What is Permaculture?
The general practices of permaculture have been around for ages, but the term itself was coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the mid-1970's. Permaculture is a framework for working toward greater sustainability that uses ecological principles to integrate food and energy production, structures, and community. Its aim is the creation of sustainable human settlements that are harmoniously woven into the environment and that promote the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.
According to Holmgren permaculture is "Consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fibre and energy for provision of local needs. People, their buildings and the ways in which they organise themselves are central to permaculture. Thus the permaculture vision of permanent or sustainable agriculture has evolved to one of permanent or sustainable culture."
Permaculture Design Certification Course
Colby-Sawyer is one of the first colleges in New Hampshire, and one of only a few in New England, to offer a Permaculture Design Certifcation Course. This course is especially useful for homeowners, planners, design professionals, community organizers, farmers, and gardeners. It is adapted to a wide variety of learning styles and is presented via lecture, images, video, group discussion, hands on experiences, exercises, and design projects. Throughout the course each student will be working on a design project for their own property. The course will meet at Colby-Sawyer College, NH on Saturdays, with one overnight trip that will include one Sunday class as well. If you are working toward a sustainable future and want practical tools and applicable methodologies, then this course is for you!
Course graduates will receive a Permaculture Design Certificate.
Instructor Biographies
Steve Whitman is a professional planner with Jeffery H. Taylor & Associates, focusing on community planning and sustainability issues through the lens of natural systems-thinking and ecology. He is both a local and international educator and adjunct faculty at Plymouth State University where he teaches environmental and community planning, permaculture, and sustainability. Steve's teaching is informed by converting his in-town lot into a living permaculture model, as well as time spent at sites in the US and abroad. Steve participates in a wide range of creative, grassroots efforts that promote new forms of sustainability.
Lauren Chase-Rowell has been practicing and teaching ecological landscape design, installation, and maintenance for over 25 years at UNH and NH community colleges. As an educator, her classroom instruction is informed by 35 years experience in regenerative food growing, medicinal herbs, and the importance of NH biodiversity in local, sustainable landscape settings. Lauren embraces the practical application of permaculture in earth-centered living and design, while simultaneously integrating the arts and contemplative practices into her teaching. She is an author, and twice featured on NH's Chronicle for her ecological and sustainable approach to land use and care.
Registration & Tuition
The tuition for this course is $900 and the registration deadline is 1/13/12. For details about registration call Tracey Perkins at (603) 526-3702 or e-mail: tperkins@colby-sawyer.edu
Class Meeting Dates
Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (one overnight weekend with classes on Saturday and Sunday)
- Saturday January 21, 2012
- Saturday January 28 and Sunday 29 (overnight at D Acres)
- Saturday February 4
- Saturday February 11
- Saturday March 3 Attend NOFA-NH Conference
- Saturday March 31
- Saturday April 7
- Saturday April 14
- Tuesday April 17 (Final Presentations)
