ONLINE PERMACULTURE
DESIGN COURSE
2023 dates coming soon!
What is this course?
Why this course?
Constant exposure to stories of environmental and social crises can leave us feeling immobilized and unsure of how we can effect positive change in our world. Many of us are left feeling as if our actions towards positive change aren’t enough under the weight of these ongoing crises. This course focuses on providing you with the scalable tools to mobilize for change - whether it’s in your home garden, your neighborhood, or your region.
This Online Permaculture Design Course takes students through an integrated curriculum that is self-aware, actionable, and community-based. This course is a 72-hour curriculum that culminates in a Permaculture Design Certification upon completion of the course and design project.
Why Quail Springs?
Quail Springs has been teaching in-person Permaculture Design Courses for over a decade. More than 1,000 students have gained their Permaculture Design Certification 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 at a regional level for policy change from agriculture to building codes. 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 Online Permaculture Design Course.
Together. Online.
Preview of the course curriculum
WEEKS 1 – 7
Introduction to Permaculture
- What is Permaculture?
- Permaculture Ethics and Principles
- Why Permaculture
- A Canopy View
- Patterns in Nature
- Pattern Application in Design
- Permaculture Processes in Design
- Design Methods
- Design Case Studies
- The Permaculture Design Process and Project
- Permaculture & Science
Climate and Climate Characteristics
- Introduction to Climate and Climate Characteristics
Water
- Water in the Landscape
- Water Ethics
- Rainwater Harvesting for Home and Growing Systems
Earthworks
- Earthworks for Rainwater Harvesting and Resilience
- Earthworks in the Field
WEEKS 8 – 15
Soils
- Living Soils
- Living Soils Slide Deck
- Compost
Cultivated Ecologies
- Gardening 101
- In the Quail Springs Garden: How-To’s Bundle
- Urban Agriculture
- Energy Transactions of Trees & Forests
- Food Forests
- In the QS Food Forests
- Pruning Trees
- Rooftop Farming
- Introduction to Broadscale Landscape Design
- Agroforestry
- Bonus: Seed Saving as Culture Keeping
- Bonus: Introduction to Fungi for Food, Medicine, and Ecological Services
Animals
- Integrated Animal Systems
- Introduction to Quail Springs Animal Systems
- Introduction to Beekeeping
What About Waste?
- Greywater Systems
- What about Human Waste?
- Waste & Bioremediation
WEEKS 16 – 24
The Built Environment
- Appropriate Technology at Quail Springs
- The Built Environment
- Passive Heating & Cooling Site Example
- Natural Building Methods and Materials
- Housing Advocacy and Building Code
- Designing for Catastrophe: Fire Resilience in Our Built Environment
- Building Adobes and Rocket Stove: Natural Building Practicum
- Naturally Built Structures at Quail Springs
Conscious Social Design
- Introduction to Conscious Social Design
- Elements of Community Design
- Regenerative Economics
- Permaculture Network & Projects to Watch
Final Live Sessions
Design Project Submission
Registration
Scholarships:
STANDARD TUITION
$750
PAY IT FORWARD
$1000
SLIDING SCALE
$600
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet Your Instructors.



Brenton Kelly

