www.spiralridgepermaculture.com

Winter Weekend Permaculture Design Certificate Course

 Feb. 8 - 9, Feb. 15-16, March 1 -2, & March 7 -9, 2014

Earn your internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certification during this four weekend format course. 

 Permaculture is a design approach that uses ecological principles to create regenerative human communities that are harmoniously woven into the environment and that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.  This course is for gardeners, educators, environmentalists, urban planners, architects, homesteaders, foresters, farmers, reclamation specialist, landscapers, landscape designers, anthropologists, home/landowners, ranchers, landscape architects, mothers, community organizers and more.

For four weekends, you will be immersed in learning tools, guiding principles, and strategies to create lush abundant landscapes, reduce your energy use, and create more stability and security for you and your loved ones.  You will join a community of caring individuals sharing the knowledge and enthusiasm that come from a solution-focused mindset, so that we may regenerate land, family and community.

All levels are welcome.  Whether you are new to these ideas and wondering where this path will take you or if you have been in an a related field and need new inspiration.  Now is the time to take action to benefit ourselves and future generations.  Yes, the earth is beset with problems, you are the solution.

"GREAT COURSE, GREAT FOOD, GREAT COMMUNITY. Highly Recommended!" - Minda, PDC graduate

[stextbox id="package2"]

You will learn...

Permaculture principles and ethics How to read the landscape Patterns and pattern application Water harvesting Swale building Rainwater catchment Zone and sector analysis Climate and micro climate Mapping Land access Community building Plant guilds, food forests and agroforestry The ecological design process, principles, strategies and techniques Nature Awareness Soil building Synergistic gardening Pond management and ecology Earthworks Natural building Grey water systems Bio-remediation Renewable energy systems Forest management Watershed management And More!

[/stextbox]

Instructors include:

Cliff Davis and Jennifer Albanese - Spiral Ridge Permaculture - Cliff Davis co-created Spiral Ridge Permaculture, LLC out of his passion to address cultural and ecological issues that demand real and lasting solutions.  His experience in the fields of permaculture, food forestry, organics, appropriate technology, natural building, and regenerative agriculture allow him to offer an integrative approach to land and culture repair.  Cliff has practiced and taught in temperate, tropical, sub-tropical, and dry land climates.  He empowers others to take a hands-on approach to design in his regular and advanced course offerings. His humor, straight-forward style and determination to make positive change, make him an engaging instructor, consultant and designer.  He  homesteads in middle TN with his family, researching applications that really work. For a detailed look at his work, training, and teaching experience, check out his resume.   Jennifer Albanese - Jennifer has been an organic gardening student and practitioner for over 14 years.  She has a special interest in soil regeneration and re-mineralization to create ecosystem health and nutrient dense food.  She has a passion for local in-season and nose-to-tail cooking, ferments and traditional foods.  She is the co-owner of Spiral Ridge Permaculture business and homestead.  She home schools her three children in addition to working as a permaculture teacher and grant writer for The Farm School in Tennessee.

Jessie Smith - The Nectary Project - An environmental educator and event planner, Jessie Smith, founder of The Nectary Project, uses the principles of permaculture to create learning experiences which closely mimics natural learning. With more than 15 years experience working with children, non-profit organizations, and educational facilities, she happily brings her experience to central Tennessee to provide life-changing courses that empowers people to positively alter our future for generations. A former camp councilor and camp director, you can still find her connecting children with real food and nutrition as a teacher with The Farm School.  

Special Guest Instructors - to be announced

"It is clear that the instructors have spent significant time with the material, both in study and practice." - Tandy, PDC graduate

"...my hope is renewed by the integrity of the group that present this program.  A true inspiration for the future of the planet, our Mother." - Dutch, PDC graduate

"Got a question about agriculture? Ask Cliffapedia". - Daniel, PDC Graduate

Where will I stay?  What will I eat?

This course is held at The Farm School, located within  The Farm Community.  Overnight stays are not included in the course fee.  Contact The Farm website for housing options if you want overnight accommodations.  We will be visiting Spiral Ridge, our homestead during the course.

"Spiral Ridge is so inspirational! - Lindsay, course participant

We believe you should be well nourished during your stay so that you may fully participate.  For that reason, when you sign up for our course, we will provide three nutrient-dense and delicious, omnivorous meals a day, for free.  As much as possible, the food is sourced locally and is organic.  We include meats and vegetables from our homestead, probiotic rich fermented foods and we only use butter, olive oil, coconut oil or animal fats in our food.  No over processed, GMO laden junk.  We aim to embody the principles we teach about on every level.  Vegetarian?  Gluten Free?  No problem!  Let us know ahead of time and we will do our best to accommodate you (we used to be vegetarian, and we are largely gluten free ourselves).  If you have a very restrictive diet, you may need to bring some of your own food.

"OMG, food was fantastic!"  - Debbie, PDC graduate   "Still waiting for the cookbook."   - Dutch, PDC graduate

"The cooking was hearty, healthy,  full of flavor and satisfying."  - Daniel, PDC graduate

Why Choose Spiral Ridge Permaculture?

 We are not a faceless organization.  We are a family business and we are inviting you to our home to share in what we have learned.  We will be in a relaxed environment and our children will often times be present .  We are family friendly, so inquire about family discounts.

We are living it!  Learn from a family and community that is actively putting the design process to work.  The course will have plenty of hands-on instruction with practical exercises and implementations.

 Internationally recognized 72 hour PDC curriculum.

Official Permaculture Design Course Certificate

In depth study and utilization of the Ecological Design ProcessWe are well trained both in theory and practical application and we participate in continuing education.

We are committed to training more teachers to enable the knowledge to spread far and wide.  We always work with a former student who teaches as an apprentice.  This helps up and coming instructors build skills and confidence so they may go into the world and present this material to others.

Small class sizes allow time for questions, discussions, and individualized attention

All levels of experience are welcome.  Beginning students will find the course gives them a comprehensive understanding of permaculture and how to apply it, while  advanced permaculture students and certificate holders  come away with a more in depth understanding of the ecological design process.

Most Permaculture Design Courses do not teach the Ecological Design Process.  This professional process will give you a step by step approach to applying the principles of permaculture.  Knowing this process will give you greater confidence to move forward with a design.  You will be taught the scale of permanence to organize data and develop a design that meets the desired goals.  

Our schedule is designed as an ecosystem, in and of itself. 

We like to take our time covering the material, with plenty of time for hand-on activities, group process and design, community building and fun.  

We have had 100% student satisfaction.

You will receive a Spiral Ridge Permaculture T-shirt at graduation

As a Spiral Ridge Permaculture graduate, you will qualify for discounts on future courses.

Early Registration Tuition:  $950 if you sign up by 01/10/14          Regular Tuition:  $1100

Sign up now, space is limited.  Inquire about discounts for friends or couples signing up together.  

"First let me say just how much I still appreciate the learning experience y'all gave me. I'm still glowing over a month later! Before I attended the course, I already knew permaculture was my passion. But your course inspired me and motivated me even more." - Jason Hurd

"For anyone thinking about going to a course at Spiral Ridge, DO IT! I just took my PDC there and it was by far the experience and education of a lifetime. Cliff, Jen, and the rest of the crew are the salt of the earth and true practitioners of all angles of this craft. Trust me…. DO IT… you will not regret it…" - Matt Fleener