permaculture

[loren luyendyk <loren@sborganics.com>]

I did a little spy/detective work and filled out the form on the APA website 
inquiring about accreditation.  After some prodding, this was the response I 
got.  Very interesting indeed.  Anyone familiar with "truth in advertising 
laws"?  Sounds like he is trying to use the legal system to get "competing" 
teachers to tattle on each other in order to enforce standards through 
litigation?!?!  hmmm....
_________________________

Loren,




We are working out the details as we speak;  I'll follow up with

you in a couple of weeks.  We're actually seeking a way to make the
process completely free entirely.  




Technically we should be able to create a certification process that 
relies on students and competing schools to enforce the accreditation 
compliance through truth in advertising laws.  If that is indeed doable, 
as we think it will be, that would be an absolutely evolutionary step for
the entire movement.  




In other words, instead of having audits done by the organization, the
graduates and competing schools can take action under the existing legal 
structures to enforce the standards.   Our goal is transparency and honesty
in the marketplace — which is exactly what this system would achieve.




We're going a bit back to the drawing board on this, but it's worth it.  




With gratitude,


 


Vladislav


American Permaculture Association�™


www.americanpermaculture.org






_________________________

Vladislav-





I am both an instructor and also have a PC based organization through 
which I teach permaculture (see Surfers Without Borders link below).  





So, it appears that I/we qualify (?).  Where do we go from here?





What is the certification process and fees?


________________________

Loren,
 
The accreditation is on the organizational or instructor level.
 
Essentially the organization or specific instructor must certify
that their courses meet the transparent standards listed on the
website.
 
 
With gratitude,
 
Vladislav
American Permaculture Association�™
www.americanpermaculture.org______________________
also....

Please understand that I had no intention of disrespecting PI-USA as an 
organization or Scott as a person, nor did I intend to invalidate the work 
they have done.  I hold our elders in high esteem and furthermore I believe 
that PI-USA have worked tirelessly to promote PC, and they undoubtedly had 
their hands full tending the garden before tending emails and requests.  This 
is obviously a bigger job than any one (or 4) people can accomplish.... can 
anyone out there help!?!?

However, this once again highlights the need for a unified national 
organizational body to create "standards", and that this happen as coherently 
and as rapidly as possible.  It appears that Gaia U has started this process, 
and indeed will have a template that can serve the movement in the US to 
better organize.   I personally would like to give PINA as much support as 
possible to create certification standards, understanding that the process 
would be inclusive.  Is there any way I can help?  For starters I volunteer 
to help with website content...

I see this whole process as akin to the growing pains that went down during 
the formation of the Organic Certification movement.  In 1999 there was 
uproar over the USDuh taking over the certification process.  Some think 
(myself included) that this undermined the organic movement.  Like it or not, 
it created legitimacy and standards.  Now there are many independent 
certifying bodies that can grant a farm organic certification, yet they 
follow the same "rules" set by the USDA.  I see PC moving in a similar 
direction (minus the USDuh of course).

This is what *what's his name* and the American Permaculture Association are 
trying to do without following protocol (or respecting elders).  Undoubtedly 
they will not last long if there is no lineage, integrity, ethics, standards, 
or credibility.  However, we need to make sure that fast growing invasive 
weed trees do not take over the food forest that has been nurtured by our 
elders :)

Loren Luyendyk
805-452-8249
Permaculture Design and Education
ISA Certified Arborist #WE-7805A
www.sborganics.com
www.globalpermaculture.com
www.surferswithoutborders.com


> From: defrey@bioshelter.com
> To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:17:57 -0500
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] Who is this?
> 
> 
> 
> regarding certificates: When I began teaching Permaculture Design 
> Courses in 1987, I had received  written "permission" or "sanction" 
> from Bil Mollison , issueing certificated provided by the Permaculture 
> Institute. In 1998 I again correspeonded with Mollison's Institute and 
> received copies of their certificate. We still issue this certificate. 
> When I was asked to teach one of the first college credit bearing 
> permaculture courses, it was necessary to get the blessing of 
> Mollison's institute, and so i did. The letter from them said that 
> teaching a PDC was a "sink or swim" and they wished me luck. 
> 
>   While I can not at this point speak on behalf of the fledgling PINA, 
> I  do look forward to a more organized North American permaculture 
> institute that grows from the ground up. 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Darrell E. Frey
> Three Sisters Farm
> defrey@bioshelter.com
> www.bioshelter.com
> 
> Author; Bioshelter Market Garden: A Permaculture Farm. New Society 
> Publishing, 2011
> 
> On Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:34:31 -0500, Chris Carnevale 
> <c.s.carnevale@gmail.com> wrote:
> I want to chime in and say thanks to Scott and PI-USA for posting the
> > official playbook online.  I have been trying to track down such material
> > for quite a while now. 
> >
> > Also, going back to my question from this morning... if a PDC teacher is
> > awarding certificates that are not issued through PI-USA, then what
> > *are*they issuing?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chris Carnevale
> > Charleston, South Carolina
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 2:27 PM, Jennifer Nazak <jnazak@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Thank you so much Larry, for reminding us that one of the best ways to
> > > uphold high standards in our industry is by promoting the institutions 
> > > that
> > > we hold in highest regard. 
> > >
> > > I think that your idea of including the Permaculture Institute link in 
> > > our
> > > listserv footer sets a great example. 
> > >
> > > On my blog, I've just now added a new link category "OFFICIAL 
> > > PERMACULTURE
> > > RESOURCES" in the sidebar. The first (and right now the only) link I 
> > > have
> > > in that category is "Permaculture Institute USA (founded by Bill 
> > > Mollison
> > > and Scott Pittman)". 
> > >
> > > By the way, I'm proud to say I earned my first Permaculture Design
> > > Certificate from the Permaculture Institute. I got my first PDC back in
> > > 2005, at a PDC taught in Santa Fe by Scott (with guest instructors
> > > including Larry Santoyo). Talk about life-changing. 
> > >
> > > You're right, Larry, I just visited PI USA's website for the first time 
> > > in
> > > a while, and it is looking fantastic!
> > >
> > > Thank you Scott and Arina - I am deeply grateful to you and the 
> > > Institute. 
> > >
> > > Jenny
> > > art & permaculture blog jennynazak.com
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