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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] diploma in permaculture design

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  • From: Pacific Edge Permaculture + Media <pacedge@magna.com.au>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] diploma in permaculture design
  • Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2002 14:26:43 +1000

Mark has an interesting point below, but I suspect that few people have his breadth of knowledge, so a design or similar course might still be worthwhile for most people.

I am not making assumptions about Mark's knowledge or abilities, however the people I have met who considered themselves capable permaculture designers and who have not completed a course lacked some of the core understandings of the design system, such as concepts of integration of elements.

I do not know the situation in north America, but in Australia there have been a (too few) number of paid employment opportunities which asked for a design course certificate. A further benefit of the design course has been its ability to 'empower' course participants and enthuse them to take action in their own lives and homes or in the community.

Here, Permaculture International has taken the initiative to start development of a module-based design course to be accredited as vocational training with the nation's training authority. The course will be considerably longer and far more detailed and rigorous then the existing range of design courses on offer, but will not replace existing courses which will continue to be offered as community education-level uncertified training.

This is seen as a natural evolution of permaculture education in Australia for which there has been some demand for some years.

I find Mark's advice that a design course is unnecessary to validate the opinion of some in this country that there are substantial deficiencies in the present structure of design courses, deficiencies that some trainers have moved to remedy in their own course structure. The proposed accredited course will also remedy this for people requiring a vocational certificate in permaculture design.

Marks' comment that a design course is valuable to 'neophytes' is true. The course, even the very conventional course structure stipulated by the Permaculture Institute but largely ignored, provides newcomers with a broad but not particularly deep comprehension of the design system and leaves plenty of 'information holes' for them to fill in with further study.


Russ Grayson
Sydney, Australia


My advise is to ignore the absurd obsession people have with getting their shiny PC certificate. I have yet to take any PC design course. I have enough knowledge gained from organic farming, grazing, landscaping, ecological restoration and a quick trip through the design manual that it would be a waste of my time to take such a course. IF you can read the books, get out and look at some sites, network with others and fill in any gaps in your education on how to patch the world up a PC course is not necessary. It is only really valuable if you are a relative neophyte. This view is mine alone, I'm sure others will suggest you take a course, and if you have the time and money it sounds like fun. If not just go for it and don't worry about the folks that think PC is a trade marked club for those who went to school.

Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM

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