Participants will learn a broad spectrum of practical hardscaping installation methods, including fencing, retaining walls, and building methods and practices. We’ll work on projects such as building decks and awnings, installing appropriate fencing, laying out paths and roads, and building simple farm/garden buildings.
Water resilience is essential in a permaculture system. During this weekend, participants learn plumbing skills and best practices, drip irrigation installation, rainwater harvesting setup, installation, and maintenance, and system troubleshooting skills. We’ll work on projects such as rainwater tank integration, infiltration basins and trenches, setting up drip irrigation, and gutter installation and adjustment for design needs. This one-weekend course is
Let’s grow some food! Participants will learn agricultural techniques applicable at both farm- and home- scales including composting, orchard maintenance, garden perennialization, no-till growing methods, brush clearing, and gopher trapping. We’ll work on projects such as making compost piles and worm bins, compost teas, orchard establishment and pruning, soil-building, and fertility maintenance.
Learn how to assess energy needs and appropriate sources. Participants will learn to run electrical wiring for simple projects, how to hook up a solar panel, best practices for biogas waste-to-energy, and bicycle maintenance. We’ll work on projects such as building a solar shower, building a small off-grid solar setup, and building a biogas reactor.
During this weekend, participants will learn chainsaw use and maintenance, forest stewardship through fire mimicry, wood splitting/stacking, creating cob+plaster for earthen ovens and rocket mass heaters, fire-making and efficiency for home heating, and hearth cooking. We’ll build things such as cob ovens, rocket mass heaters, and firewood storage.
Learn how to use carpentry tools and work with wood to create infrastructure and beautification. During this weekend, participants will learn best practices using hand and power tools such as hammers, drills, saws, sanders, stains & paints, and more. We’ll work on projects such as worm bins, benches, garden structures with decks, walls and doors.
Tour local gardens and broadacre ranches that are applying permaculture principles to their animal husbandry practices, such as holistic grazing Learn about forest management practices, including Sudden Oak Life Implement Sudden Oak Life strategies Present final permaculture design projects
Explore the principles of social permaculture Learn about community designs and programs that foster resilient neighborhoods Explore best practices for starting and sustaining intentional communities and Ecovillages Visit urban gardens and orchards in Santa Cruz Study and practice fruit tree pruning
Learn about natural building techniques Gain hands-on experience building a small structure with cob Learn about crop planning strategies Tour the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Chadwick Garden Explore the application of permaculture methods to educational curriculum design and the creation of school garden programs Study food forests and fruit trees Define and design “guilds” or constructed plant communities Discuss local food issues
Learn and practice nonviolent communication Participate in a Work that Reconnects workshop and learn about the Spiral of the Work That Reconnects Discuss and reflect on Right Livelihood and your role in the Great Turning Explore strategies for mitigating disaster through community resilience, permaculture design, and creating disaster plans Gain an understanding of financial permaculture, challenges with our current economic system, and concepts like money and banking Learn about topics
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