We’ve been deluged with positive feedback and comments. Here’s just a sampling…

I didn’t really know what permaculture was before coming, all I knew was Permanent Agriculture. Now all that has changed! Along with my life! Permaculture isn’t just about agriculture, but every aspect of living. It is a way for the future and future generations.

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.  

I loved the simplicity of the material even though it was packed full of info. Rob was a great speaker with an authentic energy.

If you think about, wonder about or yearn for sustainability yet are unsure of how people or what you yourself can do to help the world achieve it, I strongly encourage you to sign up for this positive and empowering course.

If you ever thought that there had to be a better way of looking at the world, this course will not only offer one to you, but also give you the details on how to make it work. Life Changing!  

I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in sustainability, care of the Earth and it's inhabitants, and for unlearning all the stuff most of us were taught about gardening. Rob and Michelle have invested heavily into learning about permaculture and implementing it in their lives and they have an incredible depth and breadth of knowledge to impart to students.

Fantastic! The best education I have received. Rob is an inspiration, a real pleasure to spend this time learning from him.

Two weeks of inspiring lessons. Two weeks of realization that there are so much more positive options. Two weeks of great food. Two weeks of being surrounded by nice people. Two weeks of enjoying the great facilities of Mountain Waters. But also two weeks of a lot of thoughts. Two weeks of thinking what is really important in life. Course is well worth the money and I will for sure recommend this course to others.  

The PDC was an invaluable investment. Much like when getting proper nutrition and exercise I now feel enabled to express myself.more wholly. The information was densely packed but there was a clear reason for each piece of content being discussed. Rob Avis offers a unique approach to permaculture that really connected with my pragmatic and humorous worldview. A great two weeks with an extraordinary group of people.

Rob's incredible wealth of knowledge and resources provided a great base for understanding sustainable living that is symbiotic with nature...in a way that was inspiring and positive.

This course lets you change your life TODAY. Change your area of the world TODAY. It is practical, positive, and interesting.

Rob and Michelle Avis lead an inspired, organized and informed two week adventure into a refreshingly positive view of sustainability. Rob shines as an instructor, delivering easily understood and detailed explanations of permaculture design principles and it’s practical tools. We left with an excellent understanding of subjects and ideas that were new to us.

Rob was great. Really appreciated his eagerness to share his knowledge. The content was great and the overview of so many permaculture concepts was very thorough and well explained.  

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].  

I honestly feel that with the principles and techniques I learned in the PDC, plus the network of people in the permaculture world, we now have the tools to heal the planet.

I believe Permaculture is the future and everyone should have some understanding of how it works and how to apply it. Rob and Michelle have created an exceptional program that helps you bring out your creativity, opens your eyes to observe your surroundings, embraces life, and give you the tools to take action to provided a better life that sustains you and the earth as One. Very inspiring. Loved it!

I would highly recommend this course to anyone of any age who would like to make a radical change in the way they act in, and perceive the world around them.

Michelle, Rob and the rest of the Verge crew dedicate an enormous amount of care and energy to make life-changing educational opportunities available to their community.

I went from armchair activist to on the ground change maker in two weeks. [Verge's] course gave me the tools and resources to restore hope in a backwards world.

I would not be at nearly the same point in my career, nor would I be the same person, if it weren’t for Rob’s influence in my business and life.

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  

Verge gave me all the information about permaculture that I was looking for, but more importantly they gave me the confidence and permission to explore and carry out solutions towards achieving abundance in my life.

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!

As someone who had just recently heard and became interested in permaculture design, Verge was the group recommended to advance my knowledge. The value that came from the people at Verge was well worth the investment. Professional with a singular focus on bringing the ideas of permaculture to the world for the betterment of the earth and the inhabitants there upon. I am looking forward to taking it even further with the Verge Permaculture Academy. Use Verge to launch your introduction to permaculture, or to advance your knowledge to achieve your goals. I can’t express enough the amount of time Verge saved me on research, and creating a community to engage with.

Rob and Michelle’s continuous passion for seeking out innovative approaches and finding ways to disseminate valuable information in the community with a keen eye for business sense has been a game-changer in Calgary, and across Alberta.

Hold onto your hat because your life will be changed.

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…

When reading the courses in a Master's program, I was intrigued by the term 'permaculture'. During a Youtube Search, I discovered Verge Permaculture. I was struck by the concern and sincerity of Rob and Michelle Avis for our world. I delved deeper and discovered a PDC was being offered and enrolled. The study of Permaculture consists of a variety of subjects, which is in the capable hands of the Verge Instructors. Rob Avis addresses the overall philosophy of permaculture, various world-wide issues and practitioners. In addition, he teaches the technical subjects of Greenhouses, Swales, etc. Michelle Avis teaches various levels of Water Harvesting, along with guest lecturers.To me, the first issue of concern is to understand Ecology; to able to 'read' the Earth. For example, how does air and/or rain move and how to plan around it. This area is taught by Mitch Rawlyk, both in the PDC as well as the Google Earth Pro mini-course. Pulling the whole together is Carmen Lamoureaux. Carmen teaches everything from Soil Science to Plant Guilds to Design and much more. In summary, each Instructor is very knowlegeable, straight-forward, humble and approachable. As far as the cost of the PDC, a payment plan is available. More importantly is, how much does ignorance cost? More than the cost of the PDC. I am grateful to Verge's effort and happy to have enrolled.

Verge Permaculture gave us the power of knowledge, wisdom, creativity and excitement. I will not forget my experience and I hope that I too can make a difference in my community.

Rob and Michelle, the owners and creators of Verge Permaculture, have done an amazing job in permeating the ideas of permaculture to our class. They are personable, knowledgeable and pragmatic in their approach and I would recommend that anyone who has an interest in any of the information offered by them access and support their diverse ventures in creating a better world for us all.  

Verge Permaculture provides a learning experience that will both greatly inform & inspire. Rob delivers well founded information taught with an excellent blend of engineered expertise & the wonder of Mother Nature..!

If you’re interested in empowering yourself to build community and create a sustainable future for yourself and the world we live in, this is the PDC is for you. It’s inspiring and it’s skill building. I’m so excited to share what I’ve learned when I get home.  

I am excited to develop my garden and help friends and schools with theirs as well. The information on water systems was really well thought out and delivered and really made me consider how I have been looking at properties.

Rob and Michelle’s experience as mechanical engineers is an asset to their permaculture design course. The course is broken down in a simple, easy to understand format, but what is more is that natural processes are explained and demystified piece by piece so that people taking the course can integrate the new knowledge into their lives. Before taking the course I thought compost was something that holds up a building. Now I know that it is a way to improve soil and save the world.

Thank you for the inspiring insight to starting something huge!

I like Rob's teaching style, lots of technical background mixed with real experiences and memorable stories.

I don’t even know where to start. The people, the information, the community, the treasure trough of resources. EVERYTHING I signed up for and soo so much more. Thank you Verge for creating this space and this course to provide the vessel for us to carry out our dreams and provide us the hope to spark this change.

The course administration was fabulous, organized and friendly  

I was truly inspired by Rob and Michelle and am certain that permaculture will become a large part of my life in the future. I would recommend this course to anyone who is willing to learn about how to take responsibility for their impact on this planet. BEWARE: Once you go permaculture, you can never go back. The community we’ve built, skills we’ve learned and knowledge we’ve gained are invaluable – taking this course is an excellent investment.

Not only are they incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their work, but [Rob & Michelle] are fantastic public speakers! They engage the crowd, can answer just about any question thrown at them, and they inspire deeper and more meaningful conversation (which is evident in the crowds of people who gather after these presentations to talk to them in person). I cannot recommend Verge Permaculture enough, either as presenters at an event, or taking their permaculture certificate or introduction courses.

I can’t remember the last time I felt so inspired! So many things brought together that I knew but didn’t.

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.  

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.

Rob’s course will transform you into someone ready to make the changes you want to make but are unsure are even possible. The revealing of permaculture design and knowledge at [the permaculture design course] is so powerful because it equips you with the knowledge of how to make real and significant changes in your community and your own life.  

The best education I have ever received! I am a changed person and really feel like I understand and belong to our planet now.  

Thank-you for your continued support over the years and for facilitating what was a pivotal point in my fiancee and my life.

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.

Rob and Michelle not only do an amazing job of presenting and applying information but also bring people together and create community. I would and highly recommend this course to others. When we all start making small adjustments to the way we live, we will create a big change. Best course ever!!  

We engaged Rob Avis from Verge Permaculture to speak about passive solar greenhouses at SESA's 2014-2015  Solar Seminar series.  Rob is a dynamic, informative speaker who clearly knows his subject matter. As an engineer and an ecologist, Rob offers a unique and refreshing perspective.   We would be thrilled to host him again in the future.

Rob is a dynamic, informative speaker who clearly knows his subject matter. As an engineer and an ecologist, Rob offers a unique and refreshing perspective.

We strongly recommend Rob as a voice for all generations of environmental, sustainability, and community building professionals and endorse his technical prowess and relationship building skills to communities across Canada!

Thank-you! For the density of vital information for creating resilient communities. Thank-you for the inspiration to find innovative opportunities for right livelihood, positive creation, earth repair...and true happiness! Thank-you for the introduction to a vital, vibrant and progressive permaculture community.

Taking this course with Rob has been perfectly timed for my new transition from urban to rural life! Rob is a wealth of information and has a genuine passion for the subject matter. I am thrilled at the volume of information I have digested over these 72 hours. I can’t express enough the value for all people to learn permaculture principles and Verge made this learning fun, factual and provided a nurturing environment to do it in.

Verge delivers on its reputation as "Permaculture for Professionals, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs". Rob teaches in a manner that is familiar to students with post-secondary education - professional, organized, and technology-based. Unlike most instructors though, he's willing to slow down and explain difficult concepts further at the request of his students. For those looking to transition into a permaculture-based career, Rob is chock-full of exciting business ideas and he truly comes alive when his students invite him to share. A Verge PDC - worth every penny.

This course would be a great course for anyone on this planet. It divulges a greater understanding that we as humans need to become closer to nature, to understand how all life is dependent and that community will be our survival. It was a pleasure to learn all that I did…. To meet people of like mind and to know that community is being built.  

Passion is clearly visible in [Rob's] teaching.  Great blend of philosophy, technical knowledge and practical hands-on experience.  All of the videos, photos, anecdotes, etc. make for an interesting and engaging presentation.

Rob is a committed and passionate teacher with a knack for making things interesting and understandable. If you want to learn not just the "how" but also, and far more importantly, the "why" of permaculture, and the answer to, "What can I as one individual actually do to make a difference?", I highly recommend this course. It's very empowering.

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.

Verge put on a well-executed course that was full of interesting content, included practical and hands-on learning, and was very well-organized. Each day was different and equally as valuable. It was absolutely worth every minute and penny spent.

I’ve watched not just the blossoming of their business, but the blossoming of an entire community of engaged Calgarians and student alumni working hard to make a better world.

Thank-you for being such a vocal, sincere, passionate advocate for the ability of ethics to restore the possibility of trust in family and community relationships

I LOVED every moment of the class and was thoroughly challenged by the course content in ways that I never thought possible. Rob's teaching style was exactly what I was looking for - a humorous (and sometimes sobering) mix of theory, deep understanding and personal experience all rolled into an interactive and engaging delivery. What I truly appreciated most of all, were Rob's frequent suggestions of innovative business ideas.

I have renewed excitement for what we all can do together to bring back our soil diversity and improve our food and heal our communities.

I would whole-heartedly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in the subject broadly, or even just a specific interest in one topic (to understand how it fits into larger solutions). I certainly feel like I got more than my money's worth.

Extremely valuable, inspiring, relevant, and loaded with useful information. More than worth the price!  

I can't express enough the value for all people to learn permaculture principles and Verge made this learning fun, factual and provided a nurturing environment to do it in.

It is important to learn all these new ways we can help make a better more sustainable future. Plan to use this knowledge for personal use, family, friends, as well as potential business ideas for the community. Very comprehensive learning material, fast paced but effective delivery. Course was well worth it. I would recommend it to others...  

For the fee of the course, it was absolutely yielded within the first weekend of the course time. I intend on becoming an instructor within the permaculture community. The passion from Rob and Michelle truly inspired me to take the next step. Permaculture is by far the most educationally stimulating course I have ever taken! Thank you!

Michelle was incredibly welcoming and wonderful to meet and engage with. I've heard good things about Verge and my experience definitely reinforces this reputation.

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.

Rob is a great teacher and some how he managed to cram so much into my head in such a considerably short time while not making me feel overwhelmed  and making sure I and everyone else understood.

I've never seen a permaculture endeavour marry business and permaculture together so well and I've rarely met finer people in my life.

Your Permaculture Design Course is magnificently well-rounded, and I'm recommending it to anyone who'll listen.

I think if I could use one word to describe what Verge's PDC gave me, it would be "hope". Completely life changing.

I found the course to be more than just intensive permaculture design information but really a plan for living a meaningful life with ethics and meaning.

Over the past five years I have watched Rob and Michelle build Verge Permaculture from the ground up and I am proud to say that Verge Permaculture is now one of North America's premier permaculture design and education companies.

The information in the Permaculture Primer and in the PDC has changed my world view and my direction in life.  I highly recommend it.

This course is an invaluable for the amount of practical life-supporting skills, entrepreneur ideas and social empowerment shared. Permaculture is the logical way to restoring and regenerating our planet’s ecology. I hope to take some of these new skills, develop them through local practice and global study and eventually do aide work in a suffering country.  

I thought that the course was overall amazing, Groundswell is amazing. Loved the hands-on learning we received.

If you are into growing your own food, harvesting rainwater, composting and getting green, this is the course for you! Rob and Michelle have travelled the world learning Permaculture and Green Technology – they are so knowledgeable – I enjoyed the time I had with them greatly. Worth ten times the cost for this course.

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!  

Permaculture connects ideas and processes in a new way that will improve life for humans and nature. I really appreciated this opportunity to learn about permaculture  

Verge empowered me to recognize my way of changing to world.  

Rob & Michelle - I'm proud of your work and your vision. What a delight to see young people like you embrace and then lend your savvy talents to this movement.

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  

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.

Permaculture offers an exciting and engaging vision for human organization and habitat. The knowledge provided by this course has equipped me with positive alternative solutions to the significant problems our society faces. I hope to apply my experience to food security policy issues. Rob and Michelle have developed an organized and structured course; combined with their knowledgeable instruction, the value of the course far surpasses the course fee. Highly recommended.

I can’t say enough GREAT things about this permaculture experience! I accidentally found Verge 2 weeks before the class started. I was already obligated for a lot of foreign travel out of the country when I had signed up and was worried I would have issues participating with the various time zones. The way, this class is structured allows professionals to do life and still do a good job learning and catching up through the video recordings. It is definitely more fun participating on a weekly basis but it was not always an option for me. I feel my Angels, were looking out for me when they introduced me to Rob and his staff. I had been asking around to many people in my area in Vermont for planning help for my farm;coming up with a master plan for my 10 acre property. I am well on my way to finalizing my perma plan and feel very excited about what will develop over the next few years as I start to implement. Thank you to everyone for your passion and incredible teaching skills.

Taking the Verge Permaculture courses helped give me the knowledge, connections, and confidence to make real changes in my life.  I was able to start my own business, change my lifestyle, and meet an amazing group of people that helped me every step of the way.

An engaging educational experience that exceeded expectations. I left the class with more knowledge than I know what to do with and more thorough appreciation of how much more there is to learn.  

For anyone interested in the health of the planet and their own family, this workshop is a must. It is a terrific first step to gaining an understanding of how they can have impact and benefit from smart design.

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.  

Enthusiasm shown was very infectious and made entire course very enjoyable and "wanting more". Course contect exceeded any expectations and and relativity to real life made so much sense.

I started The Permaculture Primer today and am greatly impressed. I have taken other courses online but have never been as impressed with them as much as I am with yours. I like the level headed and rational approach you have taken.

Rob and Michelle truly inspired me in so many ways. It's their passion for social change, that keeps me inspired to keep on given er'.

This design course really helped to us draw connections to integrate shelter more closely with the landscape.

We have used Rob as a speaker for public events and as an instructor for workshops. He is a very entertaining, insightful and knowledgeable speaker. As an instructor, he keeps his students engaged with a very hands-on style, using many exercises and real-life examples to help students understand concepts.

If you want to schedule an event with them, or just attend one, I recommend them very, very highly.

The course was life changing for me, I learned so many positive solutions in an uncertain world, I was also able to network with an incredible group of people that are interested in sustainability in the same way that I am. I can unreservedly recommend this course – if you want to live in a permanent culture, please consider taking the time to do the Design Certificate course.

I plan to develop a multi generational permaculture farm and teaching centre where I can apply what I learned and pass it on to others. The instructors were all passionate and helpful. They made it an enjoyable experience. I feel that I got amazing value for the money spent.

The sheer breadth and volume of content offered in the PDC made for incredible value. I feel like I now carry knowledge and perspective that are the seeds of true wisdom and a new confidence in the possibilities for living and working differently. Rob leaves you with no excuses for not becoming a positive force in the world!

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.

This class has helped me realize the potential each one of us has to create a better world. I am filled with possibilities, and that’s an exciting feeling! Now, the work….!  

These two weeks of permaculture have been the most useful and constructive education I have experienced. The practical skills, hopeful perspective and focus on solutions feel empowering.  

We would and already have recommended this course, as well as your website to anyone who voices an interest in sustainable living and most especially to those with an interest in developing a career in permaculture design or other elements of permaculture.

The Verge Permaculture [Design Course] is a comprehensive course with hands-on applications. It is fantastic! Rob Avis provides functional information that goes way beyond the garden to – building, growing & creating a good life. We walked out of the [course] with so many entrepreneurial & sustainable ideas & opportunities there is no way this functional system (permaculture) cannot grow exponentially to make a better future. I am so excited!