Why should I do a permaculture design course?

[Rad]

Ive seen permaculture courses that go for (online) $500 with a sliding scale if you cant even afford that... all the way up to thousands (i think the full permie course 10 weeks at zaytuna is about $6K)

but there are affordable options if u want to do it there is even one australian based online course that lets you pay in installments of 200ish x 3 just pay as you go.

if you can get away for 12 weeks there is a free PDC course at sadhana forest at both their Indian and Haiti communities. www.sadhanaforest.org

I think you should do it because as someone else pointed out it is much more than just gardening

[cottager]

I've taken the funding side, and had a good look at solar. Doable, so it's one or the other (for me, this year). It's pretty much narrowed down to energy systems vs. more study.

- your knowledge will be really valuable to others on your PDC. Think of it as your part of Fair Share.

There is a lot I can share, 'tis true. And so I do, share the knowledge.

This week I taught about cotyledon leaves (I can't tell the difference between seed baby brassicas ... they all look like apples/hearts to me!, until they grow their first, true, leaves) ... next week maybe I might teach about the allium family ... I teach. I keep teaching. But I have a hunger to learn ...

The UK Permaculture magazine published 10 reasons to do a PDC a couple of issues ago. I'll track it down......

I would like to see this ... thank you [in advance] for taking the time to present 10 good reasons to do a PDC!

[Pakanohida]

The UK Permaculture magazine published 10 reasons to do a PDC a couple of issues ago. I'll track it down......

D

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/back-issues

Sadly, it is not an online version article.

[deee]

Found it:

To understand that permaculture is much more than growing food, it is about intelligent life design - it can help you design your own life, the one you want to lead, not the one you are forced to endure.

With oil prices beginning to soar and water ever more scarce, it helps us develop greater food security all over the world, from our backyard gardens/yards to broadscale projects in even the most fragile climates.

To learn to apply permaculture principles in a variety of practical and technical ways to design ecologically balanced systems.

To open our eyes to the myriad ways each and every one of us can live a life that is not only healthier for ourselves but healthier for our planet.

To learn to be more aware of all of nature so that we can work with her rather than against her to create greater biodiversity.

To learn how to apply systems thinking - seeing the whole first rather than trying to put disparate parts together.

To appreciate that permaculture needs to be taught in every school, beginning with preschool, so that children can take their learning and experiences home to their parents and the chain of awareness can grow longer.

To experience the joy of knowing the only limit to your designs is your imagination.

To value your community and be a part of a global movement for positive change.

To know that there is hope - that we can heal broken landscapes and rebuild communities - and to gather together to do just that.

From Permaculture Magazine, Issue 72, Summer 2012.

[cottager]

I've had a quick read of the 10 reasons, and appreciate the effort you went to, to post them ... thanks!

To appreciate that permaculture needs to be taught in every school, beginning with preschool, so that children can take their learning and experiences home to their parents and the chain of awareness can grow longer.

I started teaching food production [literally] a dozen years ago (in the school system). Wow! I didn't know I'd been at it for so long

I really do believe that education leads to doing, in a very real sense. And the first step is creating awareness ...

Ponderings.

I was having a bit of a chat to a friend of mine about the people she knew who'd done a PDC. Appararently, to a person, they expressed enormous enthusiasm for having done it, and all said it was worth doing ... an eye-opening experience for them.

These 10 reasons seem good, but perhaps to encourage new growth, rather than harden a bit of old wood

So ... thanks again and I'll add them to my growing list of "for" reasons

[deee]

You're very welcome.

"to encourage new growth, rather than harden a bit of old wood "

I love this! Can I borrow it?
D

[cottager]

You're very welcome.

"to encourage new growth, rather than harden a bit of old wood "

I love this! Can I borrow it?
D

Borrow?

How long before you bring it back?

(yes)

[sammyjopeters]

I think that if you need others to convince you then you are not yet ready for the information. When you are ready then making the time and money available will be an easy thing as it will have prioity.

I agree with Purplepear here...

I think you just have higher priorities than a PDC at the moment.
I haven't done one yet either because I don't think it's the right time for me. I'm learning and listening but I haven't had the opportunity to put much into practice. When I have room to move (Eg more space than a balcony to try gardening properly) I think a PDC would be more helpful. That may not be for years!

I'm sure that you will either have enough to do one when you have other stuff out of the way, or you'll suddenly see a higher importance in the course which will take priority over other things you want to do.

[deee]

Hi Cottager,
I was going to ask if I could pinch the quote, but I thought that would be presumptuous given we haven't been properly introduced. So I guess the short answer is never!

Sammyjo, I think any time is a good time for a PDC and you will get different things of it depending on where you are in your journey. You really don't need to have a garden to practice permaculture. I would have made very different decisions about buying our property if I had done a PDC first. Think of the PDC as the beginning, not the culmination, of your education. Having said that, I had spent years reading and listening before I did mine.
Cheers
D

[cottager]

It is also an excellent opportunity to stop for a while, and instead of being busy with do-ing, think about why and how you do things ...

I think this is possibly a component of my motivation. I want to step off the train, stop for a while, and simply reflect and consolidate the knowledge that I already have.

It is time I took the leap ... I can't afford it, I don't have the time to do it, and my energy reserves are very low. Which says I should do it.

Thing that bites me, I took a bit of a look at what David is doing ... and he's teaching at an Ashram I've been to a couple of times, around the time I reckon I need to be doing ... (I probably last met him in the late 80's, around when I visited Ted's property in NSW).

I want this sooooo bad ... but can I? How can I?

That is why I asked the question. Because I wanted reasons that would enable me to find a way ... to provide the push, the going beyondness that I need to find. to actually get it to happen. I already know it will hurt, financially and physically.

And so, I have asked the question ... is it worth it? (Silly me ... I already know it is, and isn't as well ... so what am I waiting for?).