The emphasis in this course will be on residential and urban permaculture models. As always, the full-design course curriculum will be covered but the examples used when explaining the principles will focus on suburban and city dwellers.
Key Site Visits During This Course:
The Nowicki's Suburban Permaculture Home & Grounds.
30 Years in the Making
A Full Day in Chicago Visiting Several Permaculture Oriented Sites.
(Pictured: City Hall Green Rooftop)
Features of this Course:
Vicki and Ron Nowicki...
...and their suburban permaculture oriented home and lot.
Even before the word 'permaculture' appeared on the book shelves in the late 70's, Ron was already thinking and designing like a permaculturist. He built his home in Downers Grove with many natural and renewable materials, designed it to keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter with relatively little energy inputs, and never even put in a lawn. He knew from the beginning that their yard would consist of a symphony of plants that would blend naturally into the environment and yield an abundance of fruit, vegetables and herbs. It has...!
Today, the front and side yards are like an arboretum, cool and shady in the summer, blocking the winds in the winter. Their back yard has been left open for annual vegetable production tossed in amongst the perennial fruit and vegetables. Take a look at the pictures below that were taken this past May during the tour that Midwest Permaculture hosted of their home. By July the paths were barely visible.
Vicki and Ron have proven that it is possible to create a permaculture design for your yard and gardens while maintaining a real sense of beauty and serenity. They also claim that once the design is completed and plants established, the amount of work they put into their permaculture gardens is no more, or even less, then their neighbors put in to mowing and maintaining their lawns - and the Nowicki's harvest an abundance of food and other useful items. We will spend the better part of an entire day at their home.
All day tour in Chicago
Permaculture designs within a city are not only possible, they are essential for the long term health and well being of the inhabitants. When we cut ourselves off from nature, we cut ourselves off from an important aspect of who we are. There is also an abundance of sun, water and wind in most cities that is often times seen as a liability rather than a beneficial abundance.
We will make several stops where individuals, or the community, have implemented a 'permanent-culture' approach to city living. We will explore food production, energy reduction, efficient water catchments systems and more.
Course Textbook
Free with early registration (by 8/25/08)
Bill Mollison's foundational work, 'Permaculture - A Designer Manual'
(Retails for $97.00)
Owning or having access to a copy of Mollison's manual is a required text of the course. Those who fully register by August 25th, 2008, will receive a copy of this classic text at no charge as an early registration discount. After 8/25/08 students can purchase the manual at the retail price ($97) when registering. You may also borrow a copy from a friend or the library if need be, but Mark and Wayne have asked that each student bring a copy with them to the course. Couples or family members participating in the course may share a copy.
The Designers Manual is mailed out to students shortly after they register for the course. This is a book that is continually referred to by committed permaculturists as 'the' definitive text. Both Mark and Wayne's manuals are worn out from use.
Webinars:
This full design course actually begins on October 5th with the first of six, 2-hour webinars. Click here for full details on how the webinars work. The 6 webinars are held on the three Sundays and Wednesdays immediately preceding the on-site portion of the course. They all start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and run until 8:30. All sessions will be recorded so that registered students who miss a class will be able to follow up anytime. Webinar Dates:
Sundays: Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 19
Wednesdays: Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22
Schedule:
For the on-site portion of the course we typically start at a 8:00 am and run all the way through 9-10 pm. We do take long breaks for lunch and dinner (you'll want them) and we schedule one evening off in the middle of the week.
Accommodations in Stelle
As part of the price of tuition, free camping space will be made available with toilets and showers nearby in heated spaces. Remember, even though it is late in the year (could get below freezing at night) you will likely only be spending time in your tent to sleep.
There will also be indoor lodging options available here in Stelle that typically run between $125 and $175 for the week. Some of our residents are delighted to rent out their guest rooms for a modest fee. Please email Becky (or call 815-256-2215) if you are interested in this option. Indoor lodging is made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What to Bring:
5-6 weeks before the on-site portion of the course begins, every student receives a welcome packet (by email) which includes a list of things to bring as well as more details about your course, your webinar classes, and your fellow students.
Course Fee & Registration:
The price for this course is $1,295. Register by 8/25/08 and receive the $97 Designers Manual at no charge as an early registration discount. A discount of $200 is available for your spouse, significant other, or a second (immediate) family member.
Registration Process
Option 1 Click here to register on-line. We take MasterCard, Visa and Discover. Option 2
Call Becky at 815-256-2215 to registers with your credit card over the phone. Option 3
Click below for a registration form which you may print out, fill out, and snail-mail in with your check. Word Document (.doc) - or - .PDF File Form
Down-Payment / Course Reservation
Our simple e-commerce page is not set-up to handle partial or down-payments. If making a partial payment is an important factor to your ability to participate, please call Becky at 815-256-2215 to work out these arrangements.
Cancellation and Refund Policy Should a student have to cancel their enrollment in the course before the webinars begin, there will be a full refund less $50 as a processing fee (less $150 if they received the free Designer's Manual as an early registration discount).
After the webinars begin, there will be a full refund less $200 -- the student canceling still has access to all remaining webinars and also receives a $165 credit towards any future design course (3 year limit). If a student also received the free Designer's Manual there will be a full refund less $300.
Certification
Students who take one of our 72-hour design courses will receive a Certification of Completion with the Permaculture Institute of Australia and have their names registered with this institution.. This is Bill Mollison’s (founder of permaculture) accrediting organization. Click here for more on certification.
Continuing Support Following Graduation
Students who have completed a Midwest Permaculture design course are then invited to become part of our growing network of graduates. There are three ways we attempt to support our students:
We have a separate website where all graduates can connect, share ideas and look for some assistance.
Graduates may audit any future 72-hour certification courses at half price (provided space is available).
Our objective is to support our students for as long as they need it or want it, and to encourage them to support each other.
Already A Permaculture Design Course Graduate?
We offer a 33% discount to students who have already graduated from another recognized course (from anywhere in the world) who wish to take a Midwest Permaculture course as a refresher. Please email for details.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
