LAND-BASED
LIVING COURSE

This online land-based living course invites you to cultivate a deeper connection with what nourishes you for greater sustainable living.

PRE-REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!

What is this course?

In this 8-month self-directed course, Quail Springs offers practical information and activities that will catalyze a deepening relationship with what sustains you. A land-based life isn't something that is done solely in rural areas; urban dwellers can take simple steps towards sustainable living. In this course you’ll be introduced to permaculture principles and explore how to work with climate characteristics, water, soil, gardening, animal husbandry, cheesemaking & fermentation, herbalism and much more!

There are so many different roads you can take while exploring a land-based life, and the path you take is totally up to you. This course offers practical and achievable steps to incorporate land-based living into your life and community! Leading a more sustainable lifestyle is never completed in one course, but rather a lifelong process. This course is your guide to starting the journey.

Why this course?

This Land-Based Living Course is for you if you are interested in following a way of life that brings you closer to nature or if you would simply like to expand your skills set.

A land-based life doesn’t have to be an all or nothing choice, but rather cultivated over time. You may have a goal of residing on a few acres, or living vibrantly in your apartment complex or in the suburbs. This online Land-Based Living Course supports the many pathways to more skillful & sustainable living no matter where you live.

" There aren’t words for how this course has impacted me… I know that this has altered the trajectory of my life, both personally and professionally. "

Ciara Butterfield

Former PDC Participant

Why Quail Springs?

Quail Springs has been teaching courses for almost 2 decades! Thousands of students from around the world have gained land-based and community building skills with us and have gone on to do change-making work in their communities and in their own lives.

Our teaching staff are farmers, activists, builders, and thinkers who not only teach, but also advocate regionally and internationally for policy change. Our activism is currently focused on regional groundwater advocacy & preservation, and the legalization of climate appropriate earthen building. Quail Springs’ teaching staff includes both instructors who are residents at Quail Springs’ site, and instructors who live elsewhere and have contributed their expertise to this virtual course.

“The course content and community that was created exceeded my expectations and I’m sad it’s come to an end, but I’m excited for what the future brings.”

Online PDC Participant

Together. Online.

It is with excitement that we are able to offer this course in an online format. Quail Springs is committed to community-building as a core value of this course even when we are sharing space virtually. This course centers on connecting and uplifting the world's greatest resource: you.

Registration opens in the Winter of 2022

In the meantime, you can sign up for our newsletter and follow us to stay up to date on our future courses.

Preview the course curriculum

WEEKS 1 – 2

Climate and Climate Characteristics

Introduction to Climate and Climate Characteristics

Water

Water Ethics with Brenton Kelly
Water in Design
Rainwater Harvesting with Nicholas Holmes
Site Tour: Greywater and Rainwater Systems with Brad Lancaster

Earthworks

Planting the Rain with Warren Brush
Small Scale Earthworks Demonstration with Brenton Kelly

Soils

Living Soils
Compost

Gardening

Gardening 101 with Oscar Carmona
In the Quail Springs Garden
Growing Your Own Mushrooms Outdoors for Food, Medicine, and Ecological Services with Danielle Stevenson

WEEKS 3 – 4

Animals

Integrating Animal Systems
Beekeeping
Chicken Systems
Goat Systems

In the Kitchen

Cheesemaking and Dairy Fermentation
Vegetable Fermentation
Bone Broth Basics
Creating a Home Herbal Apothecary

Waste

Waste and Bioremediation with Danielle Stevenson
Greywater Systems with Nicholas Holmes

Bonus Lesson!

Making Sourdough Bread

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! This is a hybrid course that combines traditional land-based living with permaculture design. While some of the content from the Online PDC is also found in this course, the course is packed with a lot of brand new curriculum. If you participated in our 2021 Online PDC, our hope is that by taking this course you will receive a welcomed refresher on some of the PDC curriculum while simultaneously gaining new skills and knowledge from the brand new content featured in this course.

The LBLC makes a wonderful gift! To gift this course you will need to:

Click on the link to Register Now and create a new account for the recipient of the gift.
To create their account you will enter your loved one's Full Name, Email Address, and create a login password for them. They will use this information to login to the course once it launches ~ make sure to write it down so you can share it with them! (Spoiler alert: by creating an account using your loved one's email address, an automatic confirmation email will be sent to them.)
After that you will enter your payment information using your preferred method of payment (credit card or PayPal).

If you have any additional questions please contact us here.

Scholarships:

Scholarships and self-determined sliding scale cost options available on a case by case basis. BIPOC and historically underrepresented students will be prioritized. Chumash individuals can take this course at no cost. Contact us here to inquire.

LAND-BASED LIVING COURSE