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
Explore the principles and ethics of permaculture Learn design processes and methods for articulating client goals and desired outcomes, and site analysis Study ecology and employ natural patterns as a design tool Participate in a World Cafe with fellow students to access the collective intelligence of the community Practice nature awareness and observation Learn to add value to current systems
Do you want to gain hands-on skills and build community around growing food? Interested in learning best practices for orchard establishment and management, food forestry, designing year round productive vegetable farms and gardens, and preserving the harvest? We are pleased to offer this advanced practicum grounded in sound horticultural practices, and spiced with the delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables our
At the Santa Cruz Permaculture Farm Gain skills and learn best practices to be able to successfully and confidently implement sustainable living projects! Our 6-weekend permaculture skills course focuses on developing practical skills through hands-on learning. Topics covered include: Construction & Carpentry Forestry & Wood heat: fire mimicry, rocket stoves, ovens, harvesting timber and non-timber forest products Energy: electrical, solar,
Subscribe to our newsletter for free resources, news, upcoming community events, job postings and more!
* Required field
Get an email twice a month with regional permaculture news, offerings, and community events. We don’t share your email address, ever. Unsubscribe at any time. *Required field.
