Thanks

Thank you for registering for the Permaculture Design Course!

This course is an intensive learning experience presented by a team of instructors using lecture, discussion, hands-on projects, videos, and site visits as teaching tools. Be prepared for an incredible amount of information to be presented to you during our short time together!

As you can see from the attached [Proposed] Schedule of Classes, our general pattern will be to have 2 classes in the morning and a hands-on activity plus a class in the afternoons. This schedule may vary greatly, due to weather, guest teacher availability, etc.

A basic premise of Permaculture is that, as well as learning the practical aspects of sustainability, humans need to re-learn cultural practices that connect them to Earth and to tribe or community. Thus, part of the “invisible structure” of this course is a conscious design for experiencing community and connectivity. We meet in circles, we share words and songs of gratitude and inspiration, we make music, we dance, we work together, we hear each others’ stories. And, because Permaculture attracts some of the most intelligent, dedicated, vital people on the planet, you can expect that the social and cultural aspects of this course will be as rich as the intellectual!

You can begin to prepare for the course by looking at some of the books mentioned in the Suggested Reading section below. There is no required textbook, but David Holmgren’s book, Permaculture: Pathways Beyond Sustainability or Bill Mollison’s Permaculture Designer’s Manual will get you started thinking like a permaculturist.

Level of Difficulty:

There will be hands-on projects daily, which are designed for folks of varying degrees of physical strength; each of you will decide how intensely to engage. However, the program is extremely intellectually, psychologically and emotionally stimulating; so applicants should be in good physical and mental health. This is not a good time to begin a severe health regime. If you’ve been living a standard American life, the change in diet and exercise will be challenging enough.

Beginning & Ending

Our time together will begin with supper at 6:00, followed by Opening Circle at 7:30 p.m on Saturday, November 28 .

We will end at 6:00 p.m on Thursday, December 10. But please plan on staying for our celebration that evening!

Daily Schedule

7:00 – 8:15 Breakfast

8:30 – 12:30 Morning Classes

12:30 – 2:30 Lunch Break

2:30 – 6:00 Afternoon Classes

6:00 – 7:30 Supper

7:30 – 9:30 Evening Activities

What to bring

Clothing for any extreme - wet, cold, hot, buggy

Shoes to work and walk in + slippers for inside

Paper and pens/pencils

Raingear & sun hat

Flashlight/lantern

Water bottle

3-ring binder for the 100 pages of notes we’ll give you

Camping gear - including tent, groundcloth, canopy, sleeping pad, bedding

Gift for Giveaway Ceremony at the end of the course - something you’re ready to pass on. (books, clothing, jewelry, seeds, art, crafts, found objects, etc.)

Optional Items to bring:

Favorite books, videos, or other reference material

Lawn chair or camping chair

Musical instruments (non-electric)

Showers and Bathing

What goes here?

What NOT to Bring:

Do not bring firearms, illegal substances, or pets. Our land is a recovering eco-system, not ready for dogs and cats.