Syntropic Farming Course

DIVE DEEPER INTO THE PRINCIPLES OF SYNTROPIC FARMING

Next Course: 11-15 November 2019

Transform the way you grow your food and multiply productivity in your backyard, market garden or large-scale farm. Dive even deeper with our Level 2 Course!

More than just a gardening course

The word ‘Syntropy’ in an agroforestry concept which refers to “increasing complexity” or bio-diversity within the system.

As an innovative approach to regenerative agriculture, Syntropic Farming allows us to create dynamic, successional, and economically viable ecosystems that restore degraded soil biodiversity.

What makes Syntropic farming unique is that it emulates the growth of the rainforest, one of the most bio-diverse systems of life on the planet. By understanding and respecting nature’s complex system and copying how the rainforest functions, we can save massive amounts of water on our crops or orchards, eliminate the use of chemicals and considerably reduce financial and labour cost.

During this Level 2 Course, we will dive into the principles of Syntropic Farming by working on a young Syntropic Farming system, implemented one year ago, with a focus on large-scale farms and management.

Meet your facilitators

Thiago Gimenez Barbosa is a Syntropic farming pioneer in Australia who is helping to spread the knowledge of this unique farming system and teaching farmers and backyard gardeners to apply the principles in different regions and climates around Australia and the world.

Thiago grew up growing food with his grandparents in the countryside of Brazil. He fell in love with the principles of Syntropic Farming and over the last years has been visiting and working with Ernst Götsch and other teachers and farmers across Brazil to improve his knowledge and skills. He facilitates workshops throughout different regions and climates in Australia and helps farmers transition from conventional to regenerative practices using Syntropic Farming principles.

Henrique Sousa has been applying the learnings of Ernst Götsch for over 30 years at his property in Bahia, Brazil. He is growing Cacau and Acai where people said they would never be able to grow due to the region and climate. Today, his farm is lush, diverse, and abundant due to his application of Syntropic Farming principles.

What’s included

• 30 hours Syntropic Farming instruction with Thiago Gimenez Barbosa from Syntropic Farms Co. and Henrique Sousa

• Hands-on classes looking at the on-site examples of home garden, market garden and large-scale farming

• Course manual

• 3 delicious vegetarian meals per day

• 4 nights accommodation (optional)

• Morning yoga classes (optional)

Topics covered

This Level 2 course dives deeper into the methodology and philosophy of Syntropic Farming. It will be an intensive 4 days of theory and application with Thiago Barbosa and Henrique Sousa, leaving you with an understanding of the core practices used in Syntropic Farming, along with a practical, hands-on experience of how the concepts are put into practice. This course is for farmers, entrepreneurs, students, teachers and anyone who wants to be be involved with food production and environmental stewardship. The main topics will be:

• Natural Succession

• Stratification of the Plants – layer or space occupation, dimension, etc.

• Life Cycle of the Plants – time of occupation, dimension, etc.

• Soil Evaluation and Landscape Reading

• Observation of climate and soil through all senses

• Bacteria and fungi (Mychorrhizae) + Quantity of life/ diversity

• Soil coverage

• Theory of Syntropy and Entropy

• Soil Preparation + different types of garden beds

• System design

• Planting demonstration

  and much much more…

Contact

You can contact us for questions on 0411 348 891 or via email: syntropicfarmsco@gmail.com  

What to bring

Rain coat

Gardening gloves

Sunscreen

Hat

Water bottle

Note book

To see if this experience is for you, please read our FAQ for retreat guests and have a look at our Code of Conduct.

Testimonials

“A massive store-house of knowledge”

“I would like to convey my thanks and deep gratitude to Krishna Village and Thiago for hosting the wonderful Syntropic Farming Course last weekend. It was a marvellous weekend, spent with gentle people, soaking in the knowledge and the loving energy of Krishna Farm. Thiago is a great teacher; his teaching style is lucid, easy to understand, hands-on and above all respectful to Mother Earth and Nature.  Thiago is a massive store-house of knowledge and also has a great sense of humour. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the course plus my stay at the village, and of course the yummy vegetarian food.”

– Parvin Balsara

“Knowledge, Wisdom and Passion”

“I just wanted say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to Thiago for sharing all of his knowledge, wisdom and passion over the weekend!! I love propagating food scraps & little indoor plants & have been wanting to learn more about growing my own food & plant medicine for so long! I have been looking into different permaculture courses in 3 different states, for over 2 years but none felt as right as when I stumbled across Thiago’s syntropic farming course at Krishna Village. I am super grateful that I waited and then discovered this agroforesty technique and I am super excited to start applying the principles to every garden that I plant from today, forward! I made so many incredible friends and connections in the two days that I was at Krisha Village – so I also wanted to express my gratitude towards the wonderful team & volunteers that made my stay cozy and welcoming.”

-Jacqueline Hastwell

Cost & payment

The cost of the course depends on the accommodation type you choose. 3 meals/day and optional yoga classes are included in each option. Please click the below booking buttons to see the different choices.

Without accommodation: AU$790 (Early bird $660)

Camping: AU$990 (Early bird $860)

In twin share or double accommodation: AU$1090 (Early bird $960)

In a single room: AU$1170 (Early bird $1040)

In a double room: AU$1270 (Early bird $1140)

Special deal:

For long term volunteers (min 4 week commitment before course start): AU$600 (for this option, please contact us via reception or the contact form on this website)

Before you book, please read our terms and conditions including our refund policy. 

Not from Australia? Figure out your rate with the XE currency converter.

Booking steps

1) Click button to select your preferred start date on our booking page

2) On the booking page, select your accommodation type + number of guests

The Krishna Village experience

As a permanent eco yoga community and retreat centre, we provide classes ongoingly for all guests, taught by a variety of teachers. On Mondays, we run an 11am Welcome Tour for all visitors and introduce you to our program and our way of life. 

To get an idea about our program outside of the Syntropic Farming Course, please have a look at our activities overview and read our info page about Bhakti Yoga culture.

As a course participant, you are welcome to join all those additional classes. 

Accommodation

Located between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, the Krishna Village can host up to 75 people in a combination of rooms, dorms and camping spots. All rooms have shared amenities. The amenities block includes showers, toilets and a coin operated laundry (byo laundry powder). All rates include 3 meals/day and all yoga and other classes.  

Common areas include the kitchen & campfire area (the heart of the Krishna Village), the reading room (with Internet hotspot) and the yoga hall where we gather for classes. 

Single, twin share & double rooms

The Krishna Village has 9 double rooms (one big bed), 5 twin shares (bunk bed) and 11 single rooms. They are all set in former shipping containers that have been renovated and turned into simple but comfortable accommodation. Bedding is being provided, but you need to bring your own towels and toiletries.

Camp ground

Set among beautiful mango and lychee trees in our eastern garden, our camp ground can host up to 20 tents. The van area for up to 10 camper vans is equipped with electricity. The amenities block is only 50m away.

Delicious Vegetarian Food

The Krishna Farm has been producing organic veggies since the 1980s and has therefore fantastic conditions to grow excellent produce. We grow as much of our own food as we can, and otherwise buy locally wherever possible. 

We provide 3 delicious vegetarian meals every day, with lunches taking place at the Krishna Village community kitchen, and breakfast and dinners – mostly Indian style – served at the prasadam hall, next to the temple. 

All our food is prasadam – sacred food prepared in a consciousness of loving service. Like in other cultures, we offer our food before we eat to say Grace and thank the Divine for the sun, the rain, and all the visible and invisible blessings necessary to co-create a delicious meal. Feel free to sing along with us, or just listen and enjoy…

The Krishna Farm

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Warning, in the heart of the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, the Hare Krishna Farm “New Govardhana” is a 1000 acre property with orchards, certified organicveggie gardens, cows, horses, streams and swimming holes in abundance. 

New Govardhana serves as an ashram to a community of yogis who aspire to live according to their deepest vows and commitments on their path of service, spiritual contentment and happiness, Bhakti Yoga. Their service and dedication make this location a beautiful place of growth, healing and spiritual awakening. If you are interested, please come along and visit our beautiful Radha Govardhandhari temple.