In this course you will plunge deeply into the vision and practice of creating dynamic and resilient edible ecosystems using temperate deciduous forests as models. The teaching team will offer lectures, site walks, exercises and skills training to help you understand how the structure, functions, and successional processes of natural forests apply in the design of edible ecosystems. We'll also learn about and practice natural building, water harvesting & storage, plant and mushroom care, reading patterns in natural systems, and cultural shifts needed for healthy human and ecological communities. Much of the course will take place in the 10-acre research forest garden at Forested.
TWO SCHEDULE OPTIONS
BLOCK - Aug 17-25, 2019 - REGISTRATION OPEN
SEASONAL - Next seasonal PDC begins spring 2020
2 TRACKS
The course content and in-class time commitment for the two tracks is exactly the same for the two tracks. The difference is that Project Track participants will have site design homework between classes, make presentations to the class group about their progress, and receive project support from the course instructors. Participants in both tracks receive a permaculture design certificate if they complete the class attendance requirement. The Progrect Track is available only with the Seasonal Schedule PDC.
LEARNING TRACK
• All class content
• No homework or project presentations
The Learning Track is for participants who want to learn the principles and skills of permaculture, but do not currently have the time, resources, or access to land, etc. to work on a specific project design. Participants in the Learning Track receive the full benefit of all course content and receive the certificate upon completing the class attendance requirements, but do not take on the homework and presentation load of the Project Track.
2019 Permaculture Design Course: Learning Track
THE 2019 PROJECT TRACK IS FULL
PROJECT TRACK
• Available only for the Seasonal Schedule PDC, not available for the Block Schedule PDC
• 12+ hours of site design homework before each class weekend, more over the summer
• Make project presentations to the class
• Receive project design support from the course instructors
The Project Track may be for you if you have a specific permaculture project underway or beginning soon, and want to invest significant time and energy into a design process for your project. If you join the Project Track, you will be pushed to move forward on your permaculture planning goals. Whether it’s your own property, or a local piece of land such as a park, school, or church, you must have a specific piece of land where you will pursue permaculture to be eligible for the Project Track. Implementation of your project is not required to complete the course, just developing a working plan.
2019 Permaculture Design Course: Project Track (seasonal schedule only)
PROJECT TRACK FULL
Payment Terms
To reserve your place in the course, you may either pay the full tuition (above), or make a non-refundable $150 deposit (below). Spaces are limited. Open to all regardless of experience. Fee includes course instruction and materials, site visits, guest speakers, beverages and snacks, design process support from the instructors and the certificate. The full balance is due by March 16, 2019 for the Seasonal Schedule Course (6 weekends), and by August 3, 2019 for the Block Schedule Course (9 consecutive days).
If you would prefer to spread out your payments into smaller increments, please email Lincoln with your proposed payment plan.
For all payments, you can pay online on this webpage, or mail a check made out to 'Forested' to
3707 Enterprise Road
Bowie, MD 20721
2019 Permaculture Design Course: Non-Refundable Deposit
Satisfaction Guarantee
If you find that the course is not a good fit for you at any time, or other life events prevent you from attending, you can withdraw from the course and receive a prorated refund for the class dates you choose not to attend.
Scholarships
Scholarship applications are now closed.
Instructor Bios
Lincoln Smith founded and runs Forested (est. 2012), a forest garden company in Bowie, MD. He is helping create a shift toward forest agriculture by testing forest farming methods, educating aspiring forest farmers, consulting on new forest farms and bringing new forest products to market. He designs edible ecological landscapes, and tests forest garden methods at the 10-acre Forested site. Lincoln is passionate about production ecosystems, and lectures on forest gardening at a wide range of venues such as the US Botanical Garden, University of Maryland, and PASA. Lincoln spent five years designing and managing high-end residential landscape projects and pushing sustainability at Graham Landscape Architecture in Annapolis. He holds a Master of Arts in Landscape Design from the Conway School, and earned LEED certification in 2008.
Christine Simpson is a creative landscape architect with a curiosity for natural systems and patterns. She specializes in sustainable, functional places and landscapes and is an avid lover of edible plants. Christine has worked in local government for 10 years, designed parks and playgrounds, taught planting design at George Washington University, and currently works in stormwater management. She coordinates the Forested CSA. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Virginia Tech, a Master of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University, and a Permaculture Design Certificate from the 2014 CHEARS/Forested course.
