For the last ten years, the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute has focused much of its organizing capacity on offering a high quality Permaculture Design Certificate course (PDC).
In 2015, we are taking a break from this pattern to offer more accessible, advanced and introductory courses for gardeners, farmers, extension educators, and landowners throughout the Northeast and beyond.
We invite you to join our email list to receive updates, registration announcements, and special offers for our courses this year. Email [email protected] or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to join this list.
As registration opens for each course throughout the spring, this page will be updated.
Water as a resource in the landscape
An Advanced Permaculture Training
May 2, 2025
Wellspring Forest Farm, Mecklenburg NY
with Steve & Elizabeth Gabriel
Learn how to see water as a valuable asset to small and large landscapes by observing the design and implementation of water harvesting and storage systems at Wellspring Forest Farm including ponds, swales, terraces, rainwater harvested systems (including potable use) and rotational grazing systems. Practice mapping and marking contour and develop an eye for how the parts fit together in a complete picture. Observe excavation, and help finish and plant a three hundred foot swale system and a riparian buffer planting on site.
Sliding Scale $125 - 250 (Saturday only: $75)
Reading Your Landscape: Practical Assessment & Design
An Introductory Permaculture Training
June 12 – 14, 2015
Cayuta Sun Farm, Catharine NY
with Michael Burns and guests
Two days of instruction and activities teaching students introductory permaculture assessment and design skills. The course is for those who likely do not have a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC), have limited time and are looking for an affordable way to learn. Expert and accessible instruction to permaculture ideas and skills are offered at an active permaculture site. Participants will create a base map of their own project or property, identify and record observations of the landscape, analyze key landscape features, and create a schematic design map to take home.
Registration will open in mid-February 2015.
Email [email protected] or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to be notified when registration opens.
Active Soil Building for Home and Farm
An Advanced Permaculture Training
June 27, 2025
Wellspring Forest Farm, Mecklenburg, NY
with Steve & Elizabeth Gabriel, and Jake Delisle
Learn a whole systems permaculture approach to seeing and working with soils on mid to large sized land, with emphasis on techniques done with simple tools and techniques. See integrated and functional systems in practice on a working farm and homestead including compost, humanure, cover cropping, sheet mulching, animal grazing, and more. Build a vermicompost system to take home, along with knowledge ready to be put into action on a medium to large scale.
Sliding Scale $50 - 75 includes a bucket vermicompost and handouts
REGISTRATION will open February 2015.
Email [email protected] or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to be notified when registration opens.
Silvoculture & Agroforestry Short Course
An Advanced Permaculture Training
July 24 - 28, 2015
with Steve Gabriel, Mike Demunn, and guests
Learn forest ecology and management techniques for eastern woodlands from Farming the Woods co-author Steve Gabriel and renowned forester Mike Demunn along with guests for this five-day course. Visit local old growth and heritage forests and farms and practice tree ID, stand assessment, marking, and felling techniques. Learn about forest medicinals, and visit farms practicing silv0pasture and mushroom cultivation.
This course is designed for woodland owners, famers, extension professionals, permaculture practitioners and homesteaders who seek a better understanding of the intricacies of management in northeastern woodlands. Come build your skills in forest mapping, stand assessment, tree selection, and low-impact tree removal.
$450 includes lunch each day, plus $50 for camping (optional)
Finger Lakes Permaculture Tours and Regional Convergence
August 21 - 23, 2015
This weekend event showcases the beautiful Finger Lakes Region and the burgeoning practice of permaculture evidence in sites, systems, and people who farm, garden, teach, and live there. Come learn about the principles and practices of permaculture and see active sites on a wide range of scales, from urban gardens to large acre farms. Connect and network with others who are interested in living more sustainably, and walk away with ideas for your own property.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
8/21 FLPCI Alumni Day and camping (at Cayuta Sun Farm)
8/22 Site Tours (at various locations in the Finger Lakes)
8/23 Finger Lakes Convergence (at CCE-Schuyler)
More details to be announced.
Want to help organize? Email [email protected] or fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Community Training in Ecological Design
September through November, 2015
Schuyler County, NY
with Michael Burns, Steve Gabriel, Karryn Olson Ramanujan and guests
Design your backyard or acreage for the coming season and long term. Grow food, build soil, and manage water in rural and urban landscapes. Meet others and make beneficial connections in your community.
More details to be announced.
Popular Education Tools
for Organizing Community Based Initiatives
December 5 & 6, 2015
Ithaca, NY
with Rebecca Cutter
Learn the theory and practice of popular education as a tool for growing community-based initiatives. This course is designed for practitioners interested in developing a community based initiative, project, program or organization. It also speaks to educators, activist and leaders interested in exploring the theory and practice of Popular Education as a tool and a framework for social change. Learn an introduction to popular education theory and practice from the perspective of the learner. Take away practical tools and framework for designing trainings, conducting community needs assessment or planning initiatives.
More details to be announced.
Send us your email if you would like to receive notice of our courses and events. Comments or questions are welcome.
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