Summer 2015 Intensive PDC: Austin, Texas

JUNE 1st – 14th 2015 INTENSIVE PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE COURSE AUSTIN TEXAS

Eco-Pioneers.org is teaming up with the Austin Permaculture Guild to bring you a Summer 2015 Permaculture Design Course (PDC). The course starts June 1st and will earn its graduates a permaculture design course certificate allowing them to teach other PDC’s and advertise themselves as permaculture designers. See the course schedule and other essential information below. If, after reading this page, you have any questions, contact the course registrar / web admin, Taelor Monroe at monroe DOT taelor AT gmail DOT com

 

The now completed pond being worked on by the PDC students in Summer 2014. Photo credit- Woody Welch

 

INTENSIVE PDC COURSE PRICE INFO
Our class starts June 1st and ends June 14th. It is a two-week intensive course that offers participants an opportunity for full immersion into the function of design, and a complete paradigm shift turning problems into solutions, eliminating waste and unnecessary work in your life, and enabling all of us to give back more to our planet than we take from it. There will be camping and food provided on site (included in the price of tuition). Tuition is a sliding scale course of $800-$1,000 with a non-refundable deposit of $200. The remaining $600-$800 will be paid to Austin Permaculture Guild on the first day of class. The sliding scale tuition allows for more individuals with limited means to participate in this class. But, if you can actually pay the full amount, that is preferred.

Please submit your deposit below to reserve your spot in the course!


SUMMER 2015 INTENSIVE PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE COURSE SCHEDULE
This Permaculture Design Certificate is certified by the Permaculture Research Institute and signifies completion of the 72-hour curriculum set forth by Bill Mollison in “Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual.” This is not a vocational certificate. But the permaculture design skill-set is so practical, and so much needed in today’s world, that you can consider the course a kind of “universal vocational training.”
This course includes classroom instruction, hands-on projects (including your site design project), presentations by guest instructors, and hands-on workshops. For more details about the content, scroll down this page. We look forward to having you in our class!

 

Class inside of the classroom-the geodesic dome. Photo credit- Woody Welch

 

Class Schedule:

June 1 – Day 1: Introduction

June 2 – Day 2: Concepts and Themes in Design

June 3 – Day 3: Methods of Design, Pattern Literacy, and Patterns in Design

June 4 – Day 4: Water and Aquaculture, Rain Water Harvesting, Grey and Black Water Systems, Effective Microorganism Workshop

June 5 – Day 5: Soils and Composting, Companion Planting, Perennial and Annual Gardening

June 6 – Day 6: Climate & Urban Design

June 7 – Day 7: Field Trip Day

June 8 – Day 8: Forests and Trees, Grafting and Propagation Methods, Garden strategies; Evening: Fermentation and Food Talk/Workshop at 7:30pm (we’ll also be making Sauerkraut!)

June 9 – Day 9: Earthworks and Map Reading, Surveying swales and berms/learning how to build on contour

June 10 – Day 10: Natural Building and Final Project Introductions

June 11 – Day 11: Invisible Structures and Appropriate Technologies

June 12 – Day 12: Final Design Project work

June 13 – Day 13: Final Design Project work, Further Education, Talent Show in the Evening

June 14 – Day 14: Design Presentations and Design Certificate Completion with Graduation Celebration and Feast

 

Permaculture Design created by a past student.

 

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS:

Gertrude, the resident donkey at WLLC. Photo credit- Woody Welch

Gertrude, the resident donkey at WLLC. Photo credit- Woody Welch

The Summer 2015 Intensive Course will be held at the Whole Life Learning Center in South Austin. The Whole Life Learning Center is a place where people of all ages come together to imagine, explore, collaborate, create, work, play and learn about ourselves, nature, our world, and the universe. It’s a place where everyone can come together to learn, grow and co-create a beautiful world. The property is a living example of permaculture design and practice featuring elements such as rain water catchment, berms and swales, aquaponics, and is complete with 20 chickens, a goat, and a donkey.

Nighttime outside of the dome. Photo credit- Woody Welch

 

Food and camping will be provided throughout the course and are included in the price of your tuition. Camping is not required but is highly encouraged. There will be three wholesome homemade meals a day with options for vegan, vegetarian and gluten free. Every meal will be complete with fresh local produce, grains and sometimes an optional serving of locally sourced meat. Please help us achieve zero waste by bringing your own reusable cup, silverware, water bottle, etc. A more detailed list of what to bring will be provided upon course sign up.

WHAT WE WILL COVER IN THIS COURSE:

The gardens at the Whole Life Learning Center. Photo Credit- Woody Welch

The gardens at the Whole Life Learning Center. Photo Credit- Woody Welch

INTRODUCTION: Course, Student and Teacher Introduction, Learning Agreement, Host Site Tour, Permaculture History & Ethics

CONCEPTS & THEMES IN DESIGN: State of the World, Principles of Natural Systems, Observation, Function, Edge Effects and Harmonics, Flow, Work, Productivity, Resources, Analysis of Elements, Maximum Use, Stacking and Packing, Diversity

Many patterns inside of a sunflower, at WLLC. Photo credit- Woody Welch

Many patterns inside of a sunflower, at WLLC. Photo credit- Woody Welch

METHODS OF DESIGN: Zones of Use, Sector Analysis, Function of Design, Design Methodologies, Alternative Design Methods, Pattern Literacy, Patterns in Design

WATER & AQUACULTURE: Passive Water Catchment, Hugelkultur, Rain Water Catchment, Water Storage, Grey Water, Black Water, In-soak, Water Cycles and Management, Water in the Landscape, Aquaculture, Mari-culture and Aquaponics, Wetlands

SOILS & COMPOSTING: Soil Analysis-pH, Soil types: Sandy-Loam-Clay, Humus Creation, Micro-Nutrients, Macro-Nutrients, Composting, Compost Tea, Bio-Fertilizer, Propagation Methods, Companion Planting, Tree Guilds, Herbs, Seed Saving, Perennials and Annuals, Gardening

CLIMATE & URBAN DESIGN: Macro-climates and Micro-climates, Design Strategies: Temperate, Tropical, and Arid, Design Activity, Volunteering, Community Organization

Past students working in the food forest at WLLC. Photo credit- Woody Welch

Past students working in the food forest at WLLC. Photo credit- Woody Welch

FORESTS & TREES: Wind, Light, Rain, Transpiration, Types of Forests, Establishment of Forests, Forest Management, Agro-forestry, Silvo-pasture, Orchard Systems, Tree Planting, Tree Grafting, Wild Planting, Food Forests, Cover Crops, Farmer’s trees

EARTHWORKS: Landscape Profiles, Reading the Landscape, Earthworks, Dead Barriers, Swales, Ponds, Mapping, Role of Slope, Irrigation Systems, Keyline Design, Terraces, Diversion Drains, Gabions, Dryland Strategies, Roads, Canals, Contour Mapping, Surveying

NATURAL BUILDING: Straw-bale, Cob, Adobe, Compressed Earth, Light Clay, Earthen Floors, Auxiliary Systems (Russian Oven, Pizza Oven), Orientation to the Wind & Sun, Design for Catastrophe, Home Energy Conservation, Alternate Forms of Power: Solar-Wind-Hydraulic, Roofing, Foundation

COMMUNITY & APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY: Informal Economy, Formal Economy, Financial Strategies, Village Development and Infrastructure, Educational Strategies, Commerce and Trade, Legal Structures, Communication Structures, Community, Consensus Decision Making, Outreach, Recreation, Waste Disposal, Recycling, Re-use, Emergency Preparedness

Students holding their final designs, from our intensive course last year, 2014. Photo credit-Woody Welch

Students holding their final designs, from our intensive course last year, 2014. Photo credit-Woody Welch

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:

THERON BEAUDREAU is a Permaculture Diploma Mentor with Gaia University and Registered as a Permaculture Design Certificate Teacher through the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia. Theron has over 10 years of experience in permaculture design and has taught and consulted with experts in a verity of climates throughout the world. Currently he is the managing director of Integrated Acres, an integrated education and design firm based in East Texas.“Theron is an engaging teacher and inspiring mentor. He empowers his students to teach each other through thoughtful facilitation and creative activities.” – Erin Hickok, Permaculture Design Student. Learn more about Theron’s approach to teaching here: http://permaculturenews.org/2012/09/05/teaching-permaculture-interactively/ Contact Theron directly at theron AT eco-pioneers DOT org

Theron Beaudreau

PRI registered teacher Theron Beaudreau

 

TAELOR MONROE handles publicity and admin roles for the Austin Permaculture Guild and organizes and teaches at the permaculture design courses and workshops advertised here. Her home base is at the Whole Life Learning Center where she works to transform the space into a full functioning permaculture design with Caroline Riley. She got the Permablitz events off of the ground along with the main direction from Kirby Fry, in Central Texas in January 2013 and still manages and organizes these informational workshops and volunteer events. She previously helped start a Permaculture centered intentional community titled Sacred Roots in San Marcos, TX. She has studied Permaculture design under Kirby Fry, Caroline Riley and Dick Pierce. Her top most goal is to create community and educate others about regenerative permaculture design and practice. You can contact Taelor at (214) 448-6428 or monroe DOT taelor AT gmail DOT com

Your instructor Taelor Monroe.

Please submit your deposit below to reserve your spot in the course!

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