1.
WHO TAKES THE PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE?
All sorts... we've
had scientists, farmers, a radio personality, a high school history
teacher, a massage therapist, an architect, college students, a
bassist, a nurse, a business consultant, environmental
activists....the list goes on! Our youngest participant was 20 at the
oldest over 60.
A common thread between the unique group that
assembles at a PDC is a strong desire to learn about the place we
call home and how to become proper stewards of it. The diversity of
backgrounds and interests makes for exciting and passionate
discussions and projects. There are over 1 million graduates
worldwide.
2. WHAT IS THE CERTIFICATE ABOUT?
The
certificate was originally introduced when Bill Mollison designed the
first PDC in the late 1970s. His intent was to create an educational
movement that was characterized by a grassroots approach but that
carried a legitimacy with other institutions of learning. A
certificate symbolizes the basic knowledge a student walks away with
and their lifelong commitment to being active participants in their
local landbases. Many individuals use the certification as part of a
set of credentials for teaching, landscaping, or design businesses.
Some don't care about the certificate.
Once you have attended
all of the curriculum modules, you will be issued a certificate.
There is no time limit or restrictions on this - you can take the
entire course in one session or over several years.
3.
WHERE DOES THE COURSE TAKE PLACE?
Since 2006 we have hosted
our courses at the Cayuga
Nature Center (CNC). The CNC offers a beautiful spot close to
Ithaca that has ample indoor and outdoor facilities for teaching and
learning. We have completed several design schematics with students
for the site, some of which are beginning implementation. We
currently have two acres of gardens, a budding agroforestry project,
and several small projects going.
Cayuga
Nature Center (CNC) is a place to explore the wonders of nature. We
invite you to visit our collection of over 40 live animals, stroll
through our butterfly house, climb around Treetops- our six story
observational tree-house, or simply enjoy the outdoors while walking
our five miles of interpretive trails, which meander through a mature
deciduous forest, along gorges and streams, and past a variety of
native plants and wildlife. Visit http://www.CayugaNatureCenter.org
for more information.
Monday - Sunday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Trails are open to the pubic from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.
General Admission: $3 Adults, $2 Seniors/Students, $1 Kids
4.
HOW IS THE COURSE TAUGHT?
Lovers of lecture beware! We are
always working to improve the way we present materials, heading away
from a traditional lecture and notes style to an interactive and
experiential learning. We play plenty of games, have group break-out
sessions, and engage in projects of all types. Typically the morning
session is more presentation and content heavy and the afternoon
focuses on experiencing the theories, techniques, and principles in
action.
5.
WHO FACILITATES THE EXPERIENCE?
Traditionally, the teacher is
viewed as an all-knowing person who downloads precious nuggets of
wisdom and knowledge to the ignorant student. We view the role of the
instructors as quite different - we are here to support a learning
journey that is complex and unique to each of our students. We all
come from our various corners of the world with our life experience
in tact - and therefore we carry with us a wealth of knowledge. While
the facilitators for the PDC have a curriculum to cover, we look to
teach to your specific interests and to draw upon the knowledge of
students to enhance the experience. We often sit in a circle to
symbolize the equality of each of us in the course. We are all
teachers, and we are all responsible for our individual and
collective learning.
6. WHAT ARE THE COURSE GOALS?
We
will develop group goals and expectations early on in the course. Our
stated goals as facilitators are the following:
Maintain a shared and positive learning environment.
Define coursework by facilitator and student expertise and interest while addressing the standard curriculum for certification.
Make the environment revolve around experiential and action learning.
Create systems for feedback so we can evolve the course as necessary.
7.
WILL I LEARN ANY HARD SKILLS?
Yes! The most important and
emphasized skill will be the ability to design. This includes skills
in observation, site assessment, mapping, gathering data, and
creating design drawings. We also learn how to build swales, compost
piles, and worm bins and use tools like an a-frame and water level.
We try and get outside as much as we can.
8. WHY DOES THE
COURSE COST SO MUCH?
If you compare the classroom hours to
other PDC courses, it is clear that we offer a more in-depth course
at a lower cost.
Your tuition pays the facilitators, who spend
hours researching, preparing, evaluating, and supporting the course.
We also need to provide for the cost of our facilities. Tuition also
includes access to resources and a thick bundle of readings, notes,
and diagrams to help you along your way. We have worked hard to
minimize costs while providing a living wage for our instructors.
10. ARE THERE PREREQUISITES OR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED?
None except a love for nature and a desire to learn
and support your fellow students and facilitators. We have found that
ecology veterans and newcomers alike enjoy the course most when they
have spent time beforehand reading, writing, and determining their
personal objectives for the course.
ABOUT
US
Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute is a project of Cayuga
Nature Center providing affordable and experiential learning events
in the Finger Lakes bioregion of New York State. We offer two annual
Permaculture Design Certification courses, monthly brunches featuring
the products of local farmers, and a variety of other programming for
children and adults. Visit https://fingerlakespermaculture.org
for more information.