THE NEXT COURSE STARTS OCTOBER 2, 2010!!
Course dates:
Three weekends in 2010: Oct. 2-3, Nov. 6-7, Dec. 4-5
Three weekends in 2011: March 5-6, Apr. 2-3, Apr. 30 - May 1
Register now!! Click here for our online registration form.
Early bird special: Sliding scale $800 - $1,000 if you pay in full by Sept. 1!!
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.
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.
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. See www.gaiauniversity.org/english/ for more information.
REQUIREMENTS FOR EARNING A PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE:
- Attend all class sessions (12 days).
- 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.
- 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.
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 hours will be 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM (with a one-hour lunch break) plus a special Saturday evening program.
TUITION FOR THE HOME-SCALE PERMACULTURE COURSE:
Early bird rate: Sliding scale $800 to $1,000 (if paid in full by Sept. 1)
After Sept. 1: Sliding scale $900 to $1,100
Meals:
Tuition includes dinner on Saturday. For the other meals you may bring vegetarian potluck food to share or purchase the meal plan.
- Potluck: Bring food to share for Saturday lunch, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday lunch
- Meal plan: $150 includes Saturday lunch, Sunday breakfast and Sunday lunch.
Lodging:
- Camping: $10/person/night.
- Bunk Room: $15/person/night.
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 education at heathcote dot org or call 410-357-9523.
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*If permaculture design really speaks to you, then you may want to check out the Training for Transition Towns Workshop that Heathcote is hosting in August! The Transition movement developed out of permaculture, so take a step further into social and economic permaculture by attending this workshop! Information and registration can be found at: http://www.heathcote.org/cms/content/training-transition-towns-workshop*
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