Plant the future with us: Your place in the free permaculture course at Wurzelhof!

Next course: July 17 – 20, 2025

Imagine being able to create a blooming paradise from a simple patch of lawn with your own hands. A place where plants support each other, every drop of water is used, and the earth becomes more vibrant with each passing year.

What may sound like a distant dream, we have already begun to make reality in May. At the Waldorf School Cottbus eV (Wurzelhof) Farm Learning Center, we've rolled up our sleeves with a group of motivated people. Now we invite you to become part of this transformation! Learn with us how to create sustainable systems using the intelligent methods of permaculture – practical, collaborative, and full of joy.

A look back: What we created together in just 4 days in May

It's hard to believe what a community can accomplish in such a short time. What started as an inconspicuous patch of sandy grassland became the foundation for a truly vibrant ecosystem. Here's a small sample of what we've created together:

The beginning of a forest garden: We have prepared the ground for future fruit tree communities. These are clever plant guilds in which trees, shrubs, and herbs nourish and protect each other.
A buzzing tea oasis: A particularly dry corner was transformed into a lean zone with Mediterranean herbs. Tea bushes now grow here for the forest school's own use—a direct request that we implemented using permaculture principles.
Fruits and colors: Raspberry hedges and a special blueberry refuge promise future harvests. At the same time, we've planted a bed of dye plants.
From lawn to bed without digging : One of the most effective techniques is surface composting. Instead of laboriously removing the grass, we trampled it down to utilize the existing biomass. We then layered it thickly with compost and mulch. This way, we're building completely new, highly fertile, and organic bed structures directly on top of the old lawn—the perfect foundation for everything that's supposed to grow here.

PLAYtoGROW: How we make permaculture a playful experience

Our courses are more than just gardening. We call our learning philosophy PLAYtoGROW . We believe that the best solutions emerge when we approach challenges playfully and creatively. Instead of simply imparting knowledge in a straightforward manner, we make abstract principles tangible.

Using our Infinity Tools —such as the modular Beenius construction kit and reusable stone paper—we plan in small groups, design water systems, or visualize plant communities. This transforms each participant from a listener to an active designer. You'll not only learn what permaculture is, but also experience how it works—in a co-creative process that connects head, heart, and hands.

Focus of the summer course: water!

After laying the foundations in the spring, the summer course from July 17 to 20 will focus on the most important topic in Lusatia: water. You'll immediately apply the principles of permaculture:

Learn how to cleverly store rainwater and channel it through smart ditches (swales) to where it is needed.
Discover how we promote biodiversity to build resilient soil that teems with life and holds water like a sponge.
Join us in creating a true, growing paradise and gain knowledge that you can apply anywhere.

An opportunity for everyone: Why this course is free

This project is particularly close to our hearts, and we have fantastic news: Thanks to funding from the Lausitz region, we can offer participation in this intensive, four-day course completely free of charge !

All hard facts & your registration

What? Creating a forest garden – Your practical permaculture course
Where? Learning Center Farm of the Waldorf School Cottbus eV, Am Wurzelhof 5, 03055 Cottbus
When?
- Summer course (focus on water): July 17th – July 20, 2025
- Autumn course (focus on harvest and winter preparation): October 16 – 19, 2025
Course times: Every Thursday–Sat, 9:30–19:00 & Sunday, 9:30–17:00
Cost: Participation is free . We appreciate a donation (suggested €25 per day) to cover the delicious, organic meals (breakfast, lunch, and cake).

Outlook for autumn: Harvesting, processing & preparing

In the October course, we'll reap the fruits of our labor! We'll focus on processing, seed production, establishing compost systems, and preparing the garden for winter.

This is your chance to become part of a movement that doesn't just talk, but does. Learn with us – Agnes, Uz, and Denny – how to plant the future using the intelligent and playful methods of permaculture.

Are you in? Then register quickly and secure your spot!