Advanced Permaculture Planning and Design Course Details

SCROLL DOWN FOR COURSE SCHEDULE, PEEK INSIDE OUR STUDENT PORTAL,  MEET THE TEACHING TEAM & FAQ’S

Course Schedule

Course runs September 9, 2024 through October 23, 2024. We meet two times per week live-online:

Monday (Interactive) ⇒ 5:00pm – 6:30pm MT

Wednesday (Live Lecture with Recording Available) ⇒ 1:00pm – 2:30pm MT

Module High-Level Topics Covered

Module 1

 Monday (Sep 9): Welcome, Course Overview; How to use the 5-Step Process to Develop Land

Wednesday (Sep 11): Lecture on Clarifying Your Vision, Values and Resources

Monday (Sep 16): Interactive & Q&A on Clarifying Your Vision, Values and Resources

Module 2

Wednesday (Sep 18): Lecture on Diagnosing Your Property for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats

Monday (Sep 23): Interactive & Q&A on Diagnosing Your Property for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats

Module 3

Wednesday (Sep 25): Lecture on Designing Your Resources to Meet Your Vision and Values

Monday (Sep 30): Interactive & Q&A on Designing Your Resources to Meet Your Vision and Values

Module 4

Wednesday (Oct 2): Lecture on Implementing the Right Design That Will Most Improve Your Weakest Resource

Monday (Oct 7): Interactive & Q&A on Implementing the Right Design That Will Most Improve Your Weakest Resource

Module 5

 Wednesday (Oct 9): Lecture on Monitoring Your Resources for Indicators of Well-being or Suffering

Monday (Oct 21): Interactive & Q&A on Monitor Your Resources for Indicators of Well-being or Suffering. (Oct 14th is Thanksgiving holiday CA)

Module 6

 Wednesday (Oct 16): Lecture on Creating engaging and informative presentations.

Wednesday (Oct 23): Interactive Student Presentations (5pm – 7pm MT)

  • Live peer-to-peer presentations of projects with constructive feedback from both peers and facilitators.

Dates TBD
Office Hours

Drop in office hours and additional group time with your design mentor for Q&A and direct feedback / support with your final project

Have Questions?

Want to connect on-on-one with someone from our Team? Send Customer Care an email with any questions you have and/or request a time to connect with our Advanced Permaculture Planning and Design Specialist.

Turn your advanced permaculture ideas into reaility!

Just like the Verge Permaculture Design Certification, this course takes a process-oriented, engineer’s approach, leveraging technology for accurate planning and teaching practical solutions for the road ahead.

Meet Your Teaching Team 

  • Rob Avis
    Rob Avis Lead Instructor / Engineer

    After pursuing international training and certifications in renewable energy and regenerative design Rob, along with his wife and business partner Michelle, began Verge Permaculture, now a globally-recognized and award-winning design, consulting, and education company. In the last decade, he has helped more than 3000 students and hundreds of clients to design and/or create integrated systems for shelter, energy, water, waste and food, all while supporting local economy and regenerating the land.

  • Alain D’Aoust
    Alain D’Aoust Lead Course Designer | Instructor

    Alain has spent the last decade working on local food projects, delivering school garden programs and developing community-based permaculture in the Seaway Valley of Eastern Ontario.

    He and his family have since settled on a new rural homestead where they have designed and built a simple home and are developing their 10-acre parcel using the Building Your Permaculture Property process.

    When he isn’t farming or collaborating on projects, he can usually be found in the kitchen preparing nutrient dense meals or paddling down a river somewhere. 

Peek inside our student portal in our 2024 Student on-boarding video.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What payment methods do you accept?

You can pay online with your credit card.

If you’d prefer to pay using another method select that option during checkout and you’ll receive instructions on how to do so. Note that we can accept cash, bank-certified cheques, email money transfer (Canadians only) or credit card over the phone.

Your spot is not saved in the course until payment is received.

We can also accept payment plans for some of our courses. The payment plan option will be displayed at checkout if that is the case.

*Please note that registrations paid by email money transfer are processed manually. Because we are not in the office everyday, be prepared to wait 24 business hours during weekdays before your registration is approved/activated. If you are registering with short notice before an event, we recommend that you pay online using a credit card so that your registration is processed and approved automatically by our system.

How do I login in to your website and/or re-set my password?

To Login Or Create An Account

To login, click on the Portal menu item and select LOGIN if you already have an account, or CREATE AN ACCOUNT if you need to create one:

 

Lost your password?

If you’ve lost your password, visit the password reset page.

 

How Do I Send An Email Money Transfer?

We can accept Email Money Transfers from Canadian Bank accounts.

*Please note that registrations paid by EMT are processed manually. Because we are not in the office everyday, be prepared to wait 24 hours during weekdays before your registration is approved. If you are registering with short notice before an event, we recommend that you pay online using a credit card.

To send an email money transfer you need access to online banking through a participating financial institution (BMO, CIBC, RBC, Scotia Bank, or TD Canada Trust, among others).

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Login to your online banking.

2. Locate Interac Email Money Transfer, usually found in the Transfer/Payments menu.

3. Fill in the Interac Email Money Transfer information as follows:

          1. Recipients email address: payments@vergepermaculture.ca .
          2. Payment Amount: the total amount of your invoice.
          3. Message: Include your name, the course name and if different, the name of the course registrant.

No password is required for your EMT.

If you need more detailed instructions for completing an email money transfer, go to http://www.interac.ca/index.php/en/interac-etransfer/etransfer-faq.

How important is it to attend the live webinars? What if I miss a session (or multiple sessions)?

The live webinars are definitely going to be a way for students to interact in real-time with the teaching team, and with each other. We highly recommend that you attend if you can.

However, we understand that it may not be possible for you to attend all webinars. And you may have conflicts (or time zone considerations) that prevent you from attending any of them.

As such, we will be recording and uploading all webinars to the student dashboard (please give us ~24 hours). We will timestamp the webinars so that they are easy to navigate and you’ll have access to these recordings indefinitely. We will also provide audio-only files for all webinars.

Our teaching assistants will be monitoring all questions submitted through the student dashboard. They will record your questions and summarize them for our instructors to cover in the live sessions. Getting your questions answered is a huge priority for us. You can help us stay organized by keeping your questions relevant to the topic and posting them under the correct lesson / webinar.

We are confident that even if you can’t catch the live sessions you will still get significant value from our program and you will still feel a part of the live aspect of the course. There is a caveat though – we ask that you keep up with the content and get your questions to us in a timely fashion at we are only monitoring comments until the course ends.

Can I share the online content / course with a family member?

We’ve had lots of folks ask us: “Can I share this course with my partner / spouse?”… (or with someone else in your household).

When you register in our online PDC (or other online programs), we create one user account linked to your name and email address. This user account gives you access to our student dashboard and the ability to interact with the course content. We track your progress through the lessons. You can post comments and interact with our teachers and other students both in the lessons pages and in any live webinars.

And although we ask that you do not share your password and username with anyone (that’s just smart, and good practice in general), the reality is that we have no control over who is sitting beside you while you are participating behind your computer screen. And really, we actually really do want you to share this information with your spouse / partner, your children and the other stakeholders involved in making your project happen! How else are you going to get everyone onboard?

Having said that – we think that there are a few very good reasons that each person might want to have their own unique registration in the course:

  • We will issue only one Permaculture Design Certificate, in the name of the user who enrolled in the course. Same goes with any other online programs that come with certificates of completion.
  • Your unique user account is your own personality and way to engage in the course material, and with the instructors, and with other students in the course. Sharing your user account in this way is similar to sharing your Facebook Account. So, ask yourself: Do you want your own profile?
  • Our learning management system will track your progress throughout the course material (what you’ve watched, what you haven’t) as well record your results on Knowledge Checks (i.e. quizzes). This is a very useful tool to track your own individual completion and progress through the course.

Please also be aware that you can only log into the Student Dashboard from one IP address at a time. That means that if you login from home (and don’t log out) and you try and then login from another location you will be unable to do so. This will also cause problems for you if you share your login credentials with someone.

What are the technical requirements to participate in the live online sessions via Zoom?

To ensure a smooth and engaging experience in our live online sessions via Zoom, there are several technical requirements that you should be prepared to meet:

  1. Stable Internet Connection: A reliable, high-speed internet connection is crucial for streaming live video and audio without interruption. This ensures that you can participate actively without any connectivity issues.
  2. Compatible Device: You’ll need a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone that is capable of running Zoom. Most modern devices are well-equipped for this purpose.
  3. Zoom Software: If you’re using a computer or laptop, it’s recommended to download the Zoom desktop client for the best experience. For tablets and smartphones, the Zoom app is available in the respective app stores. You can also join sessions directly through your web browser if you prefer.
  4. Webcam and Microphone: As we encourage students to turn on their cameras and participate in verbal conversations, make sure your device has a working webcam and microphone. This not only fosters accountability but also enhances the collaborative learning experience with your peers.
  5. Headphones/Earbuds (Recommended): Using headphones or earbuds can improve your ability to hear the session clearly, especially in noisy environments, and also helps to minimize feedback during verbal interactions.
  6. Adequate Lighting and Quiet Space: To be seen clearly when your camera is on, participate in a well-lit room. Also, try to be in a quiet space to minimize background noise during the session.
  7. Basic Zoom Proficiency: Familiarize yourself with basic Zoom functions such as muting/unmuting your microphone, turning your video on/off, and using the chat feature. This will help you participate more effectively in the sessions.

By meeting these technical requirements, you will be well-prepared to engage fully in our live online sessions, ensuring an enriching and interactive learning experience with both instructors and fellow students.

How is permaculture different from Organic gardening or Regenerative agriculture?

Permaculture is more than just gardening. It’s a system based on relationships supporting communities’ ability to thrive through vulnerability. Permaculture combines permanent + culture + agriculture, so while organic gardening is a good tool, the cyclical nature of permaculture takes it further. It’s a design that integrates all components of nature and beings into one integrated system to support sustainable living.

What’s makes this course ‘Advanced’?

This course is considered ‘Advanced’ because it builds directly on the foundational knowledge acquired through a 72-hour Permaculture Design Certification (PDC). It is specifically designed to reduce the overwhelm by focusing on a structured 5-step process for applying permaculture principles to land design and development. This focus allows for a deeper dive into practical application, enabling students to navigate the multitude of design options with clarity and purpose.

Will I receive a certification upon completion?

Upon completion of this course, participants will not receive an official certification like the one awarded after completing a Permaculture Design Certification (PDC). This advanced course is designed to deepen your understanding and application of permaculture through a focused 5-step process, enriching your existing PDC knowledge without issuing a formal certificate.

How are final projects assessed in this course?

Final projects will be evaluated through a peer review process. Each student will present their project either live to the class or via a recording. Following these presentations, students will participate in reviewing the projects of their peers. This method encourages collaborative learning, critical thinking, and constructive feedback, allowing students to gain insights from different perspectives and enhance their understanding and application of the 5-step process in permaculture design.

What prior knowledge do I need before enrolling?

Enrollment in this course requires a Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) or equivalent knowledge. This prerequisite ensures that all participants begin with a foundational understanding of permaculture principles, allowing the course to focus on advanced application through a structured 5-step process. This approach is designed to deepen and refine your permaculture practice, making it more effective and targeted towards your projects.

How much time should I expect to dedicate to this course weekly?

For this course, participants are expected to dedicate 3 hours per week to attending course sessions, which encompass both lectures and interactive components. In addition to this, a minimum of 2-4 hours per week should be allocated to work on their individual property designs. This time commitment allows students to thoroughly engage with course materials, participate in discussions and activities, and apply what they learn to developing and refining their property design projects.

Are there any live session requirements, and can I access recordings if I miss one?

Lectures are recorded live on Thursday afternoons and attendance is optional. For those unable to attend, you must watch the recordings and complete any assignments by the following Tuesday. Interactive sessions occur Tuesday evenings, lasting 1.5 hours, similar to lectures. While both types of sessions are recorded, breakout room activities during interactive sessions are not. To gain the fullest experience, attending interactive sessions is highly recommended, offering a chance for live collaboration, Q&A and immediate feedback.

What materials or tools will I need for this course?

For this course, you’ll need access to a computer with internet connectivity to attend live sessions and view recordings. Familiarity with Zoom and Google Earth Pro is essential, as these will be used for live interactions and final project presentations, respectively. Additionally, materials for note-taking and project planning, such as digital or physical notebooks, may be beneficial. Any specific software or tools required for individual project work will be outlined during the course.

Is this course suitable for someone who’s looking to professionalize their permaculture practice?

This course serves as a valuable stepping stone for those aiming to professionalize their permaculture practice, with a specific focus on personal property design. It’s particularly beneficial as it’s taught by consultants actively working in the field. While the course is centered on personal projects, the skills and methodologies taught are directly applicable to professional contexts, making it well-suited for anyone looking to elevate their permaculture practice to a professional level.

Will there be opportunities for one-on-one feedback from instructors?

Yes, there will be opportunities for one-on-one feedback from instructors. These sessions are designed to provide personalized guidance, address specific questions, and help refine your project. This direct interaction ensures that you receive expert insights tailored to your individual needs, enhancing your learning experience and project outcomes.

Can I apply the skills learned in this course to urban settings, or is it more suited to rural projects?

While there is a greater focus on rural projects, the skills learned in this course are applicable to both urban and rural settings. The principles and techniques covered are designed to be versatile, allowing you to adapt them to the specific challenges and opportunities of your project, whether it’s located in a bustling city environment or a more spacious rural area. The course encourages creativity and adaptability, ensuring that students can tailor their projects to suit any context.

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