Dear permies,

Eden on Earth Landscaping is offering a Permaculture Design Course in San Diego this Fall.

I think this course may be of special interest to those looking for an affordable option.

Josh Robinson is the lead and will be engaging a number of instructors for the course.

Brad Lancaster has this to say of Eden on Earth:

"Eden on Earth is the landscape and water-harvesting implementation, consulting, design, and education firm I always refer people to in Northern Arizona. They do stellar work that sets the standard for beautiful, dynamic, sustainable systems."

Please consider passing this on to those who may be interested.

appreciatively,
Raffi

San Diego Permaculture Design Course

Fall 2011

October 15-16, 22-23 November 5-6, 12-13 December 3-4, 10-11

Learn how Permaculture design can meet and exceed human needs by transforming human gardens and communities into fully functioning ecosystems. Receive hands-on experience on how to apply the principles of ecological design in your own home, farm, neighborhood, and city.

Permaculture is an integrated ecological design system for creating sustainable human settlements. Far more than a set of gardening tips and techniques, Permaculture is about understanding and designing the connections between people, the earth, plants, energy, climate, water, transportation, shelter, animals, economics and much more.

This course is for:
Home owners, renters, gardeners, farmers, ranchers, landscapers, architects, builders, developers, civic planners, educators, environmentalists, students … everyone who wishes to learn how to live sustainably and apply the principles of holistic design to their respective fields.

Course topics:

Permaculture ethics
Permaculture design principles
Understanding natural patterns
Creating healthy soil
Plant selection, plant guilds & food forests
Site analysis & design
Mapping
Climate and microclimates
Water harvesting
Energy
Natural building
Bioregional theory
Local food systems & community land access
Co-housing, eco-villages & City Repair
Design for peak oil & ecological collapse
Ecological economics & community currencies

About the course: This 72 hour curriculum will cover Bill Mollison’s PERMACULTURE DESIGNERS MANUAL plus more recent material. The course consists of six (6) three (2)-day weekends held throughout San Diego County. The spread out weekend format is to accommodate local residents schedules to participate in this valuable learning experience taught by regional experts in Permaculture & Sustainability. Course experience will include classroom instruction, field trips, hands-on activities, required & suggested readings & completion of a permaculture design project. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will receive Permaculture Design Certification.

Course Information

Instruction on all course dates is from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Part 1 "Introduction to Permaculture Design"

This first few sessions lays the ground work for permaculture design and can be taken as a single "Introduction to Permaculture" workshop. This session will include Permaculture Ethics & Principles, Regenerative, Generative & Degenerative Systems, Natural Patternerning, Climatic Pattern Understanding, Site Assessment, Forests & Energy, Permaculture Design Methodologies, and tours of local permaculture sites.

Part 2 "Growing Permaculture"

In the middle sessions we will look at "Growing Permaculture" as we learn about water harvesting (rainwater and greywater), soil building, and using plants in a permaculture setting. Topics to include hands on rainwater harvesting, tours of functioning and legal greywater systems, compost and composting teas, sheet mulching, plant guilds, garden ecology, and food forestry. These days will be a very hands on with ample time spent outdoors getting our hands in the earth and applying the permaculture principles and ethics to create a sustainable orchard system.

Part 3 "Permaculture for the Farm, Neighborhood and Beyond "

The final weekends build upon the earlier sessions as we learn to apply Permaculture on farms and ranches and into the city. Topics include Keyline Design, Agroforestry, Animal Husbandry, Appropriate Technology, Home Design, Hands on natural building, Eco-village, and co-cohousing design. We will apply permaculture on the community scale and learn about Resource Sharing Co-ops, Community Gardens and Land Access, The City Repair Project, Creating a Local/Regional Food Economy, Alternative Economics and Local Currencies, and Right Livelihood. Culminating the whole course will be student design presentations and the infamous permaculture costume contest and the talent / no talent show and potluck dinner!

$700 for the entire Permaculture Design Course ($650 if paid in full by early bird deadline)

Course Instructors:

The course will be led by regional permaculture expert, Josh Robinson, as well as many other local experts TBA.

Josh Robinson is a passionate teacher that loves to share his sense of awe of the natural environment with others while inspiring people to begin their own path towards a regenerative culture. He has been actively teaching, promoting, and installing water harvesting and permaculture systems throughout the Southwest including courses for Northern Arizona University, Prescott College, The Ecosa Institute, and many others. He has been the President of Eden on Earth, LLC since its inception in 2007. Josh has also received a Master's Degree in Ecological Landscape Design from Prescott College. His gardens have been featured in Toby Hemenway's "Gaia's Garden" and Art Ludwig's "Create an Oasis with Greywater" and have received many awards. Josh recently relocated to San Diego and is working on setting up a new urban perculture site called "Higher Elevation Permaculture."

Confirmed Guest Instructors:

Brook Sarson

Brook is owner and founder of H2OME, San Diego's first rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling installation business. With a strong foundation in Permaculture and small scale organic farming, combined with an engineering degree, she offers San Diegans real, practical, low cost opportunities to be part of the solution to our water supply issues. Brook opens her home to the public once a month for an informational tour of water harvesting at a residential scale, as well as offering classes and lectures around the county.