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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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 am so glad I negotiated the time off work to take this course. It has really been life altering. The concepts and ethics of permaculture should be something everyone is exposed to, and Rob’s teaching and enthusiasm were infectious. My mind will be spinning for months to come and I will be making some major changes in my life and career because of what I learned in [this course].
Designer, Wildcraft Permaculture
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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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The money I put into this course is so tiny compared to what I’ve spent on material possessions that have no significance to me whatsoever. This is a drastic life changer. Rob gives many ideas on how to make a right livelihood. Now, I’m going to focus all my time towards bettering my environment and I’m leaving with many ideas on how to accomplish that.
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Quite sincerely, I believe everyone who cares remotely about our children's future on this planet should learn about permaculture (or if you just want to know some really useful information)! I am so grateful for the immense amount of useful information the course offered (so generously by Rob) and the amazing people I met that are on such interesting paths
Regenerative Designer, Living Ecology
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This is valuable information for life, not just "gardening". It has provided a base point to many of my life choices and beliefs, a sort of coming together of ideas about wholistic living from the ground up
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Extremely valuable, inspiring, relevant, and loaded with useful information. More than worth the price!
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Well worth the tuition fee. Learned so many options to use my life energy in a more sustainable way. Can’t wait to apply what I’ve learned!
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The PDC changed how I look at the world around me. I even find myself considering the permaculture possibilities for houses I see for sale when I'm out running! I loved getting to know a group of like-minded people in my new city over the course of several months. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to take action in the face of challenges facing our society.
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Permaculture is a key body of knowledge and ethics that is missing in our society. What I received for value goes way beyond what I paid. Thank you. I think that this course is valuable for everyone; in particular, generalists and people searching for something that is missing in their lives.
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.
