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Course evaluations:
Read comments from participants in the Permaculture course presented in fall 2005.

Read comments from participants in the Permaculture course presented in fall 2006.

Definition of permaculture

Chainsaw safe operation demonstration

Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems.  It is the harmonious integration of landscape and people providing their food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way.  Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material and strategic components in a pattern that functions to benefit life in all its forms. The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; and of allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions. The word "permaculture" can be used by anybody adhering to the ethics and principles expressed herein.  The only restriction on use is that of teaching; only graduates of a Permaculture Institute can teach "permaculture," and they adhere to agreed-on curricula developed by the College of Graduates of the Institutes of Permaculture.

—Definition adapted from the Permaculture Research Institute

Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)

Fall 2006 GEM Permaculture course participants turn a compost pile the class built from scratch using local materials.

This is a 72-hour course in sustainable living systems design for all climates and landscapes.This is a hands-on course that includes numerous field activities such as making compost and constructing a portable greenhouse, mushroom cultivation, seed starting and season extension strategies, food preservation and fermentation techniques, urban farming systems, home biofuel processing, beekeeping, soap making and fruit tree grafting. Field trips will take students to sites that illustrate Permaculture practices. Students will complete projects such as sustainable property design and see demonstrations on the keyline plow and roof rainwater catchment systems. The PRI's Permaculture Design Certificate is renowned for producing ecological activists with design skills, and connects students to a global network of Permaculture contacts and projects. Attaining a PDC is the foundation for further learning in this field, and is a pre-requisite to obtaining a Diploma in Permaculture Design, which requires two years of practical application of Permaculture in a range of disciplines. (Scroll down for more information.)

Course tuition is $1,000 ($950 if registering before June 30)and includes the required course textbook ($194 value), and lunch and morning and afternoon coffee/tea breaks each day.

A $100 deposit is required to reserve a place in this course. No refunds will be made after June 30. The balance is due on the first day of class.

The PDC covers the following:

• Theory and principles of design
• Methods of design
• Climatic factor strategies for humid tropics, dry lands, and temperate zones
• Domestic food security and production: garden, mini-farm and farm design, ecological pest control,
  orchard and tree crops, forestry and bamboo plantations, bush foods and forages
  

  Fall 2006 GEM Permaculture Course instructor Darren Doherty of Australia looks on as Mai Phillips and John Sheffy work on class projects. Near the completion of the 13-day course the wall in the background is papered with the results of group discussions and projects.

• Soil rehabilitation and erosion control
• Livestock, green manures and farmers' trees
• Wildlife
• Design for catastrophe prevention
• Drought-proofing property
• Earthworks
• Water harvesting and management
• Windbreaks and bush fire control
• Aquaculture, aquatic plants and fisheries
• Energy-efficient housing: site selection, appropriate technology, recycling and waste management
• Whole systems design for human settlements - community or village level
• Permaculture Academy
• Invisible structures: trusts, legal strategies, alternative economic structures

General Course Syllabus

Daily Time Blocks

Tuition Information:

Tuition covers course registration, lunch each class day and morning and afternoon coffee/tea breaks. The required textbook (approximately $194 value) is included in your course fee.

Course Location:

University of Milwaukee's Saukville Field Station, Saukville, Wisconsin

Lodging is available at the Field Station for $5 per night. GEM has reserved the old farmhouse at the field station, which has several bedrooms with bunk beds. No meals are provided but kitchen space is provided. Guests must bring their own pillows, linens, blankets, and towels, and guests are asked to leave the facility clean when they leave. If you are interested in staying at the field station farmhouse email gemperm@uwsp.edu after registering for the class.

Map of Saukville Field Station area

Use the Google Maps link above to get a basic orientation of the area and directions to the site for the course. Immediately below are links to nearby Chambers of Commerce, which may be able to provide information if you need help on lodging or camping options, and to the local county website.

Saukville Chamber of Commerce

Port Washington Chamber of Commerce

West Bend Chamber of Commerce

Ozaukee County, Wisconsin website

Important textbook notes!

The required textbook:

Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual, by Bill Mollison (Tagari Publications, Reprint edition August 1, 1997, 576 pages, ISBN: 0908228015). This book ($194 value) is included in your course registration fee and will be provided to you on the first day of class.

Optional (but not required) textbooks are:

An Introduction to Permaculture, by Bill Mollison and Reny Mia Slay (Permaculture Resources (publisher), Tyalgum, Australia. June 1, 1991, 198 pages, ISBN: 0908228058-paperback).

Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, by David Holmgren (Holmgren Design Services (publisher), December 1, 2002, 286 pages, ISBN: 0646418440-paperback).

Water For Every Farm: Yeomans Keyline Plan, by P.A. Yeomans (Eco-logic Books/Worldly Goods (publisher), 2002, 378 pages, ISBN: 0646129546-paperback).

Textbooks may be found on-line at www.seedsofchange.com; Permaculture Research Institute-Cold Climate; www.amazon.com