PDC canceled!
Join a movement which is growing tremendously every day and immerse yourself into a lifestyle that will make a real difference for yourself and this planet.
Permaculture is a design system that aligns human communities with the ecological imperatives of a living planet. This includes water harvesting methods, compost and soil management, natural building methods, alternative energy ideas and alternative solutions for trade and markets. The special feature of Permaculture is that all these elements will be integrated into a system where they support each other in a unique way. Permaculture is based on observing nature, these observations teach us how to design ways of living that have the stability and resiliency of natural ecosystems — they show us positive solutions for creating and managing systems for food, medicine, and building materials, as well as relationships with ourselves, animals, and our communities. Permaculture is a way of organizing knowledge, a connecting system that integrates science, art, politics, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and the diverse experiences and resources available in any community.
The workshop will take place at Constellation, an 8-year old example of a fully integrated Permaculture site with many exciting examples of Permaculture design. Originating as rice paddies, the farm now boasts a mature food forest with over 75 fruiting species, multiple bamboo and earthen structures, annual and perennial gardens, ponds (one swimmable) and a river. Not only will you be partaking in a two-week long immersion in Permaculture, you will also live with our community and thereby learn how to live and thrive in an intentional community. Our aim is to create a supportive learning community for the duration of the course where trust, compassion, support and connection is built among participants.
What is a Permaculture Design Course?
A Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is an internationally-recognized, 72-hour workshop resulting in a Permaculture Design Certificate. It provides an introduction to permaculture design as set forth by movement founder Bill Mollison. The PDC serves as a foundation for further permaculture work and study and is a prerequisite for the Diploma in Permaculture Design, offered through The Permaculture Institute and Gaia University. Credit for this course is now accepted by a growing number of universities around the world. To date, thousands of permaculture designers worldwide have been certified through this course and now comprise a global network of educators, ecological activists, consultants and practitioners who are influencing the decisions of major corporations, small businesses and people from all walks of life to change the way we view and design our landscape, our surroundings, our relationships and our daily lives so we can grow the revolution that our planet needs.
What to expect:
This PDC promises to be a very unique experience. We teach based on our real life experiences with Permaculture, here at Constellation and around the world. With more than a decade of experience consulting, the two course facilitators have collectively taught more than 25 permaculture design courses, dozens of permaculture workshops, and they have designed and constructed more than 20 earthen buildings, 25 edible perennial landscapes and 30 appropriate technology solutions across four continents. It is our goal to live, breathe and practice Permaculture every day of our lives, and we are enthusiastic to share as much of our knowledge as possible.
The 72-hours of coursework, required to receive a Permaculture Design Certificate, will be covered over the two-week period. It promises to be a PDC full of energy and excitement, where sessions will be taught to accommodate different learning styles combining lectures, group discussions, visual demonstrations, hands-on participatory learning and other creative ways of teaching Permaculture. In addition to the information presented, many participants say the interpersonal activities and relationships formed during the workshop are what truly shape the experience. Every morning, participants will be able to take part in the existing permaculture activities on the farm. All students are required to be present for the full two weeks if they wish to receive the certificate.
You will learn:
- how to design your own land
- how to grow food just about anywhere
- manage fertility cycles
- repair environmentally damaged lands
- design
