Our 6-day Hands-On Permaculture Intensive
Crash Course in Permaculture Thinking and Doing
This is a Great Stand-alone Training… or… Part 2 of the 3-Stage PDC Certificate Training
 May 2011 Hands-on Training |
6-DAY HANDS-ON TRAINING SCHEDULE 2012
The July, Family Friendly Training is followed immediately by the 5-day PDC Completion Course for those wishing to earn their PDC Certificate. - – Photos of Past Trainings – -
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Designed for Two Different Kinds of Students 1… Save Time and Money + Earn Credit Toward PDC Certificate 2… Get More Hands-on Training + Earn PDC Certificate
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 Kevin and Emma with A-frame |
| Students will: 1 – Install a Permaculture Plant Guild 2 – Build and learn to use an A-frame… 3 – Learn to calibrate and use a transit or sight-level… 4 – Design, measure and dig a swale or a permaculture rain garden… 5 – Construct a ‘hugelkultur‘ bed… 6 – Make a 5-gallon ‘bucket garden‘… 7 – Build a ‘rocket stove‘… 8 – Make and use compost tea… (it’s for plants, not people)… 9 – Use vermicomposting to recycle kitchen scraps… 10 – Make a sheet-mulch bed on raw-weedy ground… 11 – Build a solar oven and cook a noon meal in it… 12 – Make a hot compost pile that is too hot to touch 13 – Use a watt meter to see and measure electrical consumption… And if the Training is Held at Midwest Permaculture in Stelle 14. See, touch and operate our aquaponics system 15. Walk our permaculture yard and ask loads of questions 16. Help us with our daily chicken co-op chores |
“The 6-day Hands-on Training was truly one of the most meaningful and important things I’ve done in (and for) my life. It taught me that living in harmony with natural systems is not just an ideal, but a very real possibility – and that it’s not as hard as a lot of people think! I’m looking forward to finishing my training to earn my PDC Certificate.” Sarah J. – Teacher/Write |
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| Install a permaculture plant guild…
In permaculture, a plant guild is a grouping of plants that tend to live symbiotically with each other. By being together they all do better. Click Here for a detailed description of the ‘Wet Meadow Guild’ above and a larger look at the diagram. You can download it for your own personal use if you like. |
Permaculture plant guilds can be beautiful while producing large amounts of food.
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| Build an A-frame (used by indigenous peoples for centuries) to find and mark level contours for the positioning of swales, rain-gardens, fence lines and more…
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 Dolly finding and marking ‘level’ with an A-frame (which is every bit as accurate as the modern-day transit). |
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| Learn to calibrate and use a transit or sight-level as well… |  Sophia and Emma using the sight-level |
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| Design, shoot and dig a swale and/or a permaculture rain garden…
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Construct a ‘hugelkultur’ bed… A what? ‘Hugel’ means ‘mound’ in German. It is a simple process of burying wood under soil and creating a mound.It is a great way to utilize excess biomass (scrap wood and brush) that will soak up and hold water as it breaks down over time. It will also add humus and long-term fertility.
At left: Wood chunks in freshly dug hugelkultur bed. Click here for short picture summary of the making of a hugelkultur bed. |
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 It really works… |
Make a 5-gallon ‘bucket garden’ that is easy to move, easy to water and easy to care for.
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| Build a ‘rocket stove’ from miscellaneous bricks… and cook lunch on it…
Also notice the small amount of wood being used (students used only half of what you see here) and the lack of smoke! This very simple design dramatically reduces fuel use (wood) and burns much cleaner and hotter than an open fire. There are several factors that allow this to occur. We will learn the why’s and how’s. |
Where’s the Smoke? The stove is producing a tremendous amount of heat at the back of the burn chamber and ‘rocketing’ up to the pot.
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| Make and use compost tea…(it’s for plants, not people)…Compost tea is an aerated solution of good compost put into water that eventually starts to teem with billions of beneficial microorganisms. This solution can then be applied directly to the leaf surface of a plant as a foliar spray or sprinkled directly on to garden soil to improve root systems. |  |
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Use vermicomposting to recycle kitchen scraps and make some of the best fertilizer in the world… Even Aristotle, Cleopatra and Darwin considered the lowly worm to be one of the most important creatures on earth. Learn why and how to use vermicomposting at home.
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Make a bed, on raw-weedy ground, with no rototilling or digging using the ultimate sheet-mulching method…
Sana (left) adds a top dressing of straw after 7 more layers were added. |
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Build a solar oven and cook a meal using sunlight only… How many different types of solar overs are out there that one can build? Check google and get ready for a long read. There are hundreds of them. |
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 Maria Checking Temperature after just 24 hours. With the proper ingredients, a pile can reach 140-160 degrees in just one day. |
Make a hot compost pile that is almost too hot to touch… |
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| Use a watt meter to see exactly how much energy any electrical appliance is consuming… |  |
And if the training is held at Midwest Permaculture, in Stelle:
Learn how to build and use an aquaponics system…
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.JPG) Bill Explaining how System Works |
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The goldfish in the lower tank provide nutrients for the plants.
| - Walk Bill and Becky’s permaculture yard to see how the rain gardens, berms, hugelkultur bed, rain-water tank and more, all tie together… |
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| - Feed, water and collect eggs from our small chicken flock as we are part of a neighborhood chicken co-op. |
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We may see and do slightly different projects at other sites as this training has been designed to be hosted at various locations. Contact us if you would like to explore hosting one of these 6-day trainings.
Part of a PDC Certificate
As a reminder, this training can be used as credit toward earning your Permaculture Design Course Certificate. It is one of 3 different stages.
What You Will Learn in the Classroom
Because this is intended to be mostly a ‘hands-on’ experience, we will be spending 50-60% of our time outdoors. The rest of the time will be in the classroom covering what we consider to be ‘essential’ permaculture knowledge.
Classroom Subjects Covered
– Foundations of Permaculture & Abundance
– A Permaculture Way of Thinking
– Permaculture Gardens
– Plant Guilds
– Urban Permaculture
– Food, Fiber & Energy for the Future
– Heart of Permaculture Community & Transition Towns
– Essentials of Permaculture Design
What You Will Learn After the Training
In addition to a great learning experience and what we hope will be a wonderful time for you, many excellent resources will be shared. We have sorted through mountains of information to bring to you the most essential and useful nuggets. These will include some of the PowerPoint presentations from your training, links to YouTube videos that we used, links to books and websites, and quite a few additional handouts.
We know that this week only represents a widening of the door to your permaculture education. If you want more, these resources will provide a clear path for further study and learning.
Truthfully, the exploration of this fascinating subject never really ends as it is so connected to living life itself.
Additional Details About the Trainings
Training Preparation – You Can Begin Now
10 Handouts and a Great Handbook
Shortly after registering for this training, students receive a welcome email while they await the training handbook. Included in the email are links to 10 handouts and further details about the training you are registering for.
| Training Handbook (Included with Registration) Gaia’s Garden The New Edition by Toby Hemenway The book is mailed directly to students shortly after registering. |
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Gaia’s Garden - The New Edition (2nd Edition)
When people ask us what book they should buy to get a good understanding of permaculture, we recommend this book by Toby Hemenway. Even though this 6-day permaculture intensive is not just about gardening, Toby does a great job of explaining the basics of permaculture and in this new addition he has added more information about the urban landscape.
Gaia’s Garden goes into great detail on specific permaculture techniques, such as: organizing your garden in to “zones”, creating and maintaining your fertile soil, and explanations about companion planting and permaculture plant guilds. The book also contains many helpful charts and illustrations.
All students are encouraged to read the full text before the 6-day training begins for it will likely ensure a greater learning experience, but it is not essential. The training is complete and impactful in itself.
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Lead Instructor – Bill Wilson He is cofounder of Midwest Permaculture with his wife Becky and has hosted and taught at over 29 PDC courses. Bill and Becky have lived the last 34 years in Stelle, which is a sustainably oriented community, and have been intimately involved in its daily life and various transitions. |
Additional Trainers
Bill is likely to be joined by one or more other teachers whom are graduates of a Midwest Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) Course and also a Permaculture Teachers Training. You can be sure that Becky, and most likely Milton Dixon, will join in at different times.
 Milton Dixon |
Milton Dixon holds a PDC and an Advanced Training in Teaching Permaculture. Besides being Midwest Permaculture’s tech support he is an avid urban permaculturist. If we’re lucky, he will share some of his homemade wine with us. More on Milton… Becky Wilson Becky was business manager of the Stelle Homeowner’s Association for 8 years and its Community Business Manager for 18. More on Becky… |
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Becky Wilson
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“My mind has been working overtime thinking about permaculture! I have learned so much this week. I will use it the rest of my life. Ashleigh B. of Detroit |
Daily Schedule
Most of these trainings will start on the first day at 4:00 p.m. and end mid-morning on the last day. This will allow for travel time.
The days in between look like this:
– 7:30 Breakfast
– 8:30 Morning Class
– 10:00 Morning Hands-on
– 12:30 Lunch
– 1:30 Afternoon Hands-on
– 4:00 Personal Time Off
– 6:00 Dinner
– 7:15 Evening Class
– 9:00 End
Meals
All meals, coffee, tea and water will be provided as part of the course tuition and will be served beginning with dinner on the first day through breakfast on the final day. Meals will be prepared from mostly organic and locally raised foods and will include vegetarian and meat options.
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Camping Remember, no matter the time of year, you will likely only be spending time in your tent to sleep, so this is not really camping-camping. There is no need for a fire or cooking. |
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Optional Accommodations in Stelle
There are also indoor lodging options available in Stelle that run $150 for the entire week. Some of our residents are delighted to rent out their guest rooms for this modest fee. Please email Becky (or call 815-256-2215) if you have any questions, otherwise there is an option to add indoor lodging when you register on-line for the training.
What to Pack & Other Details
Several weeks before a training begins, students receive more information concerning what to expect, arrival details, what to pack, access to maps, etc.
Student’s Internet Networking Site
Students of this training will also be provided a networking site where you can connect with your fellow students to share reading and homework thoughts, arrange transportation, share a bit about yourself, etc.
Following the training, students may also use this site to stay connected with one another if they so chose. The use of this networking site is totally optional. It’s just a bonus of the training. To check out the public forums of the Midwest Permaculture Networking Site, goto: www.MidwestPermaculture.ning.com.
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When – Where - Prices – Register
| Schedule of 6-Day Hands-on Trainings |
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Registration Includes: The Training, Text and Handouts, Organically Prepared Meals, Camping, Registration Fee: Early Registration Fees 45 and 90 days out: $795 and $695
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Group Registrations
2 or more may register together and receive an additional $100 discount each (maximum discounted price is $695). Invite additional family, friends or club members and everyone receives the same $100 discount. Call Becky for either more information or to set up a group (815-256-2215).
Partial Payments
If making partial payments is an important factor in your ability to take the training, you will find these options on our registration page on line. You may also call Becky at 815-256-2215 to register in person and work out payment options.
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Cancellation and Refund Policy If a student cancels in the 30-day period before the training there will be a full refund less $150. In both cases, the student gets to keep the book and access to the 10 handouts. |
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There are no refunds for cancellations or withdrawals once the training begins. However, in certain circumstances we may extend partial credit towards a future training.
Family Friendly – - – July 17-22, 2012
Summer Training - Family Friendly
At our summer 6-day, we want to welcome parents and their children, but this training is for everyone else as well. The training is not a simplified version, but the full schedule and curriculum. It’s just that families will be involved too.
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In this training one parent might attend class while the other cares for young children. The parent (or care giver) with the children can either come and go from the classroom (‘bopping’ in and out, leaving when the child has had enough) or can keep busy outside the classroom exploring Stelle. There is our pond-gardens-orchard area, playing in our simple playground or going to the pool. If the child or children are older, they are welcome to participate in the full training at reduced rates. See chart below. |
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Another Possibility |
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| “I so appreciated having families and their children in the course. It really added to the wonderful dynamic.” Kate – College Student |
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From our experience, the trainings that we have done with children in or around them have been – HANDS DOWN – great experiences for parents, for children and for the other participants in the courses. The children have been more of a gift than a distraction. This is because of the close working relationship we set up between us (Midwest Permaculture – Bill, Becky, Milton and Hayden) and the parents. To be clear however, ultimate responsibility for the attention and care of the children will be on the parents, not Midwest Permaculture. Please call Becky (815-256-2215) to discuss any questions you might have about this. The pricing below should help clarify things some as well. |
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Pricing for Families
| Primary Adult | Attending Full Training | Full Price |
| Second Adult | Attending Full Training | Full Price (Less $100 each) |
| Second Adult | Bopping in and out of training because they are responsible for the primary care of young children | Half Price |
| Children 10-16 | Attending Full Training | Half Price |
| Children any age | Bopping in and out or not | $25/Year of Age |
| Prices include camping & meals for everyone. |
Registering Families
All families should call Becky (815-256-2215) to talk about options, decide on pricing, how to approach the training, and to then register if everything looks good.
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Our objective is to support our students for as long as they need it or want it and to encourage them to support each other. |
Still Have Questions?
You are welcome to email us here or call Becky at 815-256-2215.
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Earn Credit Towards PDC Certificate
This ‘Hands-on’ training is stage 1 of a 3-stage process towards certification.
Click Here for the 3-Stage PDC Certificate Process
Pros & Cons of This 6-Day Training vs. a Full PDC
To be clear, the full PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate) Course is a more comprehensive curriculum and as such there is more classroom time. Graduating students of a PDC receive a Certificate of Completion which entitles them to use the copyrighted word ‘Permaculture’ in the promotion of their work. They can add this certification to their resume, start a permaculture business, and offer such services as permaculture design, teaching or training.
The 6-Day Hands-On Training focuses on “How to Do”.
The 8-Day PDC Course gets much more into the details of “How To Design”.
More Hands-on: There are about 3 times as many hands-on experiences in this 6-day training than there is time for in a full PDC Course. If you learn by doing…this 6-day training was designed for you.
Want Your PDC Certificate too?
If you learn by doing, and, you want to get your PDC Certificate too, consider these three options:
Option One:
Take both the 6-Day and then, at a later date, a full 8-Day PDC! You will receive a $200 discount off of the price of your 8-day PDC Course and… you will end up getting a review of the key permaculture concepts and principles.
Option Two:
Per the 3-Stage PDC certificate process, you can take any 6-Day Hands-on Training and then follow it up with the Foundations of Permaculture webinar series and a 5-Day PDC Completion Course. A student has 3-years after the 6-Day Hands-on Training to complete these other two steps. You might also consider taking these two trainings back-to-back this summer (July 17-27, 2012). Be sure to get the webinars done ahead of time so that you can receive your PDC certificate.
Option Three:
Students may take this 6-day Hands-on Training and then do the 5-day PDC Completion Course from home through correspondence. (available soon)
We hope this is not too confusing. Please feel free to call Becky if you would like greater clarity on these options.
815-256-2215