Home-Scale Permaculture Design Course

The next course starts September 8, 2012! Registration information coming soon.

Want a taste of the Permaculture Design Course?  Audit one of our spring 2012 classes for $50/day.  Here are the dates:  March 3 & 4, March 31 & April 1, April 28 & 29.  Classes will be held at Cromwell Valley Park in Baltimore, MD.  To RSVP please email education@heathcote.org or call 410-357-9523.

 

WHAT IS PERMACULTURE?

Permaculture, a term originated by Australian ecologists, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, means permanent culture. Using both ancient and modern knowledge, this design methodology mimics universal patterns found in nature to create healthy human communities. Guided by ethical behavior, Permaculture is both theory and practice. It is a system of designing ecologically inspired landscapes that integrate food production with energy, shelter and water.

 

Permaculture is a frame of reference for analyzing specific human habitats and finding sustainable solutions to their inherent problems or needs. Whether one is designing a small-scale backyard or patio, or large-scale farm, village or city, Permaculture principles provide basic criteria for informed decision-making. Permaculture suggests our limits to growth, and our potential for peaceful interdependence.

 

SYLLABUS FOR HOME-SCALE PERMACULTURE COURSE:

 

Evidence for reform: Global ecological and cultural crisis; origins of health.

The ethics of sustainability: Care of the earth; care of people; contribution of surplus; life ethic; cooperation vs. competition.

Permaculture design principles: Relative location of elements in a system; the many functions of each element; Zone and sector site planning; Biological resources (vs. machinery/fossil fuels); energy recycling; small scale intensive systems; accelerating natural plant succession and evolution; biological diversity and polyculture; edges and natural patterns; mental attitude.

The design process: Creative visualization; decision-making criteria; site analysis; programming; research; schematic design; design development; implementation.

Site analysis, design and mapping: Identifying natural resources; topography; climate and microclimate; soils; existing structures/infrastructures; defining goals and identifying site opportunities and constraints; water harvesting, management and conservation; siting important infrastructures; design for catastrophe.

Chesapeake bioregion: Watersheds; ecology of streams, wetlands, and forests; threats to the Chesapeake Bay; design strategies for protecting and restoring the Bay.

Design of houses: Integrating house and garden; natural house design in temperate climates; recycling and treatment of waste resources; appropriate technologies.

Home garden design: Zone I planning; garden layouts; soil fertility; urban/suburban gardens; gardening in cold climates.

Design of orchards, forest farms and grain crops: Integrated orchard systems; forests for production and conservation; grain and legume crop systems; fuel self-sufficiency.

Designing animal forage systems: The function of animals in a system; Zone I animals; small animal forage systems; pasture crops and large animal forage systems; pond and wetland aquaculture.

Urban and community strategies for self-reliance: Patterns of human settlement; land access for food production; growing food in the city; integrating food production and suburbia; recycling; community economics; ethical investment; global community.

Sustainable philosophies of land use and ownership: Bioregionalism; local management of natural resources; preservation of wilderness; land trusts as a legal tool.

Social Permaculture:    The application of permaculture principles to the design of social and economic systems; social and ecological justice; tools for dismantling oppression; multicultural perspectives on permaculture; liberation ecology; social technologies and tools for creating a cooperative culture.

 

DESIGN EXERCISE & LAB:

Together the class will conduct an in-depth study of the Heathcote Community property, collectively developing a preliminary master plan, demonstrating how the community could expand on Permaculture principles. We will do hands-on projects that apply Permaculture techniques.

 

 

FINAL PROJECT:

Each student will apply techniques learned in class to the design of a Permaculture master plan for a familiar site of choice. This project will require scaled, color maps and drawings, a written research paper, and an oral presentation. All students will learn how to draw to scale in class.  Minimal tools will be required.

 

Permaculture Design Certificate:

Students who complete all the requirements will earn their Permaculture Design Apprentice Certificate.  The entire 72-hour permaculture design course curriculum developed by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren will be covered during the 12 days of class and through the required homework.  People who earn the Permaculture Design Apprentice Certificate are allowed to use the word "permaculture" when engaged in business and can go on to earn the 2-year Diploma of Applied Permaculture Design.  Permaculture design certification is applicable towards Gaia University degree programs.   

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR EARNING A PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE:

1.           Attend all class sessions (12 days).   

2.           Complete home study assignments. These will consist of readings and exercises. The required textbook is: Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison.  Additional readings will also be assigned.

3.           Complete a Permaculture design for a site of your choosing. Most students in the past have chosen to create a design for their own home and yard. However, you may also create a design for a “client” such as a neighbor, a school, or a nonprofit. The design project will include a site assessment, concept plan, detail plans, written report, and an oral presentation with a visual display.

 

LEAD INSTRUCTOR:   

As a Permaculture design consultant, professional architect, and life-long organic gardener, Patty Ceglia is passionate about revealing the inherent beauty of every site. In private practice, she transfers her 30 years experience in large-scale architecture to the process of integrating dwellings with their immediate environment, applying appropriate land use for diverse productivity. She has designed passive-solar and timber-frame houses, forest gardens, and edible landscapes for private clientele. As an educator, Patty has taught Permaculture Design and Sustainable Architecture since 1990, in the Environmental Studies Department at Wilson College, where her students practice hands-on strategies at the 160 acre Center for Sustainable Living. 

“Through collective intentional efforts of many individuals, a healing momentum can transform our planet into the radiant life source that it is intended to be.”     

 

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR: Karen Stupski has fifteen years of experience with sustainable living and organic gardening as a member of Heathcote Community. She currently works as Development Director of the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, a watershed organization and land trust, and is a Regional Organizer and Advisor for Gaia University. Karen is also on the faculty of Goddard College.  She holds a Ph.D. in the history of science, medicine, and technology from Johns Hopkins University and a Post Masters Graduate Diploma in Organizing Learning for EcoSocial Regneration from Gaia University.

COURSE LOGISTICS:

Class will meet on Saturdays and Sundays.  Class hours will be 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (with a one-hour lunch break) plus a special Saturday evening program.

Course Dates and Topics:

Sept. 10-11, 2011: Bioregionalism, Ecosystems, Ethics & Principles, Design Process, Observation & Site Analysis

Oct. 1-2, 2011: Water Harvesting, Nutrient Recycling, Soil & Gardening

Nov. 5-6, 2011: Urban Permaculture, Social & Economic Permaculture

Mar. 3-4, 2012: Renewable Energy, Natural Building

Mar. 31 - Apr. 1, 2012:Grains, Aquaculture, Forest Gardening, Guilds, Animals

Apr. 28-29, 2012: Forest Garden Installation, Final Design Presentations & Certificate Awards

TUITION AND FEES:

Tuition:

Early bird rate:  Sliding scale $800 to $1,000 (if you register and pay the $200 deposit by August 10, 2011)

After August 10:  Sliding scale $900 to $1,100

Meals:

The class will be eating together for Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday lunch.  You may purchase the meal plan or bring your own vegetarian food.

• Meal plan:  Pay $210 for vegetarian meals. Includes Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday lunch on all 6 weekends.
  

• Or bring your own food.  Heathcote's kitchen is vegetarian with some fish available, so please do not bring meat.
   

Lodging:

•  Bunk Room: Suggested donation $130 for 6 nights.
• Camping: Suggested donation $70 for 6 nights.
• A list of local hotels and B&B's is available for those who wish to stay off site. 

Payment Plan:

A payment plan is available if needed. You can pay a $200 deposit plus 5 equal payments due at the beginning of class for the first 5 weekends.

Registration:  

Click here to register online.

For more information please contact Karen Stupski via email at education at heathcote dot org or call 410-357-9523. 

Financial Aid

We have a very small scholarship fund and we are trying to raise more funds for this purpose.  If you would like to apply for financial aid please contact Karen Stupski.  These funds will be allocated based on the following criteria:  1) financial need; 2) diversity; and 3) to support those who intend to apply their permaculture skills to nonprofit projects and/or share what they have learned by educating others.