PROGRAMME of the Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) 

in 5 Modules

Below we list some of the principal themes that we treat in each module. The course is based in the Permaculture Designer's Manual, adding the key modern themes that we consider essential any PermaCulturist be familiar with.

Each module is a 3 day course (21 hours), and includes practicals, excercises, project presentations, excursions where possible, videos, documentation and the formation of some ongoing support groups so that you don´t lack stimulation nor support when you return home and try to put into practice into your daily life and your projects, all that you have learned in the course.

From oct'08 we are building a comprehensive documentation resource (in Spanish only) for the Study Circles we encourage students to set up before each module, in order to give more time to practicals during the teacher-contact time.

 

 

 

 

  Module 1: People-Care

This is one of the 3 basic ethics of PermaCulture ... but, how to put it into practice?

We people are, as well as the context, without doubt the most dificult aspect when it comes to achieving truly sustainable systems. In this module we explore in a theoretical and also very practical way, the different facets of this most ample context: the nature of people, of groups and relationships; the models of investigation, learning, the history and meaning of sustanability.

day 1 - Ethics of PermaCulture , Principles and Directives, Action Learning, Support Structures, The Scientific Process, Models and the Human Mind, Patterns, the work of S Covey and E de Bono

day 2 - Design of the DestructoCulture, Globalization, 'Development' and Economy, Laws of Nature, Ishmael, Spiral Dynamics, Gaia Theory, Comercialization of Spirituality and 'Deep Ecology', Health

day 3 - Sustainability - What is it? Designing Effective Groups and Processes, Facilitation Techniques, Local Agenda 21, Native Peoples, etc.

 

 

 

Module 2: Design Techniques

PermaCulture is based on understanding the process of a good design, in order to be able to use it in a more conscious, effective and powerful way. We are all designers, but what characterises a noteworthy design or designer? In this module we study the criteria of a functional design and the true meaning and conditions for integrated ecological systems design. PermaCulture has some very peculiar ways of thiking about design, about resources, the human interventions in the system and of integrating the social and physical aspects, with the energetic and abstract ones. We learn to look and think in another and different way.

day 4 - Principles, Motivatio in Design, Establishment and Maintenance of Systems, Errors, Application of Principles

day 5 - Observation Techniques and of Organizing Information, Being a Designer, Principles of Guilds, Zones and Sectors

day 6 - Techniques of Design and Evaluation; Edible Forests, Visioning, Designs in Small and Large Scale, Maps

 

 

Module 3: Earth Care

PermaCulture started out as "Permanent Agriculture" and even though now we realize that a sustainable agriculture can´t work in the longer term inside an exploitative economy or an unjust society (we need to design systems that integrate everything), the bio/ecological aspect of permaculture continues to have a central relevance. Not only because there are great lessons to be learned from all natural systems (it´s good to study them in great depth), nor because it's the historical origin of PermaCulture (and perhaps its most developed facet), but also because it´s a level at which we can act most easily, changing our economy in a most immediate way, and where we most easily learn our lessons from nature, and, on the way, also of conection & self-esteem. "You can´t teach anyone to be a philosopher, but u can teach anyone to be a gardener, and from a gardener, a philosopher develops naturally" (Mollison)

day 7 - Soil, Topography, Earth Movements, Desertification, Natural Succession, Soil Health, Synergetic Growing, Vital Cycles (Oxygen, Carbon, Ethylene, etc.)

day 8 - Water, the Hydrological Cycle, Conservation and Storage, Recycling of Waters, Acuaculture, Practical Designs, Forests, Importance of Woodland

day 9 - Animals nad Plants, Climatic Effects, Agroforestry, Sustainable Farms, Autoctonous and Local Species, Practices of the Conservation of Genetic Heritage

 

 

Module 4: EcoTechnology & BioConstruction

Despite the fact that many 'Technological Advances' have not managed to improve the quality of life for the majority of people, but have resulted in more problems and pollution, we still keep hoping that a more modern, and perhaps even more ecological technology will appear, which will restore and turn-around the damage caused. Infact, it is possible, but not unless we have more citizens with a wider understanding and wider vision of what technology is, and who also are familiar with some basic scientific knowledge that can enable us to think for ourselves on these subjects. The technology of the home, or bioconstruction, is a close and important example for all of us, which will be emphasised during the course.

day 10 - Resources: Resource Hierarchy, Waste, Recycling, Compost, Social Resources, Innovation

day 11 - Energy: the Laws of Thermodymamics, Renewable Energy, Appropriate Technology, Earth Movements, the Solar Economy, Inbedded energy of Materials & EMERGY

day 12 - BioConstruction, Various Types, Examples, Principles, EarthShips, Temperature Control, Legislation

 

 

Module 5: EcoEconomy & Sharing

The part that is maybe less understood and we least think we can change in our world, is economics. But, infact, the majority of us are actively supporting and voting, every day, for an unsustainable and unjust economic system. The central message of PermaCulture tells us that it is possible for each of us to stop doing this and colaborate, together with colleagues around the world, in building the alternatives. This course offers the information, the tools and the basic support to do this, starting (PermaCulture principle) very small, from you own home, your work and your social surroundings as a form to influence the global.

day 13 - Economy , Green Money, Exchange Systems, Local Resources, Cooperatives, Just Livelyhood, Economies in Transition

day 14 - Sustainable Projects , Creating and Managing Micro-Businesses, Social Economy Projects, Ethical and Sustainable Financing

day 15 - EcoVillages , Communities, Effective Networks, Bioregional Organization, Nations and Cultures, Local and Global Sustainability

 

Module 6: THE GLOBAL PERMACULTURE COMMUNITY AND INTRODUCTION TO THE DIPLOMA PROCESS

This module is NOT necessary for achieving the Certificate, but it is necessary in order to start the Diploma process. The content of day 16 is included in a very summarized form at the end of the 5 modules. This module is recommended to those interested in participating more actively in the global permaculture community, and is an introduction to the path towards the Diploma. We reccommend that this module be taken some time after the Certificate course, as a review, and when you decide to make a commitment towards the Diploma and to contribute to the Community in a more decisive way.

day 16 - How the Diploma in PermaCulture Design works; Welcome to the global PermaCulture community - how it works. Presentation of designs done throughout the course and Certificate Ceremony (where relevant).

day 17 - Criteria for the Diploma + action learning methodology for the diplomature; Formation and practice of your support group; European and Global PermaCulture Conferences.

day 18 - Design of invisible structures (the most difficult to design); Examples of various organization designs in our global PermaCulture community and how they fulfil (or don´t) the ethics, principles, etc. (review of design methodologies); Designing your community and development / discovery of your niche in it.

 

 

The first 5 modules form part of the basic training in PermaCulture Design (100 hours). You can take them when you like (within the space of 3 years) in order to gain the Certificate.

Each module serves as an independent short course and they can be taken in any order and combination, except module 6.

Any module can be taken as an Introduction to PermaCulture short course, from the point of view that most interests you, without the need to repeat later if you decide to follow with the Certificate.

All the modules include the ethics and principles of PermaCulture, as well as some other basic design aspects.

 

 

 

Download the Application Form here

If you have problems downloading it, send an email to stella@finca-luna.com

 

 

MODALITIES :

 

We have designed it in this way in order to make it more accessible and flexible possible for all: there are 3 modalities to complete the course:

1) 5 intensive weekend courses, eg. 1 module each month - this modality is the most reccomended in order to give time to absorb the contents (for many very intense) of the courses and to enable the putting into practice in your home and daily life, one bit at a time.

2) 16 continuous days (5 modules together + certification) - normally in holiday times and for people who don´t find it easy to attend at weekends, eg. Easter or summer - but careful, it´s very intensive ...

3) as part of the Action Learning Programme of various months in the Canaries. For people who can and want to take some distance from their habitual lives during some time (minimum 1 month if you´re only interested in one module) and do it all a lot more slowly, living and sharing in a PermaCultural community . More information here.

 

Indicate on your Application Form your preference and available dates.

 

 

 

 

THE PermaCulture DESIGN CERTIFICATE

Can be certificated by the Diplomats recognized by the International PermaCulture Academy, in order to guarantee passing on the basis of a wealth of knowledge, which now amounts to more than 30 years of experience in design for sustainability by thousands of practitioners across the whole planet, in the most integral and complete way possible.

The basic curriculum was designed and tried out long-term by Bill Mollison, one of the founders of PermaCulture (see Bill Mollison article in "Academia") and is continually revised by the international PermaCulture community in the International Convergences.

It consists in 72hrs minimium of teaching + practice which cover the fundamentals in how to design sustainable systems: from settlements to gardens, organizations, groups, ecovillages, towns, homes or farms. It is based on "PERMACULTURE, a Designer's Manual", with modern additions.

 

 

TEACHING PERMACULTURE

 

An important part of the reccomendations on PermaCulture training consist in encouraging participants in teaching what they have learned as soon as possible after the Certificate course. This node of the Academy is committed in doing all possible in order to facilitate this transition with good support and within a community structure - as much to assure the information is passed on correctly and with integrity, and to assure the ongoing training of quality teachers. (see "Objetivos y métodos" en " Academia ").

Normally we manage that some of the participants start already to teach something in the same course they´re starting with: so get ready to take a very active part during our courses! And inform us if you have some expertise (don´t be modest) in any of the themes listed in the contents of the modules that interest you.

 

 

We also provide INTRODUCTION TALKS which include:

What is PermaCulture

History: how it developed and how it fits with Local Agenda 21

What the Course offers

About the European PermaCulture Academy

 

Personal Histories: results of the Course in the past: examples of Local Agenda 21 in practice

 

Email

stella@finca-luna.com or saraarnaiz@yahoo.es

if you would like to organize a talk in your area, or for any question about the courses.