In-Person Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
This course is delivered in both an urban and a farm environment.
Table of contents
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In-Person Course
This course exceeds the requirements laid out by permaculture founder Bill Mollison for the internationally recognized 72 hour Permaculture Design Course. The training provides a deep and wide overview of permaculture design, focusing on skill sets you can apply immediately. It is a thorough introduction to a subject that has many levels and areas of expertise and professional practice. Further study is available through our apprenticeship programs and advanced study.
Description of course
The Grow Permaculture Permaculture Design Course is a cutting edge approach to living that creates positive impact on both the environment and the individuals sharing that environment.
Homes, work places, gardens, farms, ranches, communities, businesses, local economies, or cities that are designed with permaculture principles and techniques are more resilient; they use resources in a regenerative way, ensuring that we, our children and our grandchildren will have access to all the resources we need. By incorporating people care into the equation, this process becomes more enjoyable too.
This course attracts students from all over Florida and beyond. Students meet others who think like they do, and often make lifelong friendships during the course; some find new career or lifestyle opportunities. Be the change you would like to see, and be effective at it, by designing that change!
Subjects covered in the course
• Permaculture design ethics, principles and tools
• Creating abundance with natural patterns
• Grow more food with less work by working with nature
• Edible landscaping, food in small spaces
• Building food forests
• Nutrient dense “beyond organic” gardening and farming
• Agroforestry and ecoagriculture, regenerative farming
• Aquaculture
• Building rich, live soils
• Composting and vermicomposting
• Alternative pest management
• Designing sustainable water use
• Greywater and rainwater catchment
• Natural building and regenerative building technology
• Reducing energy costs in your home
• Best forms of sustainable energy
• Appropriate technology
• Boosting your career with permaculture
• Sustainable economics
• Increasing quality of life through “placemaking” design
• Designing for climate change
• Community revitalization and rebuilding
• Successful intentional communities, ecovillages and
cohousing, urban and rural
Locations
The course starts in St Petersburg, FL 33712.
Some later classes will be on Our Permaculture Farm, in Brooksville, FL 34614, details to be announced during class.
Course dates
The course runs once a month for six months, skipping December. Saturdays & Sundays, between 9am - 5pm.
The 2025 September course:
Sep 13-14 - Design strategies, get to know one another, and understanding natural systems
Oct 11-12 - Climate, soil, and water
Nov 8-9 - Food forests, kitchen garden, animals, aquaculture, agroforestry
Dec has no classes.
Jan 10-11 - Built environment and appropriate technology
Feb 14-15 - Regenerative finances and building community
Mar 14-15 - Closing topics, presentations and graduation
Hours are from 9:00 - 5:00, with breaks in am and pm and a 90 minute lunch hour, Saturday and Sunday.
Starts on weekend September 13 (Saturday), 2025 and ends on weekend March 15 (Sunday), 2025.
Full rate is $1,295. This cost covers all classes, course manual, mentoring, snacks and when visiting the farm - lunch, and camping space with facilities is available. Early bird may be available, see Enroll here button or Store on the main menu for details.
Our courses are an investment in yourself and your future - you will make and save far more than the course cost, to the degree you use the information in the course.
You may leave a non refundable deposit of $300 to hold your spot. (Use donation and leave your name and contact info.) Please note for the course we like it to be paid in full by August 31, 2025. No refunds after that date.
Payment plans are available, work study and scholarships may also be available, please ask.
For questions or to register outside of PayPal, contact us at: 727-495-6145 or use our
contact form. (The Paypal shopping cart has an option for using debit/credit cards, frequently they also offer payment plans.)
The text book for the course is:
Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison and Reny Mia Slay.
Order it here.
Course timeline
This is a listing of the main topics. We often add to the course
to try to accommodate each student’s interests.
Class 1 & 2
Introduction to Permaculture
Why Permaculture
What is Permaculture
Design Principles
Design Tools
Pattern Language
Class 3 & 4
Design Methods, Water and Soil
Design for Climate
Design for Water
Earthworks
Regenerative Soil Building
Compost, Manures, Maintaining Fertility and more
Class 5 & 6
Food Systems
Ecology and Trees
Food Forests
Small Scale, Intensive Gardening
Pests
Aquaculture
Agroforestry
Animals
Class 7 & 8
The Built Environment
Built Environment
Retrofitting Existing Structures for Resiliency
Natural Building
Infrastructure
Appropriate Technology
Energy
Low Tech Solutions
Class 9 & 10
Finance, Economics and Community
Financial Permaculture and Regenerative Enterprises
Land Access Strategies
Intentional Communities
Community Building
Regenerative Villages and City Living
Class 11 & 12
Where Do You Go From Here
Design for Disaster
Review
Where Do We Go From Here? Careers, Networking, Further Study
Special Topics
Design Presentations
Talent Show (Online)
For the final class the lead instructor will review and mentor your submitted design and issue your certificate of completion.
Enroll Here
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Lead Instructor Koreen Brennan holds a Diploma on both Design and Education from the Permaculture Institute for North America and is also a board member of PINA. PINA supports professional development for PDC graduates through continuing education, mentorship, diploma recognition, and employment. They identify, fund, and staff critically important projects in land, community, and climate regeneration. https://pina.in.
What our Graduates say
