Permaculture Paradigm Course

Immerse in nature while growing ecological consciousness. Develop the heart of permaculture. Transform fear and concern into mindful action.

Rancho Margot, Arenal, Costa Rica

Fully booked for 2025

Jason Gerhardt, Natalia Vega

View of Lake Arenal from Rancho Margot.

“Permaculture is a paradigm shift” is often said, but rarely expanded on. As we shift from ways of being that run roughshod over the planet and people, we need to actively cultivate a mind, heart, and spirit that is caring, nature-oriented, and enveloped in interrelationships. How do we develop embodiment of those processes that make ecological design and regeneration real in our lives? It’s not always about what we produce.

Step away from the demands of productivity and integrate your permaculture practice at the sustainable retreat and farm Rancho Margot in beautiful Costa Rica. This moving course offers tools and practices that help us consciously shift our paradigms, the most lasting and powerful form of change making. An immersion into nature, both external and internal, this course highlights and amplifies how permaculture practice works on us, and bridges with fields of consciousness study for further insight.

This course is designed as a retreat to be personally nourishing and enlivening. Offering a chance to cultivate a broader understanding of the ecological paradigm, one that removes fear and sparks mindful action, we will develop practical tools for developing ecological thought processes, refining observation skills, and gaining greater ecological design process literacy.

The instructors of this course have decades of experience applying permaculture professionally as well as practicing consciousness development in multiple Eastern traditions, side by side. This inaugural course is the result of years long conversations and experiences between the Permaculture Institute co-directors Natalia Vega-Durga and Jason Gerhardt, and the late permaculture legend Scott Pittman.

Date:  Fully booked for 2025

Cost:  $1200 ($300 deposit)

Modality: In-person

What you will learn:

  • Advanced methods of observation and ecological literacy.
  • How to cultivate your consciousness as you would a permaculture garden.
  • Next level ethics and principles for working ecologically.
  • Developing practices for working with yourself and others effectively.

  • Course Details

    This course is a mix of interactive instruction and nature immersion with meaningful exercises to develop your permaculture practice. Come prepared to engage yourself indoors and outdoors. Class will take place from 8am-5pm each day, with evening activities as well, except during the arrival and departure day. Consider extending your stay to explore local attractions like plentiful nature reserves, numerous beaches, and volcanic mountains.

  • Travel

    Locals can arrive to the destination by any means of their choosing. For international travelers, plan to fly into either Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica or Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. We will help you with transportation company recommendations and will organize the class beforehand for ridesharing. Car rentals are easy means to get from the airport to the destination as well. Contact us for more details.

  • Lodging

    Comfortable lodging is included in tuition and is provided at Rancho Margot in bunk and group occupancy. Double or single rooms may be available for an additional charge. More info coming soon!

  • Meals

    Meals are included and will be prepared for the class with locally grown ingredients. Reasonable accommodation for food allergies can be made. Please notify us in advance so we can plan for your needs appropriately.

  • Setting & Weather

    Course takes place at beautiful Rancho Margot near Lake Arenal. Weather can vary significantly in Costa Rica and is generally warm and humid during the day and slightly cooler at night. Prepare to dress in layers for maximum comfort. This course will take place in the dry season, but rain can still occur.

Questions?

Feel free to contact us to help you plan your attendance. When you are ready to sign up, please submit the course application below.

Payment, refund, and cancellation policy:

  • Payments:
  • Your deposit, together with your “Permaculture Paradigm” application, is your registration for the course.
  • Deposits are due upon notification of acceptance into the course to reserve your spot.
  • Full payment is due 30 days prior to the start of the course/program.
  • Cancellations and refunds:
  • In the event that Permaculture Institute, Inc. needs to cancel the class, all students will be refunded all deposits and full payments.
  • Cancellation by registered and paid participant prior to the start of class will be refunded only if we find another participant to fill your spot.
  • Once the class begins, whether the registered participant attends or not, no refunds will be issued, excepting circumstances with medical emergencies that prevent a participant from completing the course that they started.
Payments: Your deposit, together with your course application, is your registration for the course you applied and paid for. Deposits are due upon notification of acceptance into the course and hold your spot. Full payment is due 30 days prior to the start of the course/program. Cancellations and refunds: In the event that Permaculture Institute, Inc. needs to cancel the class, all students will be refunded all deposits and full payments. Cancellation by registered and paid participant prior to the start of class will be refunded only if we find another participant to fill your spot. Once the class begins, whether the registered participant attends or not, no refunds will be issued, excepting circumstances with medical emergencies that prevent a participant from completing the course once started.

Attendance and conduct policy:

  • Full attendance is expected by each participant. If a student is not present for more than one day, either consecutively or cumulatively, they will need to make up the time missed beyond one day to earn their course completion certificate, if one is offered as part of the course.
  • Participants are expected to show up to each class and activity on time.
  • Participants are required to behave within the legal parameters of the host country/state, and respect rules and regulations of the course venue.
  • Instructors reserve the right to ask a participant of any course or program to leave without refund if they prove to be disruptive, abusive, unstable, intoxicated, or violent to the point of being harmful to oneself, other participants, the quality of the experience, or the venue where the course is being held, solely at the instructors discretion.
Full attendance is expected by each participant. If a student is not present for more than one day, either consecutively or cumulatively, they will need to make up the time missed beyond one day to earn their course completion certificate, if one is offered as part of the course. Participants are expected to show up to each class and activity on time. Participants are required to behave within the legal parameters of the host country/state, and respect rules and regulations of the course venue. Instructors reserve the right to ask a participant of any course or program to leave without refund if they prove to be disruptive, abusive, unstable, intoxicated, or violent to the point of being harmful to oneself, other participants, the quality of the experience, or the venue where the course is being held, solely at the instructors discretion.
View of Lake Arenal from Rancho Margot.