Subject: Re: [permaculture] Distance and low income courses
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 12:22:32 -0800
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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...