What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is primarily a system of ethical land use and design for sustainable human
settlements. The study of Permaculture Design encompasses traditional knowledge, ecology, sustainability, organic food production, efficient energy use, natural building and home design, recycling, appropriate technology, renewable energy systems, ecological economics, community structures, and much more.
The Permaculture approach is to work with nature through careful planning and design, and creating systems that nourish the earth and ourselves – with less work and more favorable yields.
“Permaculture Design represents the most sensible ways of sustaining and enriching life without causing environmental or social degradation.” (Alan Enzo)
Why take a Permaculture Design Certificate Course?
For over 40 years, the Permaculture Design Certificate Course, or PDC Course, has been the gold standard in terms of professional training in Sustainability and Ecological Design (long before those terms were buzzwords!).
Why study with Permaculture Education?
We are the leading worldwide provider of the 72-hour Permaculture Design Certificate Course (PDC) online – the official introduction to the profession of Permaculture Design. All of our instructors have significant skills and experience in Permaculture Design and related disciplines (some with over 30 years!), and all instructors are in the direct teaching lineage of Bill Mollison and David Holmgren – the founders of the movement. We provide our students with the skills and resources needed to start their own successful Permaculture homesteads, farms, businesses, consulting firms, and teaching practices.
What can I do with a Permaculture Design Certificate?
Most PDC Course graduates use the knowledge obtained throughout the course to establish their own home and/or farm systems, setting up a less-stressful lifestyle that is more sustainable and in-tune with nature. Many PDC Graduates will choose to find and connect with seasoned Permaculture Designers in their regions or around the world to learn advanced techniques in preparation for going out on their own as Permaculture Teachers or Permaculture Design Consultants. Others may go on to engage in advanced studies in specific skill areas related to Permaculture Design. There are many directions one could take and it is always possible to simply create your own custom career path. Some popular area of specialization for Permaculture Designers are Teaching, Consulting, Organic gardening/farming, Natural Building, Renewable Energy Systems, Aquaculture / Aquaponics, Natural Animal Husbandry, Apiary/Beekeeping, Alternative Economics, Sustainable Business, Agroforestry, Earthworks, Nursery Operations, Water Harvesting systems, Greywater systems, Market Gardening, Composting, Community-Supported Agriculture (CSAs), Community Garden development, Biodynamic gardening/farming, Biointensive gardening/farming, Green Event planning, Food Preservation and/or Preparation, Ecological Restoration, Ecovillage / Intentional Community Design, Communications / Activism, International and Local Aid Work, Community Revitalization. This is not a complete list, and the possible career paths are many!
