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[Steve Gabriel <steve AT fingerlakespermaculture.org>]

CORNELL PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE 

Registration is now open for the online course Permaculture Design: Fundamentals of Ecological Design, offered January 6 to February 20, 2014 through the Department of Horticulture’s distance learning program.

The study of permaculture helps gardeners, landowners, and farmers combine knowledge of ecology combined with its application to supporting healthy soil, water conservation, and biodiversity.

Permaculture systems meet human needs while restoring ecosystem health. Common practices include no-till gardening, rainwater catchment, forest gardening, and agroforestry.

The course is 6.5 weeks long and provides an opportunity for you to build your knowledge about permaculture and ecological design. Participants will explore the content through videos, readings, and activities and complete portions of a design for a site of their choosing. Notable on the Cornell course is the attention paid to research-based content that is both accurate and innovative.

While the course is online, the format is designed for consistent interaction between instructors and students through forums and live video conferences. Readings and presentations will be directly applied through hands-on activities students will engage with at home.

View the full syllabus for the course and find registration information at the course website.

Department of Horticulture’s distance learning program offers two other online permaculture design courses:

 

Permaculture Design: Ecosystem Mimicry (Tentatively scheduled for March 3 to April 17, 2014)

Permaculture Design: Design Practicum (Tentatively scheduled for April 21 to May 19, 2014)

 

Completion of a single class gives students a certificate of completion from the Department of Horticulture and continuing education units. Completion of all three courses gives students the portfolio necessary to apply for an internationally recognized certification in Permaculture Design though the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute.  Fee for the first two classes is $600, and $300 for the design practicum. ($1500 total for certificate) Registration opens about six weeks before courses begin

 
What past students have to say:

"This course offered an exceptionally comprehensive overview of permaculture design."

"Overall the class was fantastic and gave me a whole new vocabulary around how I think about interacting with my environment. I will take a lot of the basic principles with me in whatever I do, not just the garden."

"The content is clear for beginner to get the general understanding, at the same time it is leaving many leads for further explorations. I liked the presentations from Steve. They were very interesting, organized and easy to understand."

"I am so glad that Cornell offers this class and just can't wait to learn more! I came away very excited about all I have learned and eager to implement the project plan I developed. I really, really enjoyed this course and am very much look forward to taking II and III."
 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Steve Gabriel is an ecologist, extension educator, and forest farmer living and working in the Finger Lakes Region of central New York. He currently spends his time working for the Cornell Cooperative Extension, splitting his efforts between the Garden-Based Learning program (www.gardening.cornell.edu) and coordinating the Northeast Mushroom Growers Network. He also teaches for the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute and serves on the Board of Directors for the Permaculture Institute of the Northeast. He is currently co-authoring a book on Forest Farming with Cornell professor Ken Mudge, which is expected to be published through Chelsea Green in 2014.

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Steve Gabriel
Extension Aide
Department of Horticulture

Cornell Garden Based Learning
www.gardening.cornell.edu

Northeast Mushroom Growers Network
http://mushrooms.cals.cornell.edu

sfg53 AT cornell.edu

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I am working on a book! www.FarmingTheWoods.com

www.FingerLakesPermaculture.org
607.527.0607
steve AT fingerlakespermaculture.org