FarmReady Approved Course - Course ID # FRTC0184

To apply to receive 100% reimbursement for the cost of this course visit http://www.farmready.gov.au/ 

29th - 31st March 09 - Atherton Tablelands • Far North Queensland

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn practical, hands-on Keyline Design  with the world's most respected Keyline educator, Darren Doherty. The Keyline System of farming has been one of the pillars of sustainable farming and hydrology, with the first book “Water for Every Farm” published in 1954. In it, P.A. Yeomans exploded the myth that it takes 1,000 years to produce an inch of topsoil. Keyline Design is a design system that restores and regenerates landscapes, applicable to both rural and urban areas. 

It is a unique combination of water conservation and soil building, with great appeal to both farmers and pastoralists as it has 

the ability to build and regenerate degraded soils rapidly, and sees the use of grazing animals as beneficial to this process.

The term Keyline comes from the reference to a “keypoint” on the watershed, which is the interface between collection and distribution of water on the landscape, where ridge meets the valley. Keyline is a philosophy and technique that doesn’t pit the needs of farmers against environmentalists trying to protect wildlife and fish habitat, and with carbon sequestering techniques used, helps to address aspects of global warming and climate change.

Water harvesting strategies employed by Keyline Design provide drought-proofing for farms. Keyline principles and techniques are based on a holistic approach that works with natural patterns to restore and increase the depth and fertility of the soil, while increasing its water holding capabilities. The Keyline plow utilizes a special cultivation technique to infiltrate water into the soil efficiently and hold it on the land as long as possible.

"The object of Agriculture is to feed and clothe people.  Two things will guarantee this happens with maximum efficiency. Firstly, farming must be prosperous and secondly, soil fertility must constantly improve" - P.A.Yeomans 

Who is this course for?

The Keyline Design Course is an intensive blend of technical & practical sessions targeted at would-be carbon farmers, professional land managers, consultants, Permaculture designers, earthmovers, farmers and anyone with a strong interest in sustainable land management and soil creation. This 3-day on-site course will fully outline all of the principles and techniques involved with the modern application of Keyline Design. We will have the use of Keyline's central tool, the multi-award winning, Yeomans Keyline Plow for demonstration at this course.

Topics covered include:

•    Keyline™ Design
•    Carbon sequestration
•    Cost effective soil creation
•    Water harvesting & reticulation
•    Designing water into a property
•    Dam placement
•    Pasture improvement
•    Holistic Management™
                          and much more......

About the Teacher

Darren Doherty has extensive experience across the world in Permaculture project design, development & management. A focus on retrofitting broad acre agricultural systems has seen Darren acclaimed as a pioneer in this important & often overlooked field. He is a registered teacher of The Permaculture Institute, a qualified Whole Farm Planner (University of Melbourne), Approved Keyline Designer, & Accredited Permaculture Training (APT) Trainer. Back in Australia after a year travelling the world, teaching extensively in a huge variety of bioregions, students can expect a swag of new and updated ideas, techniques and information added to Darren’s already large array.. GIS, Consulting Processes, Keyline Design, Holistic Management™ and Carbon Farming plus a lot more… 

 

 

Location & Travel 
The course will be held on a 300 acre Hereford cattle  property  just  outside  Malanda, an easy 1.5hrs drive from 

Cairns International Airport or 15 minutes from Atherton, the largest township on the majestic Atherton Tablelands. 

The property is owned and run by the proprietors of the award winning  and  well  respected local business 

Marsh Butcheries in Stratford, Cairns.The site provides an excellent venue for learning about the application of 

Keyline Design systems.   

 

Please visit our maps and click on Keyline Design Course for the exact location 

Bus services are available from Cairns to Atherton and Malanda. Pickups can be provided for a small fee. 
Please contact us to arrange a pick up.  
 
Bookings  
The course fee is $485. This fee includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea on each of the three days. A field analysis kit bag 
containing farmer’s level, compass, topographical maps of the course site, soil analysis kit and other essential objects will also 
be available for purchase priorto the course. This kit bag is recommended as it contains the essential tools for this course.  
Please notify us when booking if you would like to purchase any of these items.  
 

  
To book your place or for more information contact Kym on Mb: +61 (0)407 243 298 or Georgie on 
Mb: +61 (0)437 267 323 or contact us via email. To ensure that all participants get the most from this course positions are limited, 
so please book early to ensure your place.  
 
Accommodation  
Convenient accommodation for this course can be booked at Malanda Falls Caravan Park  which is situated in Malanda, 

10 minutes from the site. Options include cabins, powered and  unpowered caravan sites and camping. 

For participants willing to share a cabin, special rates apply. 

 

Contact them on 07 4096 5314  
  
Other accommodation options in the area include;  
• Atherton Halloran’s Leisure Park   
• Big4 Atherton Woodlands Tourist Park   
• Malanda Lodge Motel   

Visit Atherton Tablelands for further information on the wide range of accommodation available throughout the region.
 
For those attending both the KDC and the PDC beforehand  
If  you  are  planning  to  attend  both  the  Keyline  Design  course  and  the Permaculture Design Course (taught by  

Darren  Doherty, finishes  the  day  before  the  Keyline  course),  there  is an  additional  accommodation  option. 

For a small additional fee of $30, you  can  camp  on‐site  at  Rosella  Waters  during  the  Keyline  Course. 

Our camping area includes basic facilities such as composting toilet  and  shower. This accommodation option includes breakfast  

and dinner  on  each  day during the Keyline course, as well as the night before and the morning following. 

 

To take up this accommodation option, contact us once you have booked your course.   

About FreeRange Permaculture  
FreeRange Permaculture provides  world-class  courses  and  workshops  in  a  range  of  sustainable practices. 
We have become a leader  in  sustainability  education  for  future  generations  in  the  Far North through our 
Healthy Educational Living Permaculture (H.E.L.P.) School Garden program. 
Our Permaculture  demonstration site  is “Rosella Waters” near Cairns in Far North Queensland. The 2.38H property is located

in Walkamin near  what  is  locally  known  as  the  “jump‐up”,  the  edge  of  an ancient  lava  flow. At an elevation of 

420 meters above sea level and with over  1000mm  of rainfall per year, it is a unique climate suited to a wide range of produce. 

The  property is fronted by 194  meters  of  the  Barron  River,  which  flows year  round  and  is  the  major  river  in  the  region.  
Any questions,  just  call  us  on Hm: +61  (07)  4086  8019  or  Kym on Mb: +61 (0)407 243 298 and Georgie on Mb: +61 (0)437 267 323. 

Alternatively you can Email us.