Permaculture Certificate Programs

Urban Permaculture Accelerated Training 

40 hour training course (30 hours classroom, 10 hours field practice)
Place: The Old Stone House, 4th St and 5th Ave. Park Slope,Brooklyn
Time: 9am – 4pm
Dates: April 28, May 5 & 19, June 2 & 3 

Registration closes: April 1
Discount of 10% for Registration before February 29,  2012
Regular course fee: $650

The Old Stone House gardens, located in Washington Park, are open for visits from dawn to dusk.
OSH is located between 4th & 5th Avenues and 3rd & 4th Streets in Park Slope, Brooklyn www.theoldstonehouse.org (718) 768-3195

This intensive course on traditional permaculture topics such as energy use, buildings, food, waste streams and water will utilize current information in the media and classical truisms from voices of experience. In an effort to step into the rapid transition that is happening, the emphasis is on social change and cooperative structures with lots of field models and hands on learning opportunities. Soil building and bioremediation techniques are at the forefront of our historically referenced gardens, showcasing plants for food, medicine, craft and wildlife support.  Raising our quality of life, improving the commons, analysis of global outlooks, business ideas and healthy lifestyles will all be included. Todays fast moving politics will make this course an exciting one.  Held at the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War, this model at a park and middle school is pioneering useful landscapes in public space in NYC.   Ranging further  than a weekend intensive, yet requiring less commitment than a PDC, this course offers an approachable format for those who are new to permaculture and a comfortable re-entry for those who seek further practice. Ten additional hours of field practice are mandatory. UPAT certificate upon completion. UPDC options are available by individual arrangement.
 
Instructors: Claudia Joseph 
Guest instructors: Jono Neiger and local teachers
Cost: $585 before February 29.  $650 after March 1.
Some work trade is available.

The Urban Permaculture Accelerated Training course (UPAT) is a five day introduction to the principles and techniques of permaculture. It includes some field study and both group and individual projects. To register contact: permie@earthlink.net

UPAT description
The UPAT is a 5 day intensive exploration of permaculture.The UPAT certificate verifies that you participated in a permaculture training course. Ten additional hours of field practice are required to earn the certificate.

Permaculture is more than just good gardening. It is a life long approach to analysis, action and social structures that results in better relationships, more functional systems and a clearer understanding of everything necessary for human communities to thrive.

 Objectives:
1. To introduce students to fundamentals for sustainability.
2. To teach cooperative dynamics and positivism.
3. To learn about useful plants and ecosystems design.
4. To relate our needs to our local and global resources.
5. To study homesteading skills and off-grid technologies.
Please wear sensible clothes for comfortable all day sitting. For field study please wear shoes that cover your feet and bring water.

Reading: Permaculture, A Designer’s Manual by Bill Mollison is the main text for this course: it is not required. An Introduction to Permaculture, by Mollison is highly recommended. Permaculture Ethics and Design Principles by David Holmgren, Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway and Permaculture in a Nutshell by Patrick Whitefield are useful as preparatory reading but are not required.

Classroom rules of conduct: No cell phone use during class or field sessions. Students will be expected to be on time.

The Urban Permaculture Accelerated Training is a prerequisite to earning a Permaculture Design Certificate from the NY Permaculture-Exchange.
To earn a PDC requires no less than 72 hours of class time plus a group design project, field practice and a final test.
Contact: permie@earthlink.net to inquire about the full PDC program which will continue through the summer and into fall.