Permaculture Research Institute USA » Exciting New Courses from Quail Springs

World-recognized certification course covers sustainable living systems design for all landscapes and climates – with everything from food systems, water harvesting, waste cycling, home design, to climate care, and much more – and is appropriate for those seeking to apply permaculture practices in their communities in diverse ways, as well providing a foundation for those intending to teach permaculture and/or provide professional design and consulting services.

Robyn Francis is one of permaculture’s early pioneers and founder of Permaculture International, Erda Institute and Djanbung Gardens Permaculture, conductor of over 100 Permaculture Design Certification courses, and a key architect of the Accredited Permaculture Training . Kat Steele is a permaculture activist, designer and educator, and founder of the Urban Permaculture Guild in Oakland, California, who speaks about the power and practice of urban permaculture design, city repair and placemaking. Warren Brush is a permaculture designer and educator in North America and Africa, founder of True Nature Design, and co-founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm and Trees for Children.

PERMACULTURE is a conscious integrated design system based on ecology and sustainability principles to create resource efficient and productive human environments and reduce our footprint on the earth. Permaculture practices apply to both urban and rural environments and adapt to all climates and cultural contexts. As an integrated system it embraces built environment, technology, food production, land use planning, restoration ecology, resource management, community development, cultural and social ecology.

Permaculturists are at the cutting edge of sustainability practices, innovation and experimentation in a wide range of disciplines, fields of work, cultures and climates around the planet. The Permaculture Design Course (PDC) meets a common international standard as the minimum foundation training for those intending to teach permaculture and/or provide professional design and consulting services.

Registration details
Prices include tuition, certification, handbook/course guide, organic catered meals, and camping accommodations nearby.
Early registration with deposit to secure your space is advised as the course is expected to fill quickly.

Early Bird discounts for payment in full by June 1, 2009. Early Bird price: $1,350 PDC Graduates/Refresher Course Early Bird price: $1,200

Regular registration $400 deposit to secure your space with balance due by July 1, 2009.
Regular price: $1,500 Couples price for second partner: $1,200 Families with children please ask about options for family rate and childcare program.
Limited work trade & payment plan options – inquire early!

Contact to register or for more info: Kolmi Majumdar, info (at) quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239

Permaculture Certification Scholarship Fund for Activists from Communities with Need

Those with the means are encouraged to give a tax-deductible donation or business sponsorship to our Scholarship Fund. Sponsors may choose to be listed on our website and newsletters. Nominees for scholarships are activists working within their own distressed communities in the US and internationally with very little access to finances, yet positioned to apply Permaculture directly to benefit their communities. To contribute to the Permaculture Certification Scholarship Fund, click here.

We encourage those seeking financial aid yet not fitting the intention of this scholarship fund to explore developing sponsorships through their own networks. Please feel free to ask us about work trade and payment plan options.

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Sustainable Aid Courses

Facilitating Resilient Community Development in Areas of Need, Permaculture for 2/3rds World, Indigenous and Culturally Diverse Communities

With Robyn Francis international permaculture designer with over 25 years experience throughout Australia, New Zealand, USA, India, Indonesia, Germany, Cuba, and Taiwan, and including projects ranging from outback communities to urban development, domestic gardens to public landscapes, ecovillage design to bioregional and state planning, with clients ranging from the grassroots to corporate and government sectors. See below for more on Robyn Francis.

This course develops awareness and skills for working in areas of need, and with people from other cultural backgrounds in both a first-world context and in overseas development work, and is presented in two complementary parts.

Part 1 – Working with Cultural Diversity

July 27-30, 2009

The first part deals with cultural awareness, working with people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, appropriate communications and inclusive facilitation techniques and processes. This part of the course explores issues and strategies specific to working with indigenous, multicultural, ethnic and minority communities and groups in developed nations. The principles covered, however, provide an essential foundation for Part 2 of the course. Part 1 provides valuable insights for those involved in working in community development programs, from community gardens and schools to transition planning, which involve liaising with people from culturally diverse backgrounds and disadvantaged groups.

Part 2 – Overseas Development Work

August 1-6, 2009

Part 2 builds further on the skills-set of Part 1 for those working or intending to be involved in overseas aid and development work. Key issues facing the 2/3rds world are addressed together with Permaculture strategies to facilitate solution processes. Topics include survival security (food, water, shelter), health and nutrition, environmental health, kitchen garden and local food security programs, appropriate low-tech options, and integrating permaculture with traditional production systems in humid and arid tropics. The course also addresses facilitation processes for community directed program development, project appraisal and evaluation, disaster preparedness, post disaster relief and recovery, and ways we need to prepare ourselves for undertaking this kind of work including research, working with development agencies and NGO’s, and issues of personal security in overseas field work. Course activities will include discussion, case studies, presentations, participatory processes, role play, group projects, practical and experiential activities. This course can be very challenging on a deep personal level, and will provide an invaluable basis for either working in the field or with support foundations and organizations.

Robyn Francis shares experience and insights from over 2 decades of working as Permaculture trainer and consultant in diverse countries and cultures including India, Indonesia, Fiji, Taiwan, Cuba, with Australian Aboriginals and NZ Maori, and as advisor/mentor to Permaculture NGO’s and activists around the world. This course was originally developed by Robyn Francis in 1991 and undergoes constant revision in keeping with global changes and their impacts on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable peoples. These courses now form part of the Accredited Permaculture Training Certificate IV and Diploma of Permaculture studies with Erda Institute at Djanbung Gardens Permaculture.

Registration details
Prices include tuition, certification, textbook, catered meals, and camping nearby.
Early Bird prices Regular Prices
Payment in full by June 1 Payment due by July 13
Full Course (Parts 1 & 2) $1100 $1250 ($300 deposit will secure your space**)
Part 1 only $480 $550
Part 2 only $720 $820
**Early registration to secure your space is advised as the course is expected to fill quickly
Unless otherwise indicated, prices listed are for payments made in full.

Limited work trade and payment plans are offered, please inquire early. Onsite Childcare program possible, please inquire early as it will be designed around the needs presented.

Contact to register or for more info: Kolmi Majumdar, info (at) quailsprings.org or 805-886-7239
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About Robyn Francis

Australian permaculture designer, educator, pioneer and presenter, Robyn has been working internationally for over 25 years, throughout Australia, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, USA, Germany, Cuba and Taiwan. The founder of Permaculture International, Erda Institute and Djanbung Gardens Permaculture, she was editor of the Permaculture International Journal, and one of the key architects of the Accredited Permaculture Training providing national vocational and trade qualifications in Permaculture. Her experience has encompassed all climate zones in projects ranging from outback communities to urban development, domestic gardens to public landscapes, ecovillage design to bioregional and state planning, with clients ranging from the grassroots to corporate and government sectors. One of permaculture’s early pioneers, Robyn has conducted over 100 PDC’s plus numerous advanced and professional development courses. She has developed one of permaculture’s leading education and demonstration sites, Djanbung Gardens in sub-tropical NSW, where she has established a bioregional campus for vocational training in Permaculture. Robyn is also an accomplished musician, singer-songwriter and artist, an avid gardener and enjoys getting dirty walking the talk. For more information and full CV visit www.permaculture.com.au