Home-Scale Permaculture Design Course - 2010

THE FEB. 13 CLASS HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE SNOW.  THE COURSE START DATE HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 27.  THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER!!!

Register Now at:  www.regonline.com/home_scale_permaculture_course_2010  

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.

 

During the 7-day Introductory course students will learn about the following topics:

 

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 Option:

 

Students have the option to earn their Permaculture Design Apprentice Certificate by attending an additional 5 days of class and completing home study requirments.  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.  We will issue the design certificates through our partner Dancing Green, a nonprofit permaculture educaiton organization.  See www.sustainableagriculture.org/ for more information about Dancing Green.  Permaculture design certification is applicable towards Gaia University degree programs.  See www.gaiauniversity.org/english/ for more information.

The additional 5 days of class required in order to earn the Permaculture Design Apprentice Certificate are:

FOREST GARDEN WORKSHOP (May 22 & 23)

Understand how to create perennial, multifunctional bits of paradise where everything gardens. From porches and lawns to fields and forests, learn how to use edges to plant guilds that nourish each other, meet real needs, and save human labor. Plant a guild with us using this Edge Patterning technology!  Our special guest instructor will be Dawn Shiner of Dancing Green.  

 

SOCIAL PERMACULTURE WORKSHOP (June 5 & 6) 

What would a sustainable culture look like? This workshop explores the social, economic, and personal aspects of sustainability. We will examine the problems with the existing social and economic systems and explore how the permaculture principles can be applied to create a culture that is not only in harmony with nature, but also more peaceful and equitable.  The workshop will also provide an introduction to the Transition Town movement, which applies permculture to help whole towns and cities become more resilient while decreasing their dependence on fossil fuels.   Patty Ceglia and Dawn Shiner of Dancing Green will co-facilitate this workshop.

 

DESIGN PRESENTATIONS & GRADUATION (June 19)

Every student will present the permaculture design they have created for a site of their choice.  The instructors, other students, and guests will give feedback.  We will have a graduation ceremony and a potluck celebration!

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.

 

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.

SPECIAL GUEST INSTRUCTOR:

Dawn Shiner will lead the Forest Gardening weekend workshop and co-teach the Social Permaculture workshop.  Dawn lives simply by choice and has guided Permaculture design presentations, workshops and courses at private residences, environmental centers, universities and colleges since 1987. She is the founder of Dancing Green, Inc. and also serves as a Regional Organizer for Gaia University. Dawn holds an MS in Integrative EcoSocial Design with a focus on Permaculture Education from Gaia University. She will teach a 17-day residential immersive permaculture design course at Heathocte Community August 13-29, 2009.  For course details see:  www.livingmandala.com/Living_Mandala/Heathcote_Permaculture_Design_Course_09.html  For more information about other course offerings see www.sustainableagriculture.org or call Dawn at 540-745-5994.

COURSE LOGISTICS:

Class hours will be 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM with a one-hour lunch break.  During the first 7 days students should bring their own vegetarian bag lunches.  Vegetarian meals and camping will be provided during the Forest Garden and Social Permaculture Weekends. 

TUITION FOR THE HOME-SCALE PERMACULTURE COURSE:

Introductory Option:  $700  (7 days -- Feb. 27, March 13 & 27, April 10 & 24, May 8 plus one make up day)

Design Certificate Option:  $1,400  (12 days -- Introductory Course plus Forest Garden weekend (May 22-23), Social Permaculture weekend (June 5-6), and design presentation day (June 19.)

Register Now!  Click on www.regonline.com/home_scale_permaculture_course_2010

Payment plans, work exchange, and financial aid are available.  For more information please contact education at heathcote dot org or call 410-357-9523.