permaculture

["Michael Kramer" <MKramer@hawaii.rr.com>]

While I would agree with Toby that the expenses of putting on a decent PDC 
legitimize a course fee of $1000 and up, there are other ways to get courses 
into the world at a lower tuition rate or to make it happen creatively:

(1) use people's homes as the course site, with the home owner bartering 
course participation for that service. This greatly reduces one majore 
expense, especially if it's a home where some can either sleep there or in 
the yard.

(2) the college semester course, which at a community college is downright 
cheap. There have been a few here and there over the years; the challenge is 
to determine what academic field they fit within. Many are tempted to place 
it in horticulture, others in the natural sciences. Ideally it could be its 
own academic department, as it is quite interdiscplinary.  

(3) in-services for school teachers. This can be a series of individual days 
scattered throughout the school year or consecutively over a holiday break. 
Training school teachers is pretty leveraged, because they in turn integrate 
the material into their academic disciplines. 

(4) after school programs - it takes many weeks at that pace but it's the 
same content and free to the teenagers. 

(5) continuing education classes, for architects, engineers, etc. Again, it 
would take time for people to get all the course content this way, but they 
are used and required to pay for these educational opportunities anyway to 
maintain their association membership.

(6) partner with an existing non-profit organization on a grant that can 
subsidize the course so that students can be offered a reduced rate.

(7) the Permaculture Credit Union provides loans to anyone who wishes to take 
a PDC.

(8) local guilds can organize a scholarship fund to pool local resources to 
enable those who cannot afford to pay the full price can get partial or full 
scholarships; this has been done with great success in the last two 
Permaculture Teachers Courses we have done in the Bay Area.

(9) permaculture-related businesses can sponsor students in a course as part 
of hiring criteria or professional development for existing employees.

(10) on-line courses, which sound bizarre since they lack group hands-on 
work, but it's a creative way to reach many people in an affordable way.

(11) a scout troop merit badge or program. OK, it's a reach, but you just 
never know...

-----
Michael Kramer
Natural Investment Services
P.O. Box 390595
Keauhou, HI 96739

www.NaturalInvesting.com
808-331-0910
Toll-free: 888-779-1500

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
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