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Permaculture
Design Courses
Overview
Nicaragua
 (bilingual)
 Feb 10-25, 2008
Testimonials from Past Courses:
Hawai'i
 Dec 3-17, 2004
Nicaragua
 Feb 8-27 '05
Orcas Island
 Jul 18-Aug 2 '05
Port Townsend
Reports From the Field
Nursery Projects
Agroforestry Projects
The Wilder Team
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Permaculture Design Courses
 Overview

In each of our current locations - Hawaii, Nicaragua, Mexico, The Bahamas, Orcas Island and Port Townsend Washington - we teach annual two and three-week permaculture design intensives. We return each year to build friendships, infrastructure, and richer more biodiverse environments.

In Central America our courses are fully bilingual, and all our courses have local farmers and villagers both as students and teachers.

Our Certificated Permaculture Design Courses offer unique opportunities to learn the theory, principles, and practice of permaculture in rural agricultural communities, from our teaching team as well as local farmers and educators.

Topics include:
  • Permaculture design principles & methodologies
  • Reading landscapes, mapping, & site analysis
  • Plant propagation and seed saving
  • Indigenous cultivation, traditions, and practices
  • Perennial polycultures and developing food forests
  • Energy conservation and renewable energy sources
  • Ecosystem restoration / bioremediation
  • Hydrology and aquaculture
  • Alternative economic systems & local self-reliance
  • Forest management and agroforestry
  • Patterns in nature
  • Natural building
  • Ecovillage design
  • Urban permaculture strategies
  • Whole systems theory
  • Ecoliteracy
  • Herbs & medicinal plants
  • Integrated animal systems
  • Integrated pest management

Classes include lectures, hands-on projects, research, field trips, and team design projects.

Advanced courses include:

  • Water: pond construction, plumbing and irrigation systems, potable water, water tanks, rainwater catchment
  • Energy: solar and wind electric system installation and upgrading
  • Building: wood, bamboo, stone, earth bag, thatch, and use of earthmoving machines in land development
  • Metal: welding and metal fabrication projects
  • Plant propagation: grafting, composting, fertility, seed saving, tray greens, guild design

Academic credits are often available to undergraduate and graduate students attending a Permaculture Design Course. Our staff can assist you with obtaining university credits.