What is Permaculture & Whole Systems Design?

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

Grounded in the context of Permaculture & Whole Systems Design, this course covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Food Forests

• Fruit Tree Pruning and Care

• Agroforestry

• Nature Awareness

• Rehydrating the Earth

• Creating Water Retention Landscapes

• Rainwater Catchment

• Gabions

• Berms and Swales

• Greywater

• No-Till Agriculture & Carbon Farming

• Preparing Garden Beds for Planting

• Cover Cropping

• Mycorrhizal Network & Fungi

• Soil Ecology

• Composting

• Natural Building & Cob Construction

• Plant Guilds

• Crop Planning

• School Gardens

• Urban Gardens & Orchards

• Sudden Oak Life

• Integrated Animal Husbandry

• Holistic Management & Rotational Grazing

• Local Food Systems

• Designing to Mitigate Disaster

• Bioregional Networks

• The World Café

• The Work That Reconnects

• Nonviolent Communication

• Financial Permaculture

• Alternative Currencies

• Economic Permaculture

• Public Banking

• Community Development

• City Repair

• Transition Towns

• Social Permaculture

• Intentional Communities & Ecovillages

• Neighborhood Resilience

 Guides

Registration for 6-month Permaculture Courses

Tuition Rates – Please select the appropriate rate from the dropdown menu under “Payment Options.”

• $1,295 – Full 6-Month Tuition

• $1,195 – Early-Bird Discount – Register Before September 7, 2023 and Save $100

• $1,095 – Super Early-Bird Discount – Register Before August 7, 2023 and Save $200

• $995 – Partner / Spouse Discount – When one partner registers for the full course, the second gets a discount

• $995 – Teacher Discount – For K-12, College and University Teachers

• $795 – Youth Discount – When an adult registers for the full course, their youth gets a discount (ages 13-18)

• $325 – One Weekend Only

• Give someone the gift of permaculture! Purchase a gift card.

• Please Inquire about Payment Plans, Low-income and Youth POC Discounts

Payment Options

Full Tuition + Handling Fee $1,342.34 USDEarly Bird Discount + Handling Fee $1,238.72 USDSuper Early Bird Discount + Handling Fee $1,135.11 USDPartner / Spouse Discount + Handling Fee $1,031.49 USDTeacher Discount + Handling Fee $1,031.49 USDChild Discount + Handling Fee $824.26 USDOne Weekend Only + Handling Fee $337.26 USD

Registration for 2-week Permaculture Course, June 2023

Price includes meals during the entire duration of the course.

• $1,895 – Full 2-Week Tuition

• $1,795 – Early-Bird Discount – Register Before May 15, 2023 and Save $100

• $1,695 – Super Early-Bird Discount – Register Before April 17, 2023 and Save $200

• $1,695 – Partner / Spouse Discount – When one partner registers for the full course, the second gets a discount

• $1,695 – Teacher Discount – For K-12, College and University Teachers

• $1,395 – Youth Discount – When an adult registers for the full course, their youth gets a discount (ages 13-18)

• Give someone the gift of permaculture! Purchase a gift card.

• Please Inquire about Payment Plans, Low-income and Youth POC Discounts

 

Payment Options

Full Tuition + Handling Fee $1,964.03 USDEarly Bird Discount + Handling Fee $1,860.42 USDSuper Early Bird Discount + Handling Fee $1,756.80 USDPartner / Spouse Discount + Handling Fee $1,756.80 USDTeacher Discount + Handling Fee $1,756.80 USDChild Discount + Handling Fee $1,445.95 USD

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there readings, videos, and other materials to supplement our time together?

Yes. We provide a very comprehensive course reader for free to our students, and recommend you purchase the 2nd Edition of Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow.

What if I miss some classes? Can I make them up?

Yes. Once you enroll in our Permaculture course you are a lifetime member. You can make up material you missed during the next session, or even just come join us again for a refresher. Additionally, we often arrange with other California Permaculture teachers so that our students can make up courses with them, and vice versa. Isn’t the permaculture community great?

What time does class start and end for the 6-month permaculture course?

Class meets Saturday and Sunday 9am-5:30pm with a lunch break. We typically have potluck lunches both days. On rare occasions the group may decide to begin earlier to catch a particular field trip and/or end earlier. We never end after 5:30pm.

Where is class held?

Although some days we go on field trips to sites in the surrounding area, most classes are held in Aptos, CA or on our 26-acre farm north of Davenport, CA. Aptos is the traditional and unceded territory of the Aptos tribe of the Awaswas Nation and our farm is the traditional and unceded territory of the Quiroste tribe. Today these lands are represented by the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who are the descendants of the Awaswas and Mutsun Nations whose ancestors were taken to Mission Santa Cruz and Mission San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast.

How do I register?

Please use the PayPal link above. Registration includes access to all course sessions, online course reader and on-site camping. For the 6-month permaculture course, while a kitchen is provided, we do not provide food. There is a PayPal Handling Fee included in the price. You do not need a PayPal account to register. Clicking on the Pay Now button will take you to the PayPal site, and then once you make your payment please fill out the additional form to complete registration.

What is the refund policy?

Cancellations up to two weeks before the course begins will be refunded, excluding a $150 processing fee. No refunds are given after that date.

What is your COVID-19 protocol?

Please read our COVID update on our Courses page here.