Ever Wondered…
“What can I do with a Permaculture Certificate?”
Meet Our Alumni and Get Inspired By Their Stories!
We have over 500 graduates of our Permaculture Design Certificate course, and they’re doing some extraordinary things. This page is dedicated to showcasing their great work through beautiful videos, clever interviews and profiles of successful student businesses and projects.
Two filmmakers set out to document 10 of our grads in action as they start homesteads, businesses, conferences and more. Warning: beautiful footage and inspiring stories will make you want to jump up and follow suit!
This series tells the stories of 10 past students of our Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course, documenting what they’ve done with the knowledge, skills and inspiration they acquired from the course. Two film makers set out to find these graduates and catch them in action, capturing their successes, struggles, and transformations as they embark on new endeavours – starting gardens, homesteads, community projects, businesses, building sustainable homes and structures, hosting conferences and much more.
At this turning point in human history, where people from all walks of life have begun searching for a more fulfilling and sustainable way of living, these PDC graduates show what is possible, and in doing so demonstrate the essence of the permaculture movement that is sweeping Calgary and the world. We hope that watching these videos inspires you as much as we were inspired by creating them; so kick back, press play, and enjoy watching positive, practical change in action!
10 Part Series Trailer:
With countless Verge grads launching their own permaculture careers and projects, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up! So each month, we profile at least one PDC grad and their permaculture business or project. If you’ve ever daydreamed about quitting your job and starting a meaningful career healing the earth, these grads will show you how it’s done.
Explore our Verge Alumni Profiles:
Taking a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) can be a life-changing experience. Many of our students leave the course so inspired and full of ideas, they end up making dramatic lifestyle changes, sometimes leaving their jobs to pursue careers in permaculture. And not surprisingly. In this exciting, dynamic and earth-healing field, there’s a lot of room for work. So what does life after the PDC look like? Read on, as Sara Haney, a PDC graduate herself, interviews seven of Verge’s PDC graduates about the career and life changes that followed their course.
Life after the PDC Interviews:
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The beauty of permaculture lies in its simplicity. It makes us all slow down and finally LISTEN to the earth and respect its systems. Applying permaculture principles– teaching , changing, healing — is going to save the world. A lot of people have become disconnected with their communities and this course reminded me of how essential it is to revive them. My mind is overflowing with ideas, plans, and I’m so excited to implement them ASAP. [...] I’m lucky and blessed to have found this opportunity.
Provisions Permaculture
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I can’t say enough GREAT things about this permaculture experience! [...] I feel my Angels, were looking out for me when they introduced me to Rob and his staff.
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I would recommend this course to others. It covers alot of ground & offers resources to implement into daily lives on a small or larger scale, for anyone looking to live a more natural & simpler life along with nature. Surprisingly, this course touched me on a deep level & has changed my perception in many ways.
Bowen Therapist
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Every so often someone comes along who seems to change the game. In this case, Alberta’s good fortune is doubly so, as it is a dynamic husband and wife who have changed people’s lives in service of environmental stewardship. As engineers-turned-sustainability designers, Rob and Michelle Avis have brought back Permaculture from a global learning expedition and innovated—adapted tools to Alberta conditions—sustaining not only their own small business but so much more…
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The PDC course far exceeded my expectations. Rob is absolutely overflowing with information. I am still working on what I plan to do with my new knowledge! It really overwhelmed me at first that I really needed to change my life dramatically, but I have realized that you start where you are. I've already recommended this course to friends.
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This course allowed me to tie loose ends together and exuded a great deal of reassurance and credibility toward my grassroots initiatives. This course was worth every penny and moment I spent and I hope the momentum for others to participate keeps up!
Grassroots initiator for responsible living
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The PDC provides an important perspective for any who are disturbed by the present state of our culture and are seeking viable avenues for co-creating new ways forward.
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The best education I have ever received! I am a changed person and really feel like I understand and belong to our planet now.
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Thank-you for your continued support over the years and for facilitating what was a pivotal point in my fiancee and my life.
Reforged Ironworks
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Rob and Michelle Avis are not only highly knowledgeable about all matters concerning sustainability, but also convey sustainable living in a compelling and lively way. They make the journey fun.
How Permaculture Changed My Life
In this newest blog series, we feature personal stories from past alumni about how how permaculture changed the direction of their outlooks and careers.
