Accelerated Permaculture Training Syllabus

“Permaculture teaches active approaches to positive change, using practical knowledge, design and social principles.  By utilizing appropriate technology, traditional knowledge and innovative solutions, we can be more prepared for our unknowable future. Permaculture provides a useful toolbox for personal and professional design.” –Claudia Joseph

This course has been organized by Claudia Joseph, a permaculture consultant, practitioner and community leader who holds a Diploma of Permaculture in Education and Design from Permaculture USA, as well as being certified by Permaculture Institute of North America. It is administrated by Roots & Wings and supported by a teaching team.  

Claudia Joseph, Jono Neiger, Anne Wiesen and John Seitz are the core teachers. Guest teachers will visit the class periodically to present in-depth knowledge from their individual fields and will sometimes lead the class.  Improvised and group learning are part of the teaching style and course topics may vary from those listed in the syllabus.

"The prime directive of permaculture is to take responsibility for our own existence and that of our children.  Cooperation, not competition is the very basis of future survival for existing life systems." – Penny Livingston-Stark

SYLLABUS:  topics, locations and teachers may vary

Saturday, September 15, 9am - 5pm

Instructors: Jono Neiger and Claudia Joseph

• Morning Circle/Introductions
• Permaculture: History & Ethics 
• Pattern Recognition in Nature
• History of Organic Agriculture  
• Resilient Food Systems
• Soil Health - Sheet Mulch
• Homestead Model
• Climate and Weather Factors
• Zone & Sector Analysis 
• Plant Selection
• Basic Mapping Techniques
• Individual Assignment

Saturday, September 22 - Field Practice at the Old Stone House, 10am - 5pm

Instructors: Claudia Joseph and Anne Wiesen

This teaching day is weather dependent. Light rain is fine - dress appropriately. Heavy rain or strong wind would postpone. The rain-date is Sept 23rd.

• Morning Circle
• Field Observation
• Plant Guilds/Dynamic Landscapes
• Mid-scale Compost Systems
• Finding Contour for Water Management
• Individual design projects 
• Herbal Use
• Forage
• Seed Saving

Saturday, October 20, 9am - 5pm

Instructors: John Seitz and Anne Wiesen

• Biomes & Bioregional Planning
• Water Conservation Practices
• Wetlands & Groundwater 
• Flood Mitigation Techniques
• Aquaculture and Aquaponics 
• Climate & Carbon Cycles
• Remaining Individual Assignments

Saturday, November 3

Instructor: Jono Neiger 

• Plant Selection & Siting
• Pruning, Grafting, Coppice & Pollarding 
• Natural Building Methods
• Home Energy Choices
• Lifestyle & Economy
• Worker Cooperatives
• Group project assignment:
• Begin design project

Saturday, Nov 10

Instructors: John Seitz and Anne Wiesen

• Eco-village Design & Community Blocks
• Localizing Economies, Energy and Resources
• Designing an Edible Landscape
• Small Business Development
• Consensus Process/Group Dynamics 
• Presentation Skills Development
• Work in groups
• Outdoor activity if weather permits

Saturday, Nov 17

Instructors: John Seitz, Anne Wiesen, Claudia Joseph, and guest teacher

• Applying Permaculture to our Lives & Businesses
• Group work between morning break and lunch
• Final Presentations
• Student Finale