4 Seasons Permaculture Design Certification Course

Winter 2008

Re-design your life, Re-envision the world!

OFFERED - Starts August, 2008 and continues one Saturday per month through July 2009

LOCATION - Commonweal Garden, Bolinas, California

INSTRUCTORS - Penny Livingston-Stark, Lydia Neilson, Lauren Dalberth, David Hage, Matt Berry & special guests

This course is a great opportunity to take a Permaculture Design Ceritifcation Course over a full year nature's rhythms. You will learn how to observe and use the same principles that make ecological systems self-sustaining, and apply them to integrated homes and gardens. In addition, you will learn how to apply these principles to energy systems and water supplies, healthy communities, meaningful and fulfilling work, ecological economies and global political movements for change.

The course also weaves together the principles and practices of permaculture with wilderness awareness - learning bird language, tracking and participate in activities that deepen your awareness and intimacy with the rest of the natural world. The program will be founded upon the reality that we are nature and have an amazing role in our watershed ecosystems.

The 4-Seasons course differs from our 2-week intensive Permaculture Design Courses in that you will engange in hands-on activities over the course of a full year. You will participate in activies such as winter pruning, spring planting, summer and fall harvesting, food preservation and other activities that relate to the seasons. The 4-Seasons format also allows you the opportunity to implement permaculture principles at home and bring your experiences and questions back to the class for feedback and discussion.

In addition to class meetings, you will also work with a small team of classmates on a conceptual permaculture design project. Design projects are presented on the last day of class.

The course takes place at Commonweal Garden, a 17-acre farm on the ocean in Bolinas. The farm is being transformed into a permaculture model of human beings living in harmony with the earth. Nestled into its own quiet valley, the site features multiple grey water systems, production green house, ponds, seasonal stream, springs, a yurt classroom, goats and chickens, and a Registered Organic production garden.

"I enrolled in this class with the knowledge that it would likely
change my life in profound and unexpected ways. What I didn't expect
was the speed and intensity with which these changes occurred. What an exhilarating ride!"
-Summer 2006 graduate

Read what others have said about this course

Course Fee

Tuition for the entire 13-day program is $1100 - includes course manual.
All fees must be paid in full prior to the start of class.

Discounts:

• Early Bird Discount - $975 when registered and paid in full by July 25, 2008.
  

• Family Discount - Adults who would like to take this course with a son or daughter between age 16 - 21 receive a 40% discount off their child's tuition ($660)

• Partner Discount - Partners who take the course together get the second tuition for 20% off ($880)
  

Class Schedule
The program will begin with a 2-day introductory weekend in August 2008 and will meet one Saturday each month through July, 2009. Class dates will be posted soon.