Permaculture Design Certificate Course

Permaculture is an ethically based whole-systems design approach that uses concepts, principles, and methods derived from ecosystems, indigenous peoples, and other time-tested systems to create human settlements and institutions. It’s also been called “saving the planet while throwing a better party.”

The Santa Cruz Permaculture Design Certificate course includes the internationally recognized 72-hour curriculum, augmented by an additional 38-hours of hands on practice and field trips. Plus, folks have the option to camp on site each weekend, and build community around the fire!

Our course brings in leading designers and teachers from around the region, each experts in different areas of permaculture. The Santa Cruz Permaculture network of instructors, alumni, community partners, and resources continues to grow each season, and by participating in our course, you become part of this network!

Additionally, course participants work in teams throughout the six month program to design a holistic permaculture plan for a real-life property in the community. The hands-on learning, workshops, and readings throughout the course prepare students with knowledge and whole systems thinking strategies that allow them to create detailed and thoughtful design projects.

We will be adhering to the latest COVID-19 recommendations and precautions.

GUIDES
• John Valenzuela – Agroforestry and Tropical Permaculture
• David Shaw – Sustainable Agriculture and Social Permaculture
• Lydia Neilsen – Watershed Restoration
• Janine Björnson – Natural Building
• Lee Klinger – Sudden Oak Life
• Della Duncan – Economics for Transition
• Kanyon Sayers-Roods – Kanyon Konsulting
• Greg Richardson – Broadacre Permaculture
• And More!

DATES AND TOPICS
• April 3 and 4, 2021 – Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness
• May 1 and 2, 2021 – Regenerating Watersheds and Soils
• June 5 and 6, 2021 – Personal and Economic Permaculture
• July 10 and 11, 2021 – Home Scale Permaculture: Creating Natural Homes and Edible Landscapes
• July 31 and August 1, 2021 – Broad Scale Permaculture for Ecosystem Regeneration: Integrated Animal Husbandry and Forest Management
• September 4 and 5, 2021 – Social Permaculture, Community Development, and Design Presentations

REGISTRATION
• $1,250 – Full 6-Month Tuition
• $1,150 – Early-Bird Discount – Register Before March 1, 2021 and Save $100
• $1,050 – Super Early-Bird Discount – Register Before February 1, 2021 and Save $200
• $950 – Partner / Spouse Discount – When one partner registers for the full course, the second gets a discount
• $950 – Teacher Discount – For K-12, College and University Teachers
• $750 – Youth Discount – When an adult registers for the full course, their youth gets a discount (ages 13-18)
• $300 – One Weekend Only

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates will be able to:
• Assess the sustainability of current design systems and practices;
• Define permaculture ethics and the principles of sustainability;
• Employ natural patterns as a design tool in a wide variety of contexts;
• Understand basic soil ecology and implement composting methods;
• Design simple water harvesting systems, from home to broadacre scale;
• Define and design “guilds” or constructed plant communities;
• Understand local food issues and the importance of localization;
• Translate ecological principles to a variety of social, economic, and educational settings;
• Employ best practices for starting and sustaining intentional communities and Ecovillages;
• Apply permaculture methods to educational curriculum design and the creation of school garden programs.

Learn more and register: https://santacruzpermaculture.com/permaculture-design-course/