72 Hr. Permaculture Design Certification

Course Schedule and Outline

See Registration & Fees Here

To Schedule or Host a Design Course Contact:

Rachel@ntsustain.org

Introduction to Basics of Permaculture

• Class Introductions
• Basic Permaculture Methodologies and Ethics
• Overview of Permaculture Applications by Wayne Weiseman working in Nigeria Africa with villageers, Ag extensions, and educators.

Break for Lunch 11:30-1:00pm

• Introduction to Systems Thinking
• Observations Skills – Pattern understanding (reading the land, gathering information), pattern applications (site analysis, interpreting signs, plant identification, problem solving. Analysis & diagnosis, Processes and connections.
• Overview of Zones& Sectors- an essential methodology of the art of Permaculture. It is how we, as designers place all the elements; house, energy systems, gardens, and animals on our land base, constructing human ecosystems.  Aone and sector analysis is a primary energy-conserving placement pattern for the whole site paying attention to energy available on site and flowing throug the site. For example:  Zone 0:Siting the house, orientation, needs, tools, energy, water & waste. Zone1: Seeds and crops: bio-intensive charts, seed selection and seed/plant care, greenhouse design & operation, watering, edible landscapes, food preservation. Zone 2: The food forest and small animal husbandry Zone 3: Cropping and Large animal husbandry Zone 4 harvest Forests Zone 5 Natural Forests. Sectors-are more site specific than conceptualised zones. They outline the compass directions from which we can expect energy or other outside influences such as sunlight, wind, water, slope, temperature to effect zone sites. 

3:00pm- 6pm Field Work/Application: Home Energy Audit Presentation by TEx Energy Solutions

• Retrofitting A Conventional Home in Suburbia The Permaculture Way
• Basic Renewable Energy Systems
• Ecological Building construction Methods
• Working with Environmental Conditions of a bioregion

Permaculture Design Certification

Saturday – Sunday 8am-6pm

You will recieve a guide for developing your own design portfolio. Questions will guide you through observations and data collection that will enable you to integrate theory with implementation that is specific to your goals. Course will include group discussion, and field work.

• Methods of Design – Students will learn how to make initial observations in the landscape and, through series of activities (i.e. analysis, data overlay, zoning) learn how to apply observations to a basic design.
• Mapping Tools - Overview of mapping tools and Design technologies.

Break for Lunch 11:30-1:00pm

• Climatic Factors – Students will learn to forecast the weather through the use of their senses, understand cloud forms, movement of weather fronts, affects of weather on various crops, home energy, microclimates, latitude and altitude on weather patterns, how weather patterns fit into web of life on earth.
• Plants & Trees and their energy transactions – Delineate use of plants and tress for food, medicine, and utility. Employ windbreaks, shelterbelts, habitat for animals, plant companions, guilds, basic biology, ecology, and cosmic and subtle influences on vegetation.
• Water –Students learn how to read slope, how water moves by gravity. Regional intervention in the water cycle, earthworks for water conservation and storage, waste water systems, grey water, wells, wetlands, septic, natural water purification
• Soil – Students will experience the intricacies of soil first hand. Function of soil in ecosystem, practical applications: composting, soil testing, tillage and cultivation, mulching, amendments, foliar feeding, biodynamic soil and compost preps, identify and set up microclimates.

3:00pm-6:00pm Includes Discussion and Practical Hands on Field work. Field Work : Garden Kiva Project/ Building with Earth bags.

• Planning The Homestead  - Students will learn about ecological buildings practices, uses of renewable energy resources (plumbing & electric), energy conservation, mapping/charting responsibilities for homestead or ecovillage, homesteading chores & craft, tools & machinery (mechanical, wood, metalworking). Depending on course site students will practice hands–on building techniques and the installation of energy systems along with lectures and discussion.

• Earthworking and Earth Resources – Students learn how to survey the landprior to earth moving by measuring slope and area, shape dams, ponds, swales, terraces, foundations for houses, and other earth constructs. Explore differences in a diversity of soils and what it takes to shape them. Planning and planting after earth works, slope measure, levels and leveling, types of earth constructs.
• Water Conservation & Irrigation Planning- Students explore Techniques and technologies for water purification, irrigation, conservation as an interconnected system.
• Aquaculture – Students will explore aquaculture as a viable and healthy food producing option to only land-based crop production. All study and implementation is based on location of the site and local weather patterns. Water polycultures: traditional and new, pond configurations and food supply, yields outside pond and edges. Choice of fish species.
   

Permaculture Design Certification

Friday-Sunday

• Reveiw of Permaculture Design Principles and Ethics 
• Student Introductions of Personal Design Projects, & Wish Lists

Break for Lunch 11:30-1:00

• Permaculture Strategies for Different Climates – Students will apply previous learning and develop ideas for the three broad climatic zone design. Discuss contrast and similarities between climatic zones, what principles can be shared & what are specific to a particular climate: Humid tropics, Dry-land, humid cool to cold, temperate climates. Also will discuss Permaculture guidelines as a unified model that can be applied to any predominate climate.
• Urban and Suburban Permaculture - Students apply all previous lessons to suburban and urban environments, no matter what scale. Find ways to “green” cities and suburbs. Efforts must be made to develop natural food production systems, energy alternatives, and building techniques that will allow sustainable human ecosystems.

3:00-6:00pm

• Practical Work on Design – Students begin and complete their final design. There will be a short review of the basic ideas covered. Assessment steps 1) Observation assessment 2) Slope 3) Hydrology 4) Vegetation 5) Wildlife 6) Agriculture 7) Land Layout 8)Roads 9) Water 10) Energy 11) Wastewater 12) Walking Paths 13) Dams, lakes 14) Telecommunications 15) Create a Final Design. Also look at drawing/ drafting design tools.

Saturday

• Small Farm and Garden Management / Marketing –Students learn and discuss the business of agriculture: CSA’s, value-added products, farmer’s markets, food cooperatives, wholesale markets, crafts, forest management, education, workshops, etc. The art of generating income in order to support the goal of economic freedom and self-sufficiency that is economically viable and ecologically sustainable.
• Strategies of an Alternative Post Carbon Society - Formal and Informal Economies: worker-owned enterprises with non-exploitive relationships, decentralized governance, recognizing ideal relationships between elements in the system and maximizing symbiotic relationships, building strong communities. Ethical basis of an alternative nation, bioregional organization, extended families, trusts and legal strategies, effective working groups and right livelihood, Money/finance, futures, local wealth in bioregion, economy of nature.
• Vendors: Finding Information and Supplies to continue the educational and/or Permaculture process on your own.

Sunday