PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE
By
Brian J Weston

The Certificate of Permaculture Design requires 72 hours of combined research, reading, reporting and a major project (such as your own site development plans). There will be time to establish personal resource, plant and animal databases using forms provided within the course. Additionally, forms for consultant and client check lists will be provided which can be modified to suit your own individual requirements.

Overview of the Course

Background:
Originally, the name Permaculture came about when Bill Mollison and David Holmgren coined the term by combining PERMAnent and agriCULTURE to describe a sustainable food producing society. These days the practice of permaculture has evolved to the point that people are emphasizing the cultural aspects as much as the agricultural connotations that were present in the beginning. At any rate, the term reflects the design of site-specific, land-use systems that produce food. The practical objective is to construct a sustainable eco-system, and by extension a sustainable social system. These designs are characterized by their dependence on biological fuel to achieve production goals rather than fossil fuels, and the promotion of small-scale intensive land use. These objectives are achieved by the careful study, and subsequent application, of the working relationships found between all things in nature, an integration of appropriate technologies, and an emphasis on the use of perennial plants.

Furthermore, Permaculture supports the concept of maintaining genetic diversity and the protection of natural areas for this purpose. Individual design choices are made from an ethic or value structure to produce a dynamic living system.   Permaculture is not a protest movement but based on the application of practical solutions to practical problems.

Among the broad objectives is the promotion of conservation of resources, the inherent value of diversity and the quality of an individual’s personal life experience. The concept of personal self sufficiency and it’s inherently high maintenance costs is not pursued, rather personal self reliance and regional and community self sufficiency are goals. In practice permaculture systems tend to become self-regulating and self reliant, requiring little ongoing energy input once established.

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Course Vision Statement:
To enable each student to explore, define and develop their own unique talents. To assist each individual to find their own unique niche, promote a sense of self-worth, self-confidence and self-reliance. To instill an appreciation for, and desire to participate in, the art of community building.

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Course Scope, Objectives, Outcomes, and Opportunities:
SCOPE:   This Permaculture Design Course covers the complete range of required topics as set out in the Permaculture Design Course Handbook published by the Permaculture Institute in Tyalgum, Australia. I have chosen to specialize the course somewhat based on my own particular talents and experience. I have expanded and emphasized the specific needs, circumstances and experiences of the urban and suburban populations. To this end I have tailored many of my examples to specific designs featuring functional zones 0, 1, and 2 (functional zones 3, 4 and 5 are covered adequately but in relatively less detail).

OBJECTIVES:  The resources of the planet are essentially finite and distributed in a rather haphazard manner among the world’s populations and regions. As our own population grows ever larger the need to reuse, recycle and perhaps most importantly, conserve our limited available resources becomes critical to not only our own survival as a species and culture but also the very survival of local and worldwide ecosystems. This course will encourage you to explore ways of creatively assessing your resources, prioritizing their use, and enhancing their value. The framework for this analysis will include the inherent underlying values of maintaining the diversity and health of the ecosystem as well as maximizing the individual’s personal and community life experiences. To achieve these goals within an ethical framework this course will encourage the pursuit of self-reliance for the individual and self-sufficiency for the community (or region).

Personal Self-Reliance

Personal Self-Sufficiency

A combination of abilities, skills and resources available for direct use, trade or sale among the community members for other required goods and services. Part of a sustainable cultural system.

A combination of personal abilities, skills and resources adequate to meet ALL the needs of the individual. This is an isolationist, inefficient and ultimately unsustainable cultural system.

Community Self-Sufficiency And Self-Reliance

A cooperative combination of individuals living in a geographical area possessing a range of abilities, skills and resources who trade their goods and services among themselves to meet their short and long term needs. A sustainable community model.

OUTCOMES:  By the time you complete this course you should have enough information and understanding of permaculture to competently perform a variety of skills. These will include the ability to assess properties for their potential suitability as permaculture sites. Your own site, if you have one, can be used as a working model throughout the course and your assignments tailored to it if you so wish. Choosing this route will also give you direct practical experience in the fine art of retrofitting existing sites using permaculture principles. For those who are so inclined the course will form a good background for teaching or otherwise using permaculture in the business world, perhaps as a consultant (see opportunities below). In a more general way you will improve your budgeting skills, general knowledge, investigative abilities and confidence. Individuals successfully completing this course will be registered as Permaculture Trainees with PermacultureAotearoa (New Zealand) and will receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design. See www.permaculture.net.nz for more info.

FURTHER EDUCATION: There is great variation throughout the world on PDC standards and accreditation. To repeat the advice on the www.permaculture.net.nz website, if you want to undertake further educational opportunities after completing this PDC certificate consider contacting the agency offering the next course level of study and confirm that this PDC certificate (or anyone else’s) will be recognized by them.

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Course Structure:
This PDC is designed primarily with self-study in mind as opposed to classroom based learning. As a result it is most valuable to people in remote areas without access to conventional facilities as well as individuals whose timetables preclude them from attending regularly scheduled classes. Having said that, the course will also work just fine with study groups and small, informal class structures.Soil.jpg (53085 bytes) The course is composed of sets of background foundation level information, practical examples and pertinent exercises and assignments. The assignments can be altered or tailored to your specific requirements in consultation with the tutor. Wherever possible hands-on experience  is encouraged. Most students will find they can gain access to some form of on-site permaculture (or potentially permaculture related) operation. These could include trips to farmers markets and co-housing agencies for the urban dweller and aquaculture, apiary, and market garden facilities for the suburbanites.

 

 

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Location:
Due to the nature of the course and the material covered there is no specific required location. Students can effectively use their own properties, community garden plots, and even borrowed public spaces (get permission first!). An effort should be made to visit a variety of actual sites whenever the opportunity presents itself.

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Equipment:
You will need a few basic pieces of equipment to get the most out of the course. A binder for storing the course itself. Even if you have a computer a printed copy of the course is invaluable for taking on site visits and to the library if you intend to do constructive research. Purchase a supply of lined paper and a notebook (for field notes and assignments), grid or graph paper (for designs) and blank paper (for sketches). You will also need a small case of drawing equipment (ruler, compass, protractor, pencils, pens, and colored pencils). A small tape measure is quite useful. If you can afford it purchase the standard 4-meter (12-foot) variety as well as an outdoor 30-meter (100-foot) measuring tape. Additionally, if you have a camera consider using it on site visits as a supplementary recording device. You will not be required to purchase any additional text books for this course.

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Course Content:
This course is derived, expanded, and based on the Permaculture Design Course Handbook issued by the Permaculture Institute and Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual by Bill Mollison as well as my own personal life experiences and education. The following topics will be covered:

COURSE CONTENTS

1 Ethics and Permaculture

7 Design for Catastrophe

13 Aqua/ mariculture

2 Natural Systems and Design

8 Buildings and Structures

14 Waste Disposal & Recycling

3 Design Methodologies

9 Energy Conserving Technology

15 Seeds and Nurseries

4 Patterns in     Design

10 The Forests and Trees

16  Economic Structures

5  Landscape Profiles

11 Water in the Landscape

17  Urban        Systems

6 The Importance of Soils

12 The Cultivated Ecology

18 Villages & Permaculture

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Student Participation:
Due to the nature and structure of the course, it is important that students complete and return all of the assignments given to them, which will then be reviewed and returned with comments, suggestions and possibly more questions. Students are also encouraged to ask their own questions and request additional information as required. For students wishing to acquire a Permaculture Design Certificate, all assignments and questions must be completed. As your own circumstances and needs are unique, please feel free to request substitute or modified assignments.

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Fees:
PERMACULTURE: DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR LIVING is available for NZ$550.00. Couples may also apply to do this course for NZ$750.00 and two certificates will be issued upon successful completion of the course. Ask for details please. Price includes the course text (spiral bound edition) and all necessary support time for assignments, discussions, projects and questions as well as initial mailing costs (course text mail out).

Course fees are payable in advance (money order please, in NZ dollars, or electronic transfer in NZ currency). 

You will be responsible for postage costs to mail assignments in but not for return postage. If you choose to correspond via email then mailing costs will not be a factor.

Application:

E-mail
goldenbayz@gmail.com
or by snail mail to:

Brian J Weston
Box 125
Takaka
New Zealand
7172

 

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