Water Management in Drought

with Geoff Lawton 2026

Kalász

Water management

for desertified areas

Kalász

Permaculture solutions

for water retention

Kalász

Reversing desiccation

Strategic planning

Kalász

Date

25-27 September 2026.

Teachers

Geoff Lawton, István Márkuly

Location

Terény

Prices, materials

family and student discounts

Tanya
Geoff Lawton

00

+

days
workshop

Water Harvesting in Action

with Geoff Lawton

Kalász
  • 3 days
    workshop

  • With lunch and
    tent accommodation

Water is a key element in permaculture. We design the landscape in such a way that it captures water and shapes its flow as it moves through a landscape, making the land more useful, valuable, and productive. We take water, slow it, stop it, spread it, and soak it through a landscape making sure we hydrate and stabilize the soil to also mitigate droughts and floods.

Join Geoff and his team for this unique, action-packed workshop to learn water harvesting in action.

During the workshop, you'll learn:

Kalász

If you join us in Terény from 25–27 September 2026, you'll spend three inspiring days exploring practical, regenerative approaches to water management.

  • Examining the European drought situation through a permaculture lens: what lies behind the water crisis, and what positive role can we play in changing it?

  • How severe is the situation in Hungary compared to the international context, and what solutions work in much drier regions?

  • How does water behave? What types of water do we manage, and in what patterns do they move?

  • As individuals, how can we contribute to replenishing water in our local bioregion on a small scale?

  • What water-retention strategies exist for both small- and large-scale landscapes?

  • How do we select the right water-retention method—such as contour ditches, ponds, or dams—based on terrain conditions?

  • How can we create diverse, resilient landscapes that support biodiversity and sustainable food production?

  • How can we manage precipitation that is decreasing in volume and arriving at unpredictable times?

  • How should we plant the landscape to achieve the best results?

  • How can we use earthworks to spread, channel, and retain water?

  • How can we stabilize the soil, which serves as the most critical layer for water retention?

  • Key leverage points in the water cycle for households and small farms to increase yields.

Who is this programme for?

Kalász
  • We recommend this program to anyone who wants to gain a deep understanding of the processes involved in designing water systems, or who is already working in this field.

  • It can be a great help to those who are considering moving to the countryside, but the knowledge gained can also be easily applied in an urban setting.

  • For those who already own a small or large farm and experience the impact of climate change in their daily lives through reduced yields.

The workshop kicks off on 25 September 2026.

Ok, I’m ready!

Kalász

”If you only do one thing, collect rainwater"

Kalász

Bill Mollison - researcher, writer, scientist, teacher and biologist

Prices, discounts

Ok, I’m ready!

  • 00

    days

    workshop

  • 00

    night

    campfire and socialising

  • 00

    %

    discount for our PDC students

Trainers, Mentors

World-famous permaculture consultant

Kalász
Levél

Geoff Lawton

Permaculture consultant

Geoff Lawton is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer and teacher. He obtained his PDC in 1983 with Bill Mollison, widely regarded as the "Father of Permaculture". Since 1985, Geoff has specialized in permaculture education, design, implementation, system building, administration and community development. Working in over 50 countries, Geoff has taught over 15,000 students.

He founded the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia and Zaytuna Farm, home to Geoff and Nadia's family. As an award-winning permaculture designer, Geoff's main goal is to encourage the creation of self-replicating educational demonstration sites around the world.

More trainers, mentors

Kalász
Levél

István Márkuly

Permaculture system designer and implementer - Consultant

Istvan is an active member of the permaculture network in Ireland, particularly in West Cork. He is regularly invited to design and teach in other parts of Ireland, Europe, Africa and Asia. He gained his experience through many years of international internships, during which he has been exposed to a wide range of cultures and ecosystems, from wetlands to desert landscapes. He obtained a Sustainable Horticulture/Permaculture degree from Kinsale College in 2015. He completed a number of international training programmes led by some of the most well-known consultants in the field. His masters include Warren Bush, Paul Taylor and Geoff Lawton. As the co-founder of Earth Environmental Education, he is committed to make permaculture principles, its philosophy and practice accessible and popular, so that more people can make them part of their everyday lives.

Ok, I’m ready!

Course Outline

Water Management in Drought

Kalász
  • Date: 25-27 September 2026

    Arrival on Thursday from 4 pm onwards. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be programmes from 9am to 5pm. These will be followed by an optional campfire discussion evening.

  • Location: Terény, 2696 Hungary

    The workshop is limited, book your place as soon as possible!

    Tents with showers are available on site. We can help you book accommodation in Terény, please enquire by email after booking.

  • Languages: Main language is English, with constant translation to Hungarian

  • Food: The course price includes lunch and unlimited coffee and tea during the days.

  • A 30% discount is offered for those who have previously completed a PDC with us.*

  • Couples get a 10% discount*

  • Registration for the programme is valid only after confirmation of payment of the participation fee!

  • * Please contact hello@permaculture.hu if you would like to claim any of these discounts! The discounts cannot be combined!

Thursday - September 24

Arrival and settling in

4pm onwards

Arrivals on Thursday are possible from 4 pm onwards. On the first day we arrive, get acquainted with each other and everyone settles into their accommodation (Tents with showers are available on site. We can help you book accommodation in Terény, please enquire by email after booking.)

Friday - September 25

Desert strategies in drought-prone areas

Theory + Practice

Drylands account for more than 40% of the Earth's total land surface—nearly 5.4 billion hectares. Each year, approximately 1 million square kilometers of healthy, productive land (an area roughly the size of Egypt) becomes barren.

What can we learn from these areas where the process is already advanced? What regenerative strategies are used to manage water in these regions?

Saturday - September 26

Practical steps and applications

Practice

Types of water retention methods, along with their characteristics and benefits. How to apply them to maintain and increase yields. Many small measures add up to a significant result. Managing blackwater and greywater on a small scale. Practical solutions that anyone can implement without requiring major resources.

Sunday - September 27

Yield

Theory + Practice

The many facets of yield. Its relationship with drought. Is a steady, increasing yield possible amidst fluctuating, unpredictable climatic conditions?

Defining individual goals for the next 5–10 years and planning the practical steps to achieve them.

  • 00

    price of the workshop

  • 00

    %

    Recurring discount

  • 00

    %/person

    Family discount

If you only do one thing, collect rainwater"

Kalász

Geoff Lawton - Permaculture advisor

Prices, discounts

Ok, I’m ready!

Terény

Location

Kalász

The workshop will take place in Terény, where our PDC training is also held. The address is 28 Kossuth street. Tents with showers are available on site. We can help you book accommodation in Terény, please enquire by email after booking.

Water Harvesting In Action Price

Kalász
  • 3 days workshop from Friday afternoon to Monday

  • Networking opportunity at the campfire

  • Lunch, unlimited coffee, tea

  • Tent pitches with showers

Discounts

Kalász
  • With family discount the price is 450€/person*

  • A 30% discount is offered for those who have previously completed a PDC with us.*

    343€/person

  • * Please contact hello@permaculture.hu if you would like to claim any of these discounts! The discounts cannot be combined!

  • Registration for the programme is valid only after confirmation of payment of the participation fee!

    • 00

      Price of the workshop

    • 00

      For former students

    • 00

      €/person

      For couples

    Send a message

    Contact us

    Kalász

    Nóra Miklós (9.00am to 7.00pm, CET - Hungarian timezone):

    Kalász
    Water Management in Drought – with Geoff Lawton 2026