| Click here to Learn about Mark and Wayne’s 2008 Courses
Certification in just 7 (very full) days…
Hosted By...
Center for Sustainable Community
Stelle, Illinois
Featuring...
Mark Shepard &
Wayne Weiseman
First time together as a training team...
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Mark and Wayne during a recent Stelle visit |
One Full Intensive Week Plus 6 Webinar Pre-Classes
Most permaculture certification courses run between 12 and 15 days and can cost upwards of $1,500. This is because certification requires 72 hours of actual instruction and training. One of the biggest obstacles for many to participating in a certification course has been being able to take two weeks off in the middle of their already busy lives.
With the use of 6 webinar classes, students will begin their course from home during the 3 weeks prior to their week long intensive. There will be two evening phone classes each week taught by either Mark or Wayne which will better prepare the student for their week long educational experience into permaculture design principles. Each webinar class will last approximately 2 hours. This will provide 12 hours of instruction even before you set foot in Stelle. The remaining 60 hours will be covered in the students 7 days on site.
This means that you will be able to receive your full certification training in
one week rather than two.
Why Would One Want This Training and Certification?
Permaculturalists are concerned about their relationship with others (all others) and the planet. They know that it is possible to yield an abundant life for all by mimicking the synergetic patterns found in nature. Study of permaculture can be a life changing experience. A sense of security can come with the knowledge of how to feed, shelter and provide for yourself, your family, and others. Also, should you ever desire to use the word ‘Permaculture” to promote your work or business or to describe your training on a resume, with certification, you may legally do so.
A Note about This Certification Course from Bill Wilson (Course Coordinator)
Forgive me for barging in here but I thought you might like to hear the story of how Mark and Wayne met. When I emailed the two of them in the late fall of last year (2005) about the idea of co-teaching a full design course in Stelle they both replied immediately asking me who the other was. I was surprised because here in the Midwest, Mark and Wayne are two of the most experienced permaculture practitioners and teachers around. I emailed them each others information and accomplishments and they were shocked (as was I) that they didn’t even know that the other existed. We decided that we all needed to meet in Stelle so that the two of them could get acquainted and so that we could explore the details of putting this course together.
I can’t tell you how fulfilling it was for me to be in the room when the two of them met for the first time. Here are these two maverick permaculturist, both of them passionate and serious about their work, both of them innovators, both of them so experienced in this field that it is hard for them to find others they can explore this topic of permaculture deeply with, and now they were meeting face to face. With-in minutes they were chatting like schoolboys, enchanted by the experience of finding another who understood what they felt and knew. I was invisible - like a fly on the wall. For me it was like experiencing what it might be like to see a set of twins who were separated at birth, who then find each other in their 40’s only to learn that each of them had had similar experiences and that each had taken similar paths. I was touched and honored to be at their first meeting. I believe this is going to be one fascinating course, having these two accomplished men as co-instructors. |
Special Course Features
As knowledgeable as Wayne and Mark are, we know that the average student cannot sit in class for 7 straight days, 8 ½ hours a day, and absorb everything (even if they could stay awake). Therefore we will do our best to break up the days with some other very talented individuals and couples who implemented different aspects of permaculture in their own lives and businesses.
Guest Presenters
Larry Korn: Translator of The One Straw Revolution
- Student and friend of author, Masanobu Fukuoka.
Neris Gonzales: Founder of Ecovida (Chicago)
- Survivor of El Salvadoran civil war, peace activist and permaculturist.
Site Tours of Permaculture Applications
Strawbale Home - Jon & June Haeme
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Two foot thick walls, solar electric, hot solar water and more.
Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast – Mark and Guia Hoffman
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A variety of permaculture plant guilds, small fish pond and honey production.
Mint Creek Farm – Harry Carr & Family
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Conversion of conventionally farmed land into healthy and diverse meadows for small
livestock production, soil health and conservation.
Spence Farm – Kris & Marty Travis
- Experts in finding niche market for native plants. This year they will sell over $30,000 in wild leeks, lambs quarter, amaranth, stinging nettles, and wild flower seed.
AquaRanch – Myles Harston
- Commercial raising of fish and herbs for the Chicago market. This very creative closed-loop system is fascinating and inspiring.
Click Below to learn more about:
All the Above Features of the 2006 Course
The Webinar Classes
Course Logistics, Pricing & Registration
Wayne Weiseman
Mark Shepard
Community of Stelle
What is Permaculture?
Permaculture is an holistic approach to land use design, based on ecological principles and patterns. Permaculture aims to create stable, productive systems that provide for human needs, harmoniously integrating the land with people. The ecological processes of plants, animals, water, weather and nutrient cycles are integrated with human needs and technologies for food, energy, shelter and infrastructure.
Elements in a system are viewed in relationship with other elements, and the outputs of one element become the inputs of another.
Within a Permaculture system:
• work is minimized
• wastes become resources
• productivity and yields increase
• and the environment is restored.
Permaculture principles can be applied to any environment, at any scale - from dense urban settlements to individual homes, from farms to entire regions.
Who would benefit from a Permaculture Design Course?
Since the first Permaculture Design Course was offered in 1972, people from widely diverse backgrounds and interests have graduated. Farmers, ranchers, landowners, foresters, landscape designers, architects, builders, planners, developers, accountants, financiers, bankers, publishers, attorneys, aid workers, educators, environmentalists and students have all brought Permaculture techniques into their homes, businesses and communities.
This course is for anyone interested in gaining practical skills and perspective for sustainable living and productivity. You will gain an understanding of Permaculture theory, building your knowledge of all the necessary aspects to become fully conversant with Permaculture design. By the end of the course, you will be able to confidently create your first Permaculture design plan.
Bill Mollison (Originator of Permaculture) |
For More Information on Permaculture:
Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton – Permaculture Institute
On this website you can read what
Bill Mollison has to say about permaculture in his own words. Geoff Lawton, a world renowned permaculturalist who teaches at the Permaculture institute with Bill Mollison
was just in the States (December 2005) and met with Mark Shepard. He was amazed by the progress Mark has made on his 100 acre farm in just 11 years.
http://www.tagari.com/PermInst/PDC_Melb_2005/PDC_Melb_2005_Announcement.htm
 Video Clip
Click the image at right to watch the fascinating 'Greening the Desert' video describing Geoff Lawton's permaculture project in the Jordanian desert.
Please Note: You will be directed to Geoff's website. When you land on his home page, scroll down and look for the little picture in the right hand column and click on it.
Wayne Weiseman, has an informative site that lists the various topics to be covered in our actual design course. Please note however, Wayne's site will be referring to his standard 12 day course which is a good option for students to consider as well. Our course is 7 days and includes the webinar pre-classes.
http://www.permacultureproject.com/retreats.htm
Greenhouse Bed and Breakfast:
A quick web search for 'permaculture' will produce a large body of information on the topic. Our own Mark and Guia Hoffman have a picture filled explanation of permaculture, especially focused on the home gardener, on their Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast website. Be sure to follow the links on their site to see various pictures and descriptions of what they have been experimenting with:
http://greenhousebed.com/permaculture.htm
Click Below to learn more about:
All the Above Features of the 2006 Course
The Webinar Classes
Course Logistics, Pricing & Registration
Wayne Weiseman
Mark Shepard
Community of Stelle
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