ECO-APPRENTICES / PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION 2013 Lead Instructor: Evan Marks Facilitator: Andrew Bruck,

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1 ECO-APPRENTICES / PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATION 2013 Lead Instructor: Evan Marks Facilitator: Andrew Bruck, andrew@theecologycenter.org Description: Under the tutelage of agro-ecologist Evan Marks and other permaculture professionals, increase your knowledge of applied sustainability by joining us in this permaculture design certification course. Gather the tools and practical, systemic solutions to repair and benefit our local ecosystems and environment. This program is designed with strong emphasis on service-oriented, application-based, learning through doing. Upon completion, you will be an integral part of the sustainability movement, equipped with hands-on knowledge to make real and lasting change in the health and wellness of your personal and professional communities. Course Organization: This course will take place from 9am-4pm, two Saturdays per month, for six months of (May, June, July, August, October, and November). There will be no formal sessions in September, however you are expected to use that time to work on your practicum project(s). Each 9am-3pm day, you can expect morning design charette and lecture from 9am-noon (break from 10:30-10:45), followed by lunch break from noon-1pm and afternoon workshop. Attendance at all sessions is considered mandatory. Course Objectives: The intention of this course is that each apprentice will graduate as an eco-advocate who can better design human settlement. This course will shape how we think about community and culture, as a whole and individually, resulting in a holistic approach toward greater, more sustainable civilization for all. Texts and Recommended Supplies: A digital course reader with supplemental readings is uploaded via Dropbox ( Directions for downloading a dropbox account for access to these readings will be provided. Access to a computer, with internet connection, is recommended. Design supplies, including colored pencils, tracing paper, rulers, compasses, will be provided by The Ecology Center; participants of the course are certainly welcome to bring their own supplies. Certification Criteria: Completion of 72 education hours (12 sessions across 6 months) including participation in all workshops, plus a practicum (to be discussed later). In addition, any work study and scholarship commitments will need to be completed by the end of the course (November 23). Course Topics: Each month will focus on a different theme and associated topics. May::ECO-DESIGN Context / Permaculture Design Principles - relative location, succession, biodiversity, Climate / Seasonal weather, SoCal primer Observation / Site visit of TEC - observation of micro-climates Sectors -

2 Strategies / Ecology 101 Application / Skills Zone 1 garden design exercise - water, food, energy, waste = shelter June::FOOD::Grow Your Own Context / Grow Your Own Climate / SoCal primer - seasonality + Mediterranean climate Observation / Soils forests Strategies / Local food, grow your own - secrets to good gardening Application / Skills Container gardening planning and planting an orchard - backyard agroforestry plant propagation, grafting seeds, seed saving July::WASTE::Waste-Free Context / Inspiration nitrogen cycle, biological process, decomposition Climate / Observation / Waste in nature, Cradle to Cradle Strategies / Efficiency - reduce, reuse, recycle, composting, animal systems - bees, chickens Application / Skills Worm bins, composting, backyard chickens, mushrooms August::ENERGY::Good Energy Context / Inspiration Passive solar Climate / Observation / Household audit, passive solar application Strategies / Efficiency Alternative + appropriate technology Application / Skills Solar oven, Solar - PV, hot water, bicycles Retrofitting - weather proofing, shade, thermal mass, appliance efficiency October::SHELTER::Healthy Home Context / Healthy homes = healthy communities Climate / Bioregional Organization - mapping of resources (food, water, transportation, etc) Observation / Strategies / Community-based organizations - SRI s, co-ops, co-housing communities Application / Skills DIY furniture, food preservation - canning, pickling, drying, developing community networks November::WATER::How Good Water Works Context / Inspiration, Hydrologic cycle, where water comes from, where it flows, building a healthy watershed, from our backdoor Climate / Seasonal weather, SoCal Observation / Watershed patterns, local and global aquatic ecosystems Strategies / Efficiency - use less - household, garden, consumption habits, catchment + reuse - rainwater, greywater Application / Skills Rainwater catchment - rainbarrels, greywater systems, aquaculture, aquaponics watershed garden

3 Tentative Schedule: Date Time Topic May Opening Circle Introduction to Permaculture Ethics Principles of Permaculture continued Farm tour Principles in action - groups of 4, find 3 examples of 1 principle in action Principles in the landscape/ property tour 1-2 Garden Design Workshop Design Methods/Process Approaches to Design Zones/Sectors 2-2:45 Hands-on Zone 1 / Garden design exercise - Guest: Nisreen Azar May PDC circle up Ecology 101 Ecosystem Function Observation series 1-2 Beekeeping Workshop Beekeeping- Guests: Diane Wyzga & Janet Andrews 2-3 Developing Habitat Animal Estates June PDC circle up Design Project Explanation Sustainable Food Tour of South Coast Farms / Guest: TBD Garden / Farm Plan

4 Date Time Topic 1-3 Patio Garden Strategies Workshop Container Garden Basics Micro-greens Sprouts June PDC circle up Soils- Guest: Doug Hibbard Fertility / Organic Management Observation of nature Broad acre renovation 1-2 Trees, Agroforestry, and Orchard Design Workshop 2-3 Hands-on Grafting workshop- Guest: Doug Hibbard 3-4 Wrap-up/design time JULY PDC circle up Cradle to Cradle design Nutrient Cycles Composting Hands-on- Compost build and turn 1-3 Vermiculture, Worm Bins, Compost Tea Workshop 3-4 Wrap-up/design time July PDC circle up Focus on animals in permaculture Bioremediation Mushroom ecology Hands-on Oyster mushroom cultivation 1-3 Backyard Chicken Workshop Backyard Chickens- Guest: Vicki Marks August PDC circle up

5 Date Time Topic Energy + shelter Alternative energy 1-2 Food Preservation Workshop Pickling + Canning- Guest: Erika Tucker 2-3 Culinary Herbology- Guest: Doug Hibbard August PDC circle up Climate + Microclimates Global design strategies Temperate Drylands Humid Tropics 1-3 Bicycle Maintenance and Safety Workshop Bicycle Mechanics + Safety - Guest: Paul Nagel 3-4 Design time October PDC circle up Design for disaster- flexibility, extremes, resilience Urban strategies Bioregions Designing an alternative bioregional network 1-2 Natural Building Workshop Guest: Deanna Moore 2-3 Hands-on Cob bench construction October PDC circle up Home design Hands-on Herb spiral 1-2 Beer Brewing Workshop 3-5 Ecotoberfest

6 Date Time Topic November PDC circle up Hydrologic cycle Watershed Concepts and the human context Water storages and opportunities in the landscape Earthworks 1-2 Water Systems Design Workshop Tour water systems on-site Water + design 2-3 Hands-on Greywater- Guest: Brook Sorenson November PDC circle up Aquaculture Aquaponics 1-2 Design time 2-4:30 Design Presentations 4:30-7 Potluck!