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Commenced:
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01/01/2002 |
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Submitted:
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13/02/2011 |
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Last updated:
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07/10/2015 |
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Location:
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Vermont, US |
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Phone:
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8023439490 |
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Website:
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www.wholesystemsdesign.com |
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Climate zone:
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Cold Temperate |
Whole Systems Design, LLC is a design-build company known for pioneering work in the research and development of resilient and regenerative home and farm systems. Whole Systems Research Farm (WSRF) is our main land-use proving ground and houses the WSD studio. We have recently began development of second larger site of 175 acres where we are scaling up the systems we've began at the original site starting in 2002. Our educational opportunities, including permaculture design courses are delivered through Whole Systems Health (non-profit 501c-3), are based at WSRF and our new farm, and utilize the resources of the WSD studio.
Whole Systems Design, LLC (WSD)
We develop human habitats - landscape and building systems - that yield perennial abundance and enduring value. These are adaptive, resilient and secure places in a future of peak oil, climate instability, and deepening economic insolvency.
We design and implement regenerative food, fuel, and shelter systems that operate on current solar energy. These are homesteads, farms and schools fit for a challenging future of peak oil, climate change and economic transition. Developing this solar infrastructure requires a multi-disciplinary approach integrating ecology, agriculture, architecture, and construction.
Our process and results are scalable from residential properties to neighborhoods to regions. Using our network of professionals we work across all project phases from visioning and goals articulation to site selection, site planning and development, construction management, project communications, and research/education.
Whole Systems Research Farm (WSRF)
This diversfied hillside farm in the Mad River Valley houses the WSD studio/shop and hosts interns, permaculture courses, and visiting client teams.
The farm is headquarters for our ongoing research and development into low/no input perennial farm systems development and represents one site among a growing handful of properties in our network where ecosystem agriculture projects are maintained, harvested from, and observed, recorded and shared.
The farm offers the on-the-ground, primary source material for an ever evolving design approach practiced in the studio. Through a working relationship with the ever-changing land system surrounding the studio our design practice derives a source of inspiration and learning. Interaction with this landscape is our primary teacher and reference, and makes pie-in-the-sky impractical planning approaches, stagnation and disconnection with the life-after the design process (maintenance!) unlikely. We are grateful for the opporunity to be with and learn from land.
WSD headquarters at the Whole Systems Research Farm is housed in a dual purpose design-build space that manifests the best in sustainable ecological design and construction. As in the farm landscape, life and work in a space of our own design allows the constant testing of the design approaches and materials used.?
Whole Systems Skills (WSS)
Whole Systems Skills provides training in the tools and techniques necessary to trancend systems failure by cultivating resilience at the home and community scale. Our workshops harness the innovative design practice of Whole Systems Design, LLC (WSD) and their testing grounds in central Vermont. Join us in developing new solutions to unprecedented challenges.
Whole Systems Skills are attended by hands-on individuals activating livelihood solutions in their own homes, farms, schools, and neighborhoods. Participants in these trainings are pursuing high performance home and community resource systems that will be more resilient in the face of problems posed by peak oil, climate change, environmental toxicity, and the inability of existing economic and social systems to deal with such challenges.
are organized into three workshop categories: Food; Fuel, Tools, & Sheter; and Design. These trainings are set within actual working landscapes - integrated building and landscape systems that are designed and developed to function as evolving examples of highly resilient, low-input, solar-powered, durable human habitat experiences; not concept and information-based academic studies. Participants leave these courses equipped with the hard skills needed to use an array of emerging (and centuries-old) tools and techniques.
Note: The various badges displayed in people profiles are largely honesty-based self-proclamations by the individuals themselves. There are reporting functions users can use if they know of blatant misrepresentation (for both people and projects). Legitimacy, competency and reputation for all people and projects can be evidenced and/or developed through their providing regular updates on permaculture work they’re involved in, before/after photographs, etc. A spirit of objective nurturing of both people and projects through knowledge/encouragement/inspiration/resource sharing is the aim of the Worldwide Permaculture Network.
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MemberA member is a permaculturist who has never taken a PDC course. These cannot become PDC teachers. Members may be novice or highly experienced permaculturists or anywhere in between. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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Permaculture MatchmakerOne of these badges will show if you select your gender and the "I'm single, looking for a permaculture partner" option in your profile. |
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PDCPeople who claim to have taken a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course somewhere in the world. |
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PDC VerifiedPeople who have entered an email address for the teacher of their PDC course, and have had their PDC status verified by that teacher. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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PRI PDCPeople who’ve taken a Permaculture Research Institute PDC somewhere in the world. |
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PDC TeacherPeople who claim to teach some version of PDC somewhere in the world. |
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PRI TeacherWith the exception of the ‘Member’ who has never taken a PDC, all of the above can apply to become a PRI PDC Teacher. PRI PDC Teachers are those who the PRI recognise, through a vetting board, as determined and competent to teach the full 72-hour course as developed by Permaculture founder Bill Mollison – covering all the topics of The Designers’ Manual as well as possible (i.e. not cherry picking only aspects the teacher feels most interested or competent in). Such teachers also commit to focussing on the design science, and not including subjective spiritual/metaphysical elements. The reason these items are not included in the PDC curriculum is because they are “belief” based. Permaculture Design education concerns itself with teaching good design based on strategies and techniques which are scientifically provable. PRI PDC Teachers may be given teaching and/or consultancy offerings as they become available as the network grows. |
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Aid WorkerThe individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to be involved in permaculture aid work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture aid worker experience. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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ConsultantThe individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to do paid permaculture design consultancy work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture consultancy experience. Watch their updates for evaluation. |
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Community ProjectCommunity projects are projects that help develop sustainable community interaction and increase localised resiliency. |
2014 Permaculture Design Courses Announced
Our fourth annual PDC: July 4th To July13th And August 22nd To August 31st Course looks like it will fill for a 4th straight year, so register early if you'd like to attend.
Whole Systems Permaculture Design Course
Whole Systems is offering its first permaculture course this summer.