Permaculture Design Course – Trainees & Assessment

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE – HOW PERMACULTURE TRAINEES OPERATE ~ What Next?

Also on this page: ASSESSMENT FOR THE PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE

Graduates of a permaculture design course are designated as “trainee permaculture designers: and must complete at least 2 years work in any permaculture field (as designated below). Evidence of work must accompany written submission, usually an accompanying letter signed by:

(1) your initial permaculture design course teacher(s);
(2) a permaculture designer who has received a Diploma from the PC Institute(s); or
(3) a reputable, independent person known by both designer and the lnstitute

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A Diploma of Permaculture Design shall be issued in the following fields):

Diplomas are issued by the continental Permaculture Institutes (see references) Higher degrees may be obtained. All design course graduates should maintain a subscription to the permaculture Journal to keep abreast of news and changes

Report writing and client needs

1. Clear addresses: client home and business addresses, your own address, client’s property location

2. Client needs and resources: lifestyle; future development; number of people and form of involvement; expenditure; other resources, skills. interests

3. General property description: size, titles, subdivisions; aspects, orientations, slopes: present vegetation; soils, water, access; areas defined (planning units). Attached maps

4. Detail of areas: e.g. Zone 1 house and yard design, intensive culture; zone 2:
cultivation, animals; Zone 3: forest; Zone 4: shaded slopes, water, etc.

5. General themes affecting the site, e.g. fire, marketing possibilities. mosquito control aquaculture and so on

6 Include useful references: resource people, other clients, books & publications. government assistance, financial help, organisations

7. Documentation. e.g. plant lists, details of retrofits, layouts of areas (designer may need illustration assistance)

Common Errors

Assumption of client knowledge of all facets of report
Lack of detail sketches
Depersonalised approach
Recommendation of difficult technologies
Resources not noted or explained
Generalities. e.g.- ‘suitable plants”
Poor patterning
No management date
Priorities not stressed
Recommending illegal or impossible to get species

For methodologies of design, see pages of this handbook

Creating Permaculture Work

Find a niche and fill it

Start a permaculture association or consultancy in your area (combine it with earthbank or bioregional services)

Start to teach and design, even if it is for mate’s rates at first.

Research and assemble data for other designers

Cooperate with co-designers to form team

Offer services and help set up community social services, e.g. city farms, food co-ops. teaching and demonstration areas for permaculture, etc.

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Permaculture Design Course – Assessment

The final assessment before being awarded a PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE COURSE is preferably done face-to-face but can be done via online video conference call.

Assessment

Assessment includes:
1/2 day of assessment consisting of multi-choice questions and short answers requiring a few paragraphs:
Students to indicate future work and ideas, volunteering, etc.
Complete personal details & curriculum vitae, for the continental permaculture institutes.

Personal Details

Complete curriculum vitae, for the continental permaculture institutes.

Next Page – Resource & Links Page

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Mark Farmer

Our permaculture editor and teacher, Mark Farmer, completed his Permaculture Design Certificate with the legendary teacher Geoff Lawson at Permaculture Noosa in 1997. Our Farmer has lived on two land-sharing co-ops & maintained permaculture-based gardens ever since.

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