ABOUT AND FOR SUSTAINABILITY
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    • 2 weeks Intensive Permaculture Course
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    • Intro to Natural Beekeeping Online
    • Bee Guardians Apprenticeship Online
PERMACULTURE DESIGN & PRACTICE
​CERTIFICATION COURSE 
@ San Clemente Homestead
A 110+ hour certification course
APRIL 4TH - JULY 12TH 2020
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Gain the practical knowledge and skills of permaculture design & practice with our evolved 110+ hour certification course held at our suburban permaculture homestead in San Clemente, California.
Engage with and improve existing permaculture systems with design approaches on the homestead and create new ones under the tutelage of professional permaculture designers and farmers.
Learn how to transform your home, local schools and other local public and private urban and suburban spaces into regenerative and sustainable ecological oasis that: harvest and conserve water and energy, produce food and medicine, regenerate biodiversity, educate and gather the community, bringing beauty and joy to life.
​Experience interactive lecture style presentations, design practice and hands-on activities.
Take home tools and materials to get started on your journey with permaculture. 

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COURSE DETAILS
This course provides the theory, philosophies, principles, techniques and practical applications of permaculture design and practice. Permaculture uses a whole-system design approach for creating and managing regenerative and sustainable human settlements and institutions. The focus of the course will be on small, medium and community scale permaculture systems for homes, school campuses, communities, farming operations and other urban and suburban private and public spaces.

Each participant will be provided with a Tools and Materials Kit throughout the course to get started on their permaculture journey at home or elsewhere in the community. (valued over $500)

Topics explored in this course include:
  • permaculture design ethics, principles & process / nature's patterns and systems
  • compost & soil fertility systems / water harvesting & conservation systems
  • plants & food production systems / micro-stock animals as ecosystem managers, systems
  • waste, energy & shelter systems / regenerative community & social systems
  • urban permaculture agricultural systems / permaculture businesses
  • professional permaculture master conceptual plans & reports
Hands-on practice and take home kits in this course include:​
  • conceptual designs (kit - pencils, ruler, design notebook)
  • compost starting & management (kit - vermicompost bin & composting worms)
  • soil prepping and building (kit - soil building seeds & seedlings)
  • rain tank/barrel install (kit - rain tank/barrel  downspout connector)
  • rain harvest earthworks install (kit - contour finding A frame + Bunyip)
  • annual & perennial plants planting (kit - fruit tree, shrub or vine guild with seeds & seedlings)
  • micro-stock care & beekeeping (kit - pollinator hotel)
  • greywater system install, simple cob structures building & food preservation
During the course, participants will create Basic Conceptual Permaculture Designs for real clients in the local and global community and conduct multiple hands-on activities on the permaculture homestead focused on design, install and maintenance of systems. 
For graduation, participants will organize and implement an educational event, inviting our shared community to participate and learn from their presentations. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a Permaculture Design Certification.
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COURSE SCHEDULE
6 online live sessions of 2 hours each (12 hours)
14 in-person sessions of (7 weekends) (98 hours) (last session, graduation, may be between 6 & 8 hours)
110 hours total (extra opportunities for hands-on activities and further learning will be available throughout the course)
​
We may be visiting permaculture spaces in the local community during some of the Sunday sessions. Exact locations will be made available in the course syllabus. We will also visit our Permaculture Farm location at Desert Bloom Farm in Anza for one weekend.
 Water, yerba mate and garden tastings will be provided throughout the sessions. Participants will make a salad from our gardens at every session's lunch on the homestead and are responsible to bring their own lunch, or food to share, potluck style, in addition to what we provide.

Access to reading materials and educational media for each subject will be provided on the 1st day of the course.​ For best learning experience, this course may require approximately 5 hours of independent study between each in-person session (35 hours). There will be  6 simple "homework" assignments that can be accomplished in this time. Additional time may be required for group/client interactions to complete the final design project. We recommend additional independent study between the sessions also!

Each course participant will have access to an additional one (1) hour of one-on-one mentorship from the course instructors and facilitators after each in person weekend + four (4) hours of mentorship for the final design. 
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COURSE INSTRUCTORS 
Lucian Toma  (lead instructor) ​
Lucian is a sustainability, leadership and permaculture designer, educator and consultant with over 8 years of professional experience in the design, development and implementation of regenerative programs and projects in academic, government, business and nonprofit environments. He has led over 250 workshops, lectures and courses on topics from the realms of sustainability, permaculture and regenerative leadership, touching the lives of over 6000 individuals of all ages. As a permaculture practitioner he designed  and installed over 50 small, medium and large private and public spaces. Lucian is also a college professor, the co-founder of reEarth Consulting and Desert Bloom Permaculture Research & Education Farm, as well as the senior advisor for Sustridge Sustainability Consulting. He holds a BA in International Relations, a MA in Global Leadership and Sustainable Development from Hawaii Pacific University and multiple Permaculture Design certifications.
​Anna Maria Desipris (instructor & lead mentor)​
​Anna Maria is a regenerative beekeeper, herbalist, farmer, consultant and educator with close to 10 years of professional experience in the realm of sustainability, beekeeping, urban farming and community building around the farm to table movement. She has been rescuing and relocating to safe locations close to 50 honey bee swarms, approximately 100,000 bees, every year since 2011, while also gathering over 1000 individuals around community tables, supporting local regenerative farmers and chefs. As an educator she has led over 100 workshops, lectures and courses on topics from the realms of beekeeping, urban farming and regenerative food systems. As a farmer she has been a key designer, planner and manager of multiple neighborhood farms and farming based educational spaces in Reno, Nevada and Orange County, California. Anna Maria is also a college professor, the founder of The Honey Bee Hub, Bee Botanicals and Desert Bloom - Permaculture Research & Education Farm. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Reno and an array of certifications in Permaculture, Master Beekeeping and Herbalism. ​
COURSE GUEST SPEAKERS (more soon to be announced)
Jeremy Samson
  • urban farming & ecological landscape educator and practitioner
  • Founder of Cultivate Together
Josh Prigge 
  • sustainability and regenerative development educator, consultant and college professor
  • Founder of Sustridge Sustainability Consulting and Co-Founder of reEarth Consulting
Michelle Greenwood 
  • regenerative funding consultant & educator
  • Founder of Good Capital Projects
Claudian Dobos 
  • permaculture, leadership and regenerative community building educator and consultant
  • Founder of Terra Livre, Aurora Community, Arise Education and Co-Founder of Permaculture Research Institute of Romania​​
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COURSE COSTS & REGISTRATION
A $300 deposit must be paid to be registered in the course.
20 years of age or older
  • $1,100 - Adult - Discount Code: Lucian- when paid in full before March 14th 2020 ($1,400 full price)
  • $1,400 - Adult - Full Price  
14 to 20 years of age (the parents of all individuals under 18 years of age, must contact us prior to registration)
  • $900 - Teenager - Discount Code: Lucian- when paid in full before March 14th 2020 ($1,200 full price)
  • $1,200 - Teenager - Full Price
Groups of two or more receive a 20% discount per person! E-mail us for arrangements.
We provide payment plans, work trade opportunities and scholarships for those that need them!
  • Payment plans - we offer monthly and bimonthly payments plans (Email us for arrangements / Deposit must be paid)
  • Work Trade - we offer one $500 and one full course cost work trade opportunity (cannot be combined with scholarship)
  • Scholarships - we offer one $250, one $500, and one full course cost scholarship (cannot be combined with work trade)
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Scholarship / Worktrade
CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
info@aboutandforsustainability.com
​
​Check out the short film about the educational experience our participants enjoyed during the 2018 summer session course. 
OTHER INFORMATION
What to bring at each in person session:
  • (optional) Paper, pen or pencil for notes
  • Reusable water bottle 
  • Lunch and snacks
  • Please wear closed toed shoes and farming appropriate clothing every weekend session
How your payment will be used:
  • ​A portion of your payment will be used to sponsor scholarships for individuals, who would otherwise not afford it, and who will positively impact our shared environment and community with the knowledge and skills gained in this course.
  • A portion of your payment will support the work of our instructors and the development of the San Clemente permaculture homestead, the Desert Bloom Permaculture Research & Education Farm, and other eco-educational hubs around the world.
VIDEO, PICTURES, RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND CANCELLATION AGREEMENTS:
  • We will be using farming tools, and on occasion we will be working on slopes and uneven terrains. Safety will be priority number 1 and we ask that you follow the course and sessions leaders directions at all times. You can choose not to participate in some of the activities and observe only.
  • A $150 admin fee is non-refundable if you decide to cancel your registration prior to the course. 
  • No Refunds will be made after the second session of the course on APRIL 4th 2020 started.​
Some filming and picture taking will occur throughout the course. By registering to participate in this course you agree to our "Video, Pictures, Release of Liability  and Cancellation Agreement" found in the registration form and provided for signing when you arrive and check-in at our location on the first day of the course on February 29th 2020.
SEE SOME OF OUR INSTRUCTORS' & GUEST SPEAKERS WORK
LUCIAN
ANNA MARIA
JEREMY & JD
CLAUDIAN
JOSH
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  • HOME
  • About
  • Courses
    • 2 weeks Intensive Permaculture Course
    • 3 - 7 Months Permaculture APPRENTICESHIP Farming
    • Intro to Honey Bees Online
    • Intro to Natural Beekeeping Online
    • Bee Guardians Apprenticeship Online