The Permaculture Course
...at Locavore Farm
A Community Focused Farm In Grant Park, Illinois
15-hrs. of Pre-Training Webinars - PLUS-
8 Very Full Days On Site - June 1-8, 2024 - COMPLETED
This Was a Fabulous Course. Check Back for Next Year's Dates!
We' have taught over 100 'In-Person' Permaculture Design Courses at various locations around the US. This was our first at Locavore Farm.
Meet Locavore's Founders - Chris & Rachael Jones
See what called them to their mission of reconnecting with the land
What Is Included?
- 8-Days On a successful farm-to-table permaculture farm - This is a Rare Opportunity
- Training Led by Bill Wilson of MWP (Over 100 PDCs)
- Tour the farm with founders Rachael and Chris Jones, and hear their story and perspective
- The Full Internationally Recognized 72-Hour Permaculture Design Course (PDC) Curriculum with Certificate
- All Meals (Mostly Organic and Locally Grown)
- Free Camping Sites (BYO tent) - Or - Deluxe Tent or Bedrooms in Farmhouse Available to Rent.
- Post-Training Study Resources for Continued Learning
- Begin Study Any Time (even now) with the required Pre-Training Webinar Series
Some Key Items We'll Explore at this Locavore Farm Permaculture Course
Earthworks
- Swales
- Keylining
- Rain Gardens
- Spillways
- Ponds
Water Harvesting
- First Flush Systems
- Cisterns
- Rainwater Tanks
- French Drains
- Drywells
Soil Building
- Soil Structure
- Organic Matter
- Life in the Soil
- Fertility without Fertilizers
Plants and Guilds
- Increasing Photosynthesis
- Power of Polycultures
- Plant Layers
- Design for Multiple Functions
- Propagation
Food Production Systems
- Creative Gardening
- Self-Watering Beds
- Season Extenders
- Food Storage
- Community Projects
Humane Use of Animals
- Quality of Life
- Full Expression
- Creatively Use Their Behavior
- Increase Whole Farm Fertility
- Honorably Harvest
Alternatives to Alternative Energy
- Conservation
- Biogas
- Earth-air Tubes
- Thermal Mass
- Wood Gasification
Natural Building
- Recycled Materials
- Stem Walls
- Cob – Clay Slip – Waddle-&-Daub
- Light vs. Insulation vs. Thermal Mass
Aquaculture-Aquaponics
- Pond Basics
- Layering in the Water
- Maximize Food Production
- Minimize Water Use
- New Possibilities in our Oceans
Community Building
- 4-Fires of Group Work
- Clear Agreements
- Conflict Resolution Using Permaculture Principles
- Personal Responsibility
...And lots, lots more.
How Does This All Work and Progress?
Step 1
Register for the PDC Course. (Early Discount of $200 ends April 1st)
Reserve your spot in the training. Our limit is 24 students. With registration, you will receive a link to the Foundations of Permaculture Webinar series and you can begin your training.
Step 2
Listen to All 11 Recorded Foundations of Permaculture Webinars
The Foundations of Permaculture Webinars are a 12-hour pre-training series. They hold a treasure trove of information and exposure to some amazing people who have incorporated permaculture principles and practices into real-life situations. Take notes if it helps you learn, but notes aren’t required. Listening to the webinars is a requirement and an important first step of the course, so do make the time.
Step 3
Join Bill Just Before the Course in Two Live Webinars over Zoom
Live Webinar 1: Tues. May 21st – 6:30-8:00pm
Live Webinar 2: Tues. May 28th – 6:30-8:00pm
In live webinar #1 we will discuss the content of the Foundations Webinar Series and our Intro Session #1. Come prepared to share a few highlights from the content that really hit home for you? Following this live webinar, Bill will link you to an additional webinar (about 2-hours of content) which will be discussed and explored in live webinar #2. Both of these webinar sessions will be recorded should you have to miss either. These are not fluff sessions. They are an important part of the content of the course.
Step 4
8-Amazing Days at Locavore Farm
Feel free to arrive anytime after 4:00 on Friday afternoon (May 31st) to get settled in, meet some fellow students, and relax before our week launches on Saturday at 9 am. You will be on your own for dinner Friday evening, but a light breakfast will be available before class on Saturday. You can just arrive on Saturday morning if that works best for you. Morning registration window is 7:30-8:30. Class starts promptly at 9:00.
Lodging Options
On-site Glamping Teepee:
$475/week; max 2 guestsOn-site Farmhouse/Cottage: One Queen-Sized Bedroom$450/week; max 2 guestsLocavore Sister-Campus Farmhouse: located 1/4 mile west. Share the main floor living/dining/kitchen/bath with other students. There are three rooms upstairs.
Master Bedroom with Master Bath$450/week; max two guestsQueen-size Bedroom #1, shared bath:$250/week; max two guestsQueen-size Bedroom #2: shared bath:$250/week; max two guests
As the rooms and glamping are reserved above, they will be crossed off the list.
Additional lodging options can be found here.
Kankakee County, Illinois – Visitors – Accommodations (visitkankakeecounty.com)
Remember, tent camping is no additional charge. Bring your own tent. And this is light camping. All your meals will be provided for (no need to bring cooking equipment), you’ll have access to bathrooms & a shower 24/7, and we’ll have class, exercises, and discussions all day and into the evenings. Your tent will really only be used for sleeping!
“Honestly, I was concerned about the long days of instruction and going into the evenings. I wasn’t confident I could go all day. But the days and evenings were so interesting and fun I was rarely tired! Bill made this course and the subject of permaculture come alive. It was wonderful, insightful, practical and incredibly hopeful. “
Esther G. (age 62)
Price: $1795
Price includes pre-training, the full course, all meals, open camping, and the PDC certificate.
Additional Fee for Lodging is Added on When Registering
This Course was Fabulous. Please Check Back for Next Year’s Dates.
Groups (Families, Couples, Friends)
$300 Off for Second Person (and more)
If you have a family member or friend who would also like to take this course we offer a $300 discount for this person. And you can invite more than one additional person at this price.
Should My Spouse/Partner/Close Friend/Family Member take the course with me?
If there is someone(s) who is intimately involved in whatever project you are undertaking, our students have repeatedly told us that it really made a difference when all parties involved took the PDC training together.
Going through one of our PDC courses tends to create a mind and heart shift in most people that cannot be transferred by conversation later on to others. Most people leaving the course never look at land the same way, and the concepts and ideas they now have can be fundamentally different than when they began. How does one explain this to their loved one(s)?
All we can tell you is that most people experience an inner shift by the conclusion of the training and to be able to experience this with those you will be working closely with is priceless. If there is anyway the other(s) involved with your project can join you, we, and most all of our students, highly recommend it.
Already A Permaculture Design Course Graduate?
We offer a 33% discount to students who have already earned their PDC Certification from another recognized teacher (from anywhere in the world) who wish to take one of our courses as a refresher. Please call or email us for details.
Low Risk Cancelation and Refund Policy
Should a student have to cancel their enrollment in the course up to 30-days before the on-site portion of the course begins, there is a full refund less $350. Even with cancelation, our students retain access to the Foundations of Permaculture Webinar Series ($195 value), keep the course handouts and textbook, and receive a full $350 credit toward another of any of our PDC course within 3 years.
If a student cancels within the 30-day period before the onsite portion of the course there will be a full refund less $450 and the student still receives a $350 credit toward a future design course. The credit is good for up to three years.
There are no refunds for cancellations or for withdrawals once the course begins. However, in certain circumstances, we may extend partial or full credit towards a future design course.
Additional Details
Arrival & Registration
Arrive Any Time Friday Afternoon/Evening, May 31, 2024
Start
Sat. June 1st – 9 am
End
Sat. June 8th – 12 pm
As you can see, these are very-full days. But because we break up the class-time with videos, exercises, discussions and more, students enjoy going into the evenings without feeling fatigued.
Daily Schedule
-
Breakfast 7:15
-
Class 8:15
-
Lunch Break 12:15
-
Class 2:00
-
Dinner Break 5:00
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Class 7:00
-
End 9:00
What to Pack & Other Details
About 4 weeks before the on-site training begins, students will receive more information concerning what to pack, when and where to arrive and other details. No big surprises here. Just the usual stuff.
The PDC Certificate of Completion
Students who complete this design course will receive a ‘Certificate of Completion’ from Midwest Permaculture which in the permaculture tradition allows them to use the word ‘permaculture’ in the promotion of their work or business. Graduates may offer workshops, lectures, classes and design services.
Final Design Projects
Participation in a final design project is a requirement of earning the certificate. We typically divide students up into groups of 2-4 persons, all working on one of the student’s own design projects.
Want to work on your Own Design Project?
Depending upon the number of students with projects, it is likely your project could be selected or you will be able to work on a project very similar to yours. If you want your project to be considered, bring the following:
- A written list of your current goals and/or vision for your property
- A sketch or aerial photo with key features and property lines clearly noted
- Noted 'problem areas', underground or overhead utilities, downspout locations, septic field, etc.
- A list of dominant plant species that are currently on the property (does not have to be exhaustive)
Our instructors determine the final design project selection, but students’ preferences are strongly considered.
Continued Support Following Graduation
Students who have completed a Midwest Permaculture design certification course (PDC) are then invited to become part of our growing network of graduates. There are 4-ways we work to support our graduates:
- We offer the course at half-price to any graduate who would like to experience the PDC once again.
- We host a private networking page for graduates to stay connected with each other.
- We host 'Office Hours' twice a month for help with design questions or just to check in and say hello. Bill is usually in.
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.
We would love to have you join us.
The experience of taking a PDC course in person is almost always deeply impactful. As teachers, we feel it is our job to deliver the best quality training we know how to our students, and we take this responsibility seriously. This subject is too brilliant to share in a ho-hum way. We see the course as a journey into wonderment, self-confidence, and endless possibilities.
Thank you for your interest.
-The MWP Team