This is a series of field-based classes. Classes can be taken in series or separately. Read more details below if you are interested in permaculture certification.
Practical Permaculture for Sustainable Farming & Gardening
Class One: Intro to Sustainable Design Principles
May 16 -20, 2009 (arrive to class on May 15th, leave May 20th after 6pm); see Workshop I Schedule
With Toby Hemenway, author of first major North American book on permaculture, Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, and Scott Pittman, founder of Permaculture Institute.
- Pattern Literacy & Pattern Thinking for Sustainability;
- Permaculture Methodology for Productive Landscape Design - site, sector & zone
Hands-on exercises in observation, reading the landscape, soil preparation (mulching, compost use, inoculation with beneficial organisms), spring planting (vegetables, annual and perennial flowers, herbs), farm biodiversity, planting for pollinators and more. Please note: hands-on portion is about 1/4 of the class time.
Class Two: Natural and Constructed Ecosystems
July 4 - 8, 2009 (arrive to class July 3rd, leave July 8th after 6pm); see Workshop II Schedule
with Brad Lancaster author of Rainwater Harvesting in Drylands & Beyond, Scott Pittman, founder of Permaculture Institute; Sam Knowlton, Permaculture Instructor & Mary Zemach, demonstration site owner
- Forest and Trees; Their Role in the Landscape
- Food Forests and Gardens for Self-Sufficiency
- Rainwater Harvesting and Reuse
- Water Management on the Landscape
Hands-on exercises in understanding of role and management of weeds, introduction to native pollinators & honey bees to farms, orchards and home gardens; soil management in drylands on broadscale, tracking water on the landscape, learning to design rainwater harvesting systems. Please note: hands-on portion is about 1/3 of the class time.
Class Three: Sustainable Home and Community
August 1 -5, 2009 (arrive to class July 31st, leave class August 5th after 8pm, or on August 6th); see Workshop III Schedule
with SCOTT PITTMAN, founder of Permaculture Institute & guests
- Natural Building Methods & Design Approaches
- Use of Alternative Energies
- Appropriate Technologies for Waste Management, Heating etc
- Design for Communities and Ecovillages
Hands-on exercises in food processing & storage, seed saving, building with natural materials, learning to work with farm animals for soil & farm management. Please note: hands-on portion is about 1/4 -1/3 of the class time. register here
Fees:
Fee for each individual class is $450; for any two classes $875; for all three classes $1200. To receive multiple class fee discount, all fees must be paid in full one month before class. If enrolling in a single class, your fee is due in full; if enrolling in all three classes a $300 deposit is required to keep your spot in this popular class; the remainder is due one month before class. The class is limited to 40 attendants. There will be no drop-in registration for this program. This is a very popular class, so enroll early if you are serious.
Certification:
Registering for and attending all three classes leads to certification in Permaculture Design by the Permaculture Institute (see course syllabus)
Logistics:
Out of town students can stay in a hotel nearby; there is a lovely camp site next door for $5 per person per day (paid directly to Seeds of Change upon arrival); lunch is provided on all class days.
We prepare a simple beans & rice dish for those staying at the campground to make life easier, however all other meals besides lunch are on your own. There is a full kitchen for student use plus plentiful cool storage for food; fresh farm produce is available depending on season. Read more details about all logistics (bottom of the page).
All classes are 9am - 5pm, except as noted below. Participants arrive one day before the class for orientation and community dinner; last day of class #3 is a long day of design presentations and a good-bye party please DO NOT plan your travel on that day unless you live locally.
If you have additional questions, please contact
Registration Portal - if you wish to pay by credit card, please expect additional fees to cover costs of credit card processing. We encourage you to pay by check or money order. Please use Registration Portal for credit card payments.