permaculture

[Jason Gerhardt <jasongerhardt@gmail.com>]

Kelly,
I couldn't agree more with what you wrote in your post!  I see some local
frustration in your writing and resonate with that as well.  Personal note:
 Having been part of a Teacher Training course in early 2008 that 95%
consisted of very recent PDC grads I was dismayed and disappointed initially
feeling like all the years previous that I put in with multiple PDC's,
Advanced Design Course, internships, mentorships, design projects, etc, was
not required of all participants.  It felt odd to follow the traditional
recommendations and see others get by without putting in the time.  However,
it became apparent that those without the practice time and experience would
not excel at teaching a subject they had only been introduced to through a
PDC.  Since then I have observed most of those trainees taking the time to
put the experience under their feet as they have realized on their own that
they were not prepared to teach.  The observations from that experience
prove to me that there is inherent value in being strict about a structured
course of action for Permaculture training.  My preferred sequence would be
for students to start with a PDC, practice for 2+ years, take advanced
design course, more practice for a couple years prior to taking the Teacher
Training, then apprenticing for many, many years before going out on ones
own.  Of course, as you say, there needs to be a way of valuing the previous
experience of students in other fields like restoration ecology, landscape
design, alternative education, etc.

Alternatively, it is part of my vision to have Teacher Trainings focus more
on community organizing than occupational permaculture teaching.  More than
ever we need to teach people how to work in their communities and institute
design projects.  Such a course would focus on working with
neighbors/HOAs/Governments/NGOs/schools, etc.  Perhaps a more fruitful
setting for permaculture teachers is along fence lines, in alleyways, and
across streets instead of in classrooms, with the goal of actually putting
permaculture systems on the ground.  I believe we have a dire lack of active
well-developed permaculture sites across the country, and I'll continue to
believe this until we have multiple sites in every neighborhood.  Therefore,
it is my goal to contribute as much as I can to that end.  From this
perspective teaching becomes a focus on supporting the development of very
competent Permaculture Designers who can effectively speak about
permaculture and create openings for the demonstration of the principles and
concepts and go on to guide the implementation of such projects.

Thanks for sharing and listening,
Jason