Permaculture Design Course

at Buena Fortuna Botanic Garden

La Ribera, Baja Del Sur, Mexico

February 16-28th, 2026

Join us for a life-changing experience at Buena Fortuna, a lush 11- acre botanical sanctuary home to over 2500 varieties of edible, medicinal and useful plants from around the world. In this PINA certified Permaculture Design Course you will gain hands-on skills to design regenerative ecosystems and food forests in harmony with nature.

Early bird fee $1750 US. After October $2100 US

What you will learn:

Principles of Permaculture

Food Forests and Edible Landscapes

Soil Health and Composting

Water Harvesting and irrigation

Climate-Resilient

Seed Saving and Biodiversity

Social permaculture and Resilient Economies

Hands-on experience and design practicum will empower your own food forest, transform landscapes and contribute to meaningful planetary health

The course includes site tours, design practice, community meals, optional yoga and music evenings and more. Please inquire about lodging options.

Location: Buena Fortuna Botanic Gardens is a lush 11-acre sanctuary located just minutes from the Sea of Cortez, in the coast town of La Ribera, Baja del Sur, Mexico. It enjoys a prime location: only 45 minutes from San Jose del Cabo International Airport and 30 minutes from the region’s natural hot springs and waterfalls. 

Co-founded by legendary botanist Gabriel Howearth and earth steward Kitzia Kokopelmana, Buena Fortuna is more than a garden- it is a living legacy of botanic preservation and ecological wisdom, with over 2,500 species of useful plants cultivated with care over the last 28 years.

Instructors:

Darrell Frey is a Permaculture Design Consultant and Teacher based in Western Pennsylvania. Darrell is among the first wave of permaculture practitioners, having begun studying permaculture in 1980. He is author of Bioshelter Market Garden-A Permaculture Farm, (which documents his 25 years of market gardening),  and co-author of The Food Forest Handbook, both published by New Society Publishing.

Kitzia Kokopelmana is an Earth Steward and edible landscape designer with over 3 decades of experience in organic farming, seed preservation, and ancestral permaculture. She has worked across Mexico, South America, and the US, guiding communities to create food forests, medicinal gardens and sacred spaces. She is also a poet, artist and teacher who weaves together ecological wisdom with spiritual connection, helping students cultivate not only sustainable gardens-but regenerative lives. Her passion is to plant seeds of consciousness and preserve the botanical treasures of our planet. 

Tuition investment:

Standard Tuition: $2100 USD

Reserve your spot with $600 deposit, balance due Jan 15, 2026

Early bird tuition $1,750 (save $350)

Reserve with a deposit of $750, full payment due October 15, 2025

Extra days and day trips by request.

Camping and eco-lodging options available