I really enjoyed the course and was very, very pleased across the board. Outstanding experience. Outstanding community. The only things I could think of even slightly off was a bit of confusion with camping and facilities. I have not doubt it will be even better for the next PDC course with this experience under our belts.
-DFW Stickers
I have experienced such an amazing two weeks with Theron building us up all along the way. When it comes to Permaculture I could not tell you enough what an amazing resource Theron is.

When it comes to Permaculture I could not tell you enough what an amazing resource Theron is.

Course
Likes: Information, sharing, enthusiasm, students, environment, fun
Improve: More actual examples of success, i.e. walking through a mature food forest! Yields #’s
Facility Likes: Environment
Improve: Shower, Toilets, portapotties – put in shade, Remove dead tree hazards – camping, mosquitos

PDC FEEDBACK – Caroline Hoelscher
Great Structure – Lecture/Break/Lecture… Very helpful, good for learning.
I’m glad we had ‘get to know each other’ games during the 1st and 2nd day
– made the learning experience more comfortable for me.
Theron – you have great presence when you’re teaching – calming. You make the learning experience comfortable and enjoyable. I felt like I could ask any questions and not feel like I was asking a silly question. You can explain things very well and break them down so they are easy to understand – even when they’re complex. Like your bio-fertilizer explanation. I really appreciate your emphasis on making the world a more beautiful place – both of people and landscape.
I thoroughly enjoyed this course and am very thankful for Theron & Chow for putting this together. I look forward to staying in touch and will be asking questions 🙂
I value both of ya’lls knowledge and experiences. You both displayed humility – you are humble and have willingness/desire to learn and grow. SO Glad our paths have crossed and hopefully will continue to cross in the many years to come. I am thankful for you both! You are a blessing.
I was honestly surprised how all the permaculture principles apply to every aspect of life. It is a lot more holistic than I imagined.
Hosts: Summer and Wes – Thank you for your hospitality! I felt instantly at home in your space.

Activities were spectacular. the movement and energy was amazing throughout. So appreciate all Beth’s energy into keeping us nourished and making sure vendors had photos. I feel healthy and nourished through and through.
Theron and Chow for facilitating a community. The amount of names games to begin with was great. really got us out and vulnerable.
I would improve on having a few games ready for when classes ended early. My one or two constructive criticisms is:
1. mention a game or activity then move it forward. A few times early the class finished and a vote was taken on what people wanted to do. Seemed to stall the amazing momentum of the class.
2. And this will come with time and project opportunity but to have a project/activity associated with every lecture. Activity then debrief can be a great teacher in replace of a lecture
Overall, I could not have asked for a better class and wonderful people to share it with.

Chow speak more of fungi and everything. You know a ton and are a great teacher.
Bright Sky I loved your evening the whole progression through the class was perfect and it was a very deep and meaningful experience.
I look forward to where you futures lead and eagerly await the next time I see all of you.
Theron, Thank you for making yourself so available to really let me process the small details with you. You are a great instructor and a superhero friend. The guest lectures were a great way to change up the class and incredible resources.

Brother Theron, (and Brother Chow)
I feel extremely blessed to have been a student in your first PDC course. It’s been an amazing two years since we first connected during the East Austin Farm Tour and I feel that this course is the embodiment of a new chapter in our lives and indeed, our life’s work. I felt the info presented was in a logical and helpful order. Similarly the comfort in which you presented the info, the way you engaged the class, and opened the lecture up for discussion was a huge success. The activities to build team/community, as well as to learn the material were spot on! The ability for us to camp and share needs was a fundamental part to the bonding of the class as well. I can’t thank you both enough for your hard work, wisdom, brotherhood, and allowing me to attend the course on scholarship.
Regarding thoughts for improvement, I think there is much that can be learned from things that evolved. The development of the chore schedule, for instance, was very helpful. My only recommendation other than what comes from this exercise and your own attention on what worked from your perspective is to compile and utilize a more comprehensive packet of course materials. We never utilized what was in the packet and instead referenced the library we were blessed to have at our disposal. I would suggest utilizing that library to compile materials that in the next course you integrate….

into your teachings charts, diagrams and recourse list included into the packet, that is utilized in tandem with your teaching would be of great benefit. Increased active participation by Chow could only add to the course as well!
Wes and Summer,
I love the awesome developments that have taken place over the last year! I’m grateful and feel so blessed to have spent time in your wonderful home and land. The improvements I’d have suggested are those which you have already illustrated and communicated in your design project. I look forward to participating in it’s implementation and the continued education at Awesome Hollow as I can!
Much love and many blessings to all! Kyle Amato

Theron, Chowgene and our Gracious Awesome Hollow Hosts,
I’ve gained knowledge and wisdom, and had experiences I never imagined possible, and been inspired and directed. It will probably take at least a month of me to process the amazing experiences and really get into the literature that was available on permaculture. I read for most of my breaks and I probably have a hundred hours of reading just to begin to get through Chowgene’s little library, but I’m inspired and committed to learning everything I can about regenerative living systems, and it rocks. Thank you both.
Wesley, Summer, Erin, Beth and Jonathan
Thank you for folerating my sweaty self. It was warm but I really enjoyed the breezes, the wisdom, the fantastic setting, and the abundance of living energy surrounding it. I hope we didn’t interfere or intrude at any time, and that you enjoyed being around us as much as we appreciated the time we spent with you. Qi Gong and guided group meditation are both potent and transformative. I intent to repeat that experience in the future. the camping was fine. About the only recommendation would be for a mat or some grippy surface to be installed in the outdoor shower. so people don’t slip. I could list the general awesomeness of experience item by item, but you don’t want a long list, you want me to tell you the truth – your place rocks.
Beth and Jonathan,
Gourmet food, most of which was created on the fly with limited items : every meal was fantastic, delicious and had wondrous bouquet. You all should open a restaurant.

Thank both of you ever so much. I am grateful.
I am grateful to all. We collectively harmonized musically from the second day to the last, but only because I wasn’t fully present the first two days.
Love, Peace, and may your visions and aspirations be realized.

Facilitator
What I really liked!
Creative Participation
Group Projects and team work
Food quality and variety 🙂
Variety of guest speakers
That there was a tour
Skill shares
Community Building
What could be more Awesome!
More ways to split up the teams
-Consciously connected for a reason
-Fun ways to break teams randomly
Ran out of cereal/yogurt at the end 🙁
Interactive hand out package
– illustrates concepts with structure to work our stuff yourself after.
Prepare tour more
– Context tour guides
– Focus on principles and higher concepts
Stie Logistics
What I really liked!
Calm and Nature <3
indoor class space
outdoor toilets
animals in the space
lovely/welcoming people
What could be more Awesome!
Indoor bathroom fixed outdoor kitchen
More outdoor seating
mosquito eating stuff
organized materials for projects in advance

I love the hosts!
Keep up the Awesomeness
Your waves are multiplying
and raising our collective vibrations.
I personally wish there were more open minded and flexibility with meeting my needs but I can’t expect everyone to approach things like I would and I completely understand.
Sorry for kinda being a pain in the ass. I’m trying.
Love always
🙂 Akira <3
P.S. Chow, you rock!
Sooo much Love for ya!
Thanks for answering my never ending stream of questions.

What I liked about the course:
– Some of the hands on activities following the classroom portion of learning helped me retain the info better.
– sand exercise
– compost tea
– design projects
– field trip
– compost
What could be improved:
– less “review” from previous day, time could have been better utilized on new material.
– More time conscious, especially with outdoor activities during heat of day.
– better preparation by guest speakers, both topics discussed and projects.

Likes Best:
– community building exercises
– drawings with lectures!
– Theron’s lectures
– emotional support!
– extra “optional” activities
– Library!
– video incorporation
– long lunch = nap time!
– group projects
– Build stuff!: shower, compost toilet, as a team, early on.
– awesome community
Next Time:
– better vetting of outside instructors (Emily and Daniel not super prepared)
– make Bright Sky come sooner!
– An individual project
– You participate more in guiding the tours to fit in with class
– readings distributed before course
– Two days off!
– Not the hottest time of year!

Host/Facilities
(well, facilities, hosts = awesome)
Likes Best
-Very informed about where things are
– great site tour
– very helpful and accommodating attitudes
– cold tile floor
– labyrinth!
– quite spaces to go hide for a minute
– cats!
Next Time
– composting toilet and showers installed
– more people (students) helping maintain spaces starting right away.
– bigger covered classroom space
– basically, install your design 🙂 I’ll come help 😉

This applies to both facilitator and host.
Everything was absolutely spectacular.
I would have slept less if there was a bit more of a classroom setting. It was casual but maybe just too casual. There were many times when a group workspace would have been very beneficial. folding tables and chairs, perhaps? I know classroom settings are freaky but there is probably a happy medium. All in all, thoroughly “awesome”.
Thank you thank you thank you for allowing me to be here, free of charge, for letting me cook for you, and sharing your time and space. In doing so we will help thousands. Directly and indirectly through the beautiful ripples, which may turn out…

to be the most direct way of all. (It’s the only guaranteed way)
“This (Theron’s) permaculture design course was more than I could have asked for. Expectations surpassed, I hold more hope for our species now than ever before, while truly grasping the gravity of the situation. Thank you.”

Dear Theron,
I honestly loved the course and the experience of being part of a community of talented, active, passionate brothers and sisters.
At some point it was too intense for me, but maybe it’s related to some personal things within me. But the support I felt from the group helped me to keep going… being a newbie wasn’t easy, but I’m very happy that I took my first perma-step with you, in this setting. I loved that the teaching took place in a house and not a classroom, it made it more warm. Maybe what I’d suggest is having two days off instead of one during the two week course. Like I said, my mind had a hard time processing a vocabulary I didn’t know… a whole new universe was presented to me…

in two weeks, that’s a lot 🙂
Working outside was also difficult for me because of the heat. Maybe a course during the Spring/Fall would be better.
Our hosts (Summer and Wes) are pretty amazing as well as Chow. I really have nothing to say or complain about the people you chose to work with.
Thank you for bing so open, supportive and full of light and love.
In gratitude
Shakti Devi