ourselves in practicality. Here we start to translate all we've learnt about forest and living system's dynamics into tangible practices.
Week 8: Implementation
The nitty grity behind the scenes of our agroforestry systems. Although unseen, there are numerous steps, processes and practices that we must bring together in order to create the foundations for a prosperous agroforestry system. We only prepare our beds once, so it must be well done!!
Week 9: Management Practice
Management is by far the most important part of any syntropic system. It is the activity that allows our designs to come to fruition. It is, however, very complex and nuanced, and we can only really learn how to manage when we have a forest in front of us. Nevertheless, we will explore numerous management considerations that will allow us to design our systems correctly and context-specifically.
Week 10: The Design Process
Here we will explore how we actually put our chosen plants in both time and space. We will create a picture of our systems now and into the future, and then expand them into a movie, so we can clearly see where gaps may arise or where possible tensions will demand extra attention and participation on our behalf. We will be putting together our service plants, with our veggies as well as our productive trees in a cohesive and harmonious order (on paper at least)...
Week 11: Putting Ourselves in the Design
As we approach the end, we must create a final plan, one that not only considers the climate, the land, the plants and animals, but most importantly, considers ourselves and our reality. Here we will do just that - make a realistic action plan!!!
Week 12: Final revisions and celebrations
Well done!! I know it has been painful and adventurous and that you've seen the unseen and have questions that have not been answered. Here is our final chance to share our questions and thoughts and help each other out while sharing the same space. Obviously, our journey will continue far into the future... we have become a family of agroforesters!!!
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Looking forward to working and growing with you...
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victor@syntropicgardener.com
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