Fundamentals of Permaculture Design @ UBC Farm 2011

Presented by the Conscious Design Collective with support from the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and UBC Farm.

I am pleased to announce that registration for a Permaculture Design Certification Course at UBC Farm is now open for the fall of 2011.

Please join us for a dynamic, internationally recognized certificate course on the principles and practice of Permaculture Design.  We will guide you to finding practical applications of sustainable design in urban and rural contexts through dynamic media presentations, guest lecturers from UBC and the greater community, and applied hands-on sessions.

Permaculture is a holistic method of design leading to establishing a “permanent culture” guided by grounded ethics, principles and design practises.  It considers the whole system at multiple levels of scale through the intelligent integration of social, economic, land, water, plants, and shelter sub-systems.  Using Permaculture can lead to the design and implementation of self-sustaining, regenerative human systems that “do good” for both human kind AND the Earth. 

Learning topics:

-         Permaculture philosophy and design methodology

-         Observational and analysis skills to read the needs and opportunities of a landscape

-         Recognize natural patterns and cycles and their use in settlements

-         Water systems including ponds, swales, keyline systems, water catchment

-         Soil building, amendments, erosion control, and planning for productive harvest

-         Animals in urban and rural environments

-         Food-scaping – perennial and annual edible landscaping

-         Integrated Pest management

-         Perennial food forests, guilds & agroforestry

-         Appropriate technologies, natural building (cob, earthen plaster), designing for energy conservation.

-         Small and large scale site design (room, home, village, region)

-         The environment and economics

-         Drafting and Communicating design with landscape graphics (hand and computer assisted design)

-         Community consultation and charette design processes

A preliminary schedule is described below.  The dates set in the schedule are final, as is the introductory field trip to Vancouver Island.  The locations (ubc farm / main campus) will be clarified by August.  

Preliminary Schedule*:

* Schedule is tentative and is subject to evolution.  A more detailed schedule will be made available via Google Docs in August.  

** Meals and accomodation are not provided save for the trip to Vancouver Island.  However, we will have several potluck lunches throughout the course.

Introduction to Permaculture Registration Process:

Students interested in joining the initial three days of the course on beautiful Vancouver Island are encouraged to register for the Intro to PDC option at a cost of $350.  This option would support students wishing to get a short taste of Permaculture Design or unable to join for the full course.

Introduction to Permaculture: $325 full online price (10 tickets available)

Fundamentals of Permaculture Registration Process:

I am working towards a healthy mix of intergenerational learners, and have four $300 bursaries available for UBC students.  These are available on a first come first serve basis.  UBC students will need to show their student card on the first day of classes.  UBC students are also welcome to purchase tickets at non-discounted rates. 

Early bird UBC Student Discount Rate:  $950 (4 tickets available - $200 online deposit)

General Rate:  $1250 (16 tickets available - $200 online deposit)

Minimum # of students:  15

Thus the non-refundable online deposit is $200.  I will be in contact to confirm you're still on board on August 1st.  For this reason, please ensure you use your current email (I recommend a gmail account) and phone number when you register online and can be reached on the 1st of August.  Please do not give a forwarding email address, but your actual address please as your email account will be used to access an online library available to students.  If I cannot get in touch with you before the 15th of August, I will need to offer the course to others on the waiting list.  The remainder of the balance (for Full PDC students) is due by check made out to James Richardson on the first day of classes when I will issue receipts for the full amount.   Thus, UBC students owe an additional $750, and community members owe $1050 on August 23rd.  

Note that registration is limited and our programs sell out quickly, thus apply early to avoid disappointment.  If the course fills, please email (consciousdesigncollective@gmail.com) to be placed on the waiting list with your phone and email contact and "PDC UBC Farm 2011 waiting list" in the subject line.  The waiting list will be built on a first come (email), first serve basis.  There is often one or two folks who cannot attend the course, opening spaces for other individuals.  I'll be in touch with those on the waiting list if this is the case.

* The intro course runs parallel to the full PDC.  Please purchase an intro course ticket OR the full course ticket, NOT BOTH (unless you have a friend attending the first 3 days with you.)

First day:

Tuition includes transport from Departure Bay to OUR Ecovillage and back to catch the 7|:30pm ferry to Vancouver.  Students will need to find their own transport to and from Horseshoe Bay Ferry (public transport is pretty good - #250 or #257 from downtown) and catch the 8:30am ferry to Departure Bay.  A bus will meet us there at 10:30 am on August 23rd in front of the Departure Bay Nanaimo ferry terminal and will return us to the ferry for arrival in Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) at 9:10pm or so.

Folks coming from elsewhere can meet us at the ferry terminal or at OUR Ecovillage where we'll meet for lunch at 12:30 and commence the workshop @ 1:30pm.

PDC for Certification:  

To graduate with a recognized Permaculture Certification, students must:

- Attend 90% of the course.  Some flexibility is available for studio time and typically students can make up some sessions if missed.  In addition, the 31st of August is dedicated for site assessment, client interviews, and supported group work (thus the nature of this day is flexible).  However, it is difficult to complete all requirements if more than one day of the course is missed. 

- Produce a Permaculture Design Project for a local community group or client.  Some studio time is provided in class.  The design project will be introduced on the 4th or 5th day.

- Spend some meeting time (8 hr) with group members to complete the community based design project and in completion of individual readings / micro-assignments. 

PDC for University Credit:

Several UBC students, SFU and Quest University students have been successful in gaining university credit for this course last year, usually as a 4-credit directed studies.  However students may need to pay additional UBC tuition to achieve this status.  I will arrange for UBC students to obtain credits on the first day of classes (likely as LFS 497).  There is no need to arrange for this before the course.  Non-UBC students should speak with their guidance counselor if they wish to pursue this option.  I am happy to write a letter on your behalf indicating successful completion of the course.

Refunds:  

Unfortunately, we cannot accept any refunds after the 1st day of classes.  Students should let me know prior the 15th of August if they cannot attend.  The deposit will be fully refunded in the extremely unlikely event that insufficient students register for the course.

Contact details:  

Please direct all questions to James Richardson:  consciousdesigncollective@gmail.com

Prerequisites:

- 18 or older

-  Prepared to work outdoors in challenging conditions

- No prior biological or design knowledge is required.  This course will be designed to appropriately challenge participants to meet their learning goals.  Progress is based on your own learning style and discovery guides will support you in this process.  Consider the learning topics to assess whether the material seems a good fit for you.

* This course can be demanding and deserves a solid day of energy per week.  The experience will challenge your head, heart and hands, and is both exhausting and rejuvenating.  This course is not for everyone and some folks simply don't have the time or energy to dedicate to this kind of learning.  Further, the style of learning is wildly different from traditional classroom lecture format.  Be prepared, and do consider these challenges / opportunities before making your decision.

** Some students choose to attend the PDC without intending to achieve the Permaculture Design Certification.  This course is designed to support students to be active and competent Permaculture designers following graduation, however is also intended to support individual learning goals - thus this option is available if needed.

Past Participants:

Natural builders, gardeners, farmers, planners, engineers, and friends of the Earth.  This is a course for ALL folk.  Participants range from folks just completing their undergraduate degrees to current professionals looking to tweak the way they approach their work, to post professionals entering a new phase of life entirely.  

Possible application of this course in YOUR life:

Upon completion of the course, you should be confident in:

-         Designing elements of your home that support your living system and a healthy community.

-         Making design recommendations for community or backyard gardens and communicating these in a professional way.

-         Planning and managing an efficient and profitable market garden.  

-         Effectively managing food, shelter, energy and transport systems in your life.

We hope to re-energize you with a set of tools and attitudes that will help you design for a sustainable future.  The course provides broad perspectives for integrating the built, agroecological and social aspects of society.  We focus on design and action - two elements of Permaculture that distinguish this work from other "disciplines".  Experience through internships, work, volunteering, or personal practice are necessary for really integrating Permaculture into your life.

Discovery Guide:

James Richardson, UBC Farm, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (Lead Discovery Guide & Course Director)

James Richardson is currently engaged in a PhD at Victoria University of Wellington in Ecological Footprinting.  This follows a Masters of Advance Studies of Landscape Architecture at UBC exploring urban form and sustainable food systems.  He has co-taught Permaculture workshops at OUR Ecovillage, B.C., Lost Valley Education Centre, OR, University of Northern British Columbia and University of Victoria.  James brings an experiential flare to his teachings, following a teaching career in Canada, New  Zealand, and the United States, and teacher training at Queen’s University in Outdoor and Experiential Education.  James has studied Permaculture, natural building, biodynamic farming and community and brings to the team a deep understanding of the art and science of sustainability.

Special Guests:

Holgar Laerad (Native Plants & Medicinal Herbs)

Having recently come over to the mainland from ALM Farm on Vancouver Island, Holgar has a wealth of knowledge on native plants, medicinal herbs, and natural building.  For the past 20 years Holger has been learning and practicing various aspects of sustainable living. Currently he teaches and works independently on diverse subjects including bread ovens and baking, building with stone, clay, and wood, and herbal beer making.

Sarah Belanger, UBC Farm and LFS (Orchard and Perennial Systems)

Sarah Belanger is a graduate of both the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems (GRS 2008) and the Linnaea Farm Ecological Gardening Programme (2004), and in 2005 she apprenticed with Dan Jason and Salt Spring Seeds/Seed Sanctuary of Canada. Sarah worked at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm from 2006-2010, coordinating the Sowing Seeds for the Future Practicum, working in field production, and organizing the Growing Season Workshops series.  In 2006 Sarah established the UBC Farm Heritage Orchard, which contains ~70 varieties of apple cultivars and serves as a living classroom to UBC students and the general public.  Sarah is passionate about apple culture, sustainable agriculture, and community health.  Sarah is a certificate student in Conflict Resolution at the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and is beginning graduate studies in Counselling Psychology at UBC in September 2010.

Brandy Gallagher, OUR Ecovillage, Vancouver Island. (Invisible Structures) (see: http://ourecovillage.org/our-community/people/)

With a deep compassion for people and place, Brandy is naturally drawn and adept to working with and within communities.  She is dedicated to furthering the regulatory and legal development of legitimate models of land use, alternative building, socially responsible financing, food security practices, ownership, and governance, while aiding others in finding their way through such challenging areas.  As one of the main proponents behind the Canadian precedent setting rezoning and with her work in sustainable land management planning and ecological design, Brandy has helped manifest multi-use allowances for ecovillages and shared land projects that encompass a framework of legal, political, and community integration.

Elke Cole, OUR Ecovillage, (Natural Building) (see: http://www.elkecole.com/)

Elke has been involved in Natural Building since 1994 both independently and with the Cob Cottage Company, Down to Earth Building Bee, Cobworks, and O.U.R. Ecovillage. She has dedicated herself to teaching and developing the Natural Building Skillbuilder program at O.U.R. since 2000, while also remaining active in the field of Architectural Design.  Integrating group process and various design courses, Elke has designed the Healing Sanctuary, Chillage, Art Studio, Freya’s House and the Residential Zoning Plan at O.U.R. Her work in designing, building, and teaching of Natural Building has taken her to many places, including recent projects in Africa and India.

Brandon Bauer, Blue Raven Farm, Saltspring Island (Plants and plant systems) 

Brandon is the founder of Blue Raven Farm on Saltspring Island where he dabbles in plants and propagation and small farm design and management having immersed himself in the world of Permaculture for the last several years.  He has a talent for energizing his participants with his vast knowledge of native and non-native plant systems and will surely leave you inspired if you let him.

Danny Seeton, Agroecology, UBC (Food preservation - beer.)

Danny is entering a Masters program with the faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. His specialty is beer: making it; drinking it; and talking about it.  He has some profound things to say about soil as well.  We're delighted to have him on the guest list.

Mary Holmes and the Intergenerational Urban Aboriginal Community Kitchen Garden Group.  (Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Food Preservation)

Mary and her team explore the culture and practice of traditional salmon preservation (smoking and canning) and bring to the course a teaching that really cannot be explained in text, only told in story, worked in partnership, and eaten in community.

Required materials:

- roll of tracing paper (can be purchased after the introductory weekend in conjunction with group members - Ie. don't bring your tracing paper to Vancouver Island)

- design markers (I recommend ProMarker) of shades:  warm gray 5, meadow green, forest green, light blue.

- design pens (I recommend Micron sizes 0.01, 0.05 and 1mm OR a fine and thick sharpie pen)

- sketch pad (I recommend 8.5 by 11")

These materials can be a little expensive, however surgery is difficult with a butter knife.  The start of design is using the right tools.  These can be purchased after the introductory session, but will be needed for most other sessions.

Recommended texts:  

Introduction to Permaculture.  By Bill Mollison, Reny Mia Slay, Andrew Jeeves.  Illustrated by Andrew Jeeves Published by Tagari Publications, 1997 ISBN 0908228082, 9780908228089.

Building Green.  A Complete How-To Guide to Alternative Building Methods.  Clarke Snell and Tim Callahan. (2005).  ISBN 978-1-57990-532-3 (If you're really into Natural Building this is a fantastic text. However, experience is really the only teacher of this material)

A tremendous online readings resource library will be made available to students.  No text is required for this course.

I look forward to drawing, creating, building, consulting, dancing, weeding, growing, planting, eating and living, laughing and learning with you all soon!

Sincerely, 

James Richardson.