permaculture

["L.Santoyo Designs" <santoyo@earthflow.com>]

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When the issues of "costs" and making courses more economical come 
up... I've noticed that it is usually brought up by people that don't 
actually have the experience of ever organizing a course...

Never have I heard from the person who just went through the energy 
outputs of organizing a course, to go on to ask for -less money next 
time!..

It seems to me that the issues presented of making things more 
affordable are the same across the board, with everything... why 
don't "they" make rent cheaper for me? -why don't "they" make musical 
instruments cheaper for me? -why don't "they" make solar panels 
cheaper for me?..

Why? One reason is that it takes energy to transfer energy 
-remember?... Also remember that we are talking, first, about a 
sustainable future -not a subsidized future... One would think that 
out of all of "them" and "us" out there -at least the people 
interested in Permaculture would understand that, like in nature, in 
order to make it sustainable, we all must pay our own way; we 
contribute and are pleased with the opportunity to pay the "true" 
costs of all energy transfers; We strive to become contributors -not 
subsidized consumers.

We also have to remember to escape the clutches of egocentrism and 
realize that there is a myriad of niches and demographics out there 
-where "high" and/or "low" cost become relative...  "I can't afford 
the course so therefore 'it' should be cheaper" -that reasoning is 
flawed.

Our organization offers courses at various times and in various 
venues, targeting various demographics with prices depending entirely 
on overhead.  Our courses have ranged from $1850.00 to $850.00.  What 
is interesting though, is that we get the same number of requests for 
discounts, and complaints, and the same amount of gratitude and kudos 
about the prices of our courses -no matter what the base price is!?.

I think that Permaculture Design is comparable, at least, to other 
professional design training. The courses that I have taken in 
architecture, engineering and design have cost two to three times 
what I have paid for permaculture courses.  Hell -music events have 
cost me more -per hour- than a design course... We've all seen 
catalogs from various institutions offering courses in massage, yoga, 
belief systems, pseudo- and psycho -spiritual practices, chakra and 
other balancing, even just -breathing!  Most of these courses cost up 
to three times as much as the Design Courses I see advertised.  Some 
of my students have the gall or naivete to tell me that they can't 
afford my class because they have to take one of the above mentioned 
training programs!?!  -It's all about priority and commitment.

At the courses we offer, no one comes for free... We try to make the 
costs to the consumer as low as we can and still be sustainable for 
us.   Although it significantly adds to the overall costs of our 
overhead, we do offer at least 8 or more ways to pay for the true 
costs:

-We accept trades for goods and services...
-Work trades -a very good way to get the information and muscle 
memory experience.
-I always direct people to the Permaculture Credit Union -to ask them 
for a loan, agree to pay them back and help the whole permaculture 
community...
-I also take credit cards...
-We have a marketing representative program -where you recruit full 
paying students in exchange for tuition credits for yourself...
-And we can set up a payment plan for you.
-We also use lots of energy (again more overhead costs on our end) to 
solicit sponsors to help you with tuition scholarships.
- Another way I ask is that people organize a course for us in their 
area -in exchange they get to take the course and get paid for their 
effort...

And finally, how about take it seriously enough to save up the money? 
Pay full price for the transfer of knowledge...

With respect,


Larry Santoyo
San Luis Obispo, CA
http://www.earthflow.com/consulting.html