Best places to intern for regenerative farming / permaculture?

Hey all, in a couple years I will be applying for internships. Also get a pdc. Where are some of the best places in north America? Thanks, Huxley.

Hi Huxley. Welcome to Permies.

Are you looking to combine the two, because while I know that kind of thing can happen, and is honestly the holy grail of permaculture education, I think Paul is pretty much the only one in North America to explicitly offer something like what you're talking about, though you pay for the PDC and to stay on-site during the practicum (internship), unless I am mistaken.

Geoff Lawton's online PDC is apparently great. Were I to pay money for a PDC, it would be his.

I have decided that, with the exception of one of Paul's suped-up technical PDCs for advanced permies, I don't need to take one. I have no desire to teach permaculture at this time, and they couldn't teach me anything I couldn't already teach others, just by participating on this site. I am also not so dead-set on the use of the term permaculture to describe my activities that I want to pay a premium for it and spend a bunch of my time going over things I already know just so I can tack "permaculture" on to whatever I'm doing; I am actually happier thinking of it all as regenerative and resilient systems design.

Internships are tricky things, as unless there's an overarching structure to it shared by many organisations, they are interpreted to mean different things by different people.

I prefer the idea of going to work for someone for pay.

My much-better-half's employer out in the country has neighbours with different types of operations, a beekeeper, an herbalist, a dairy farmer, and many market gardeners. We see them when we go out to the Farmers' Market, and with the exception of maybe two operations, they are all retirement age.

They don't need woofers or interns.

They need employees to do a full day's work every day, and in most cases someone to buy them out, or take over, in any case, to work with them until they know the land and the business, and to help with the transition to retirement, or a part-time work schedule as the new owner does a rent-to-own.

If you look to take them separately, you have more options. If you go your own way, you have more options.

Some people benefit from PDCs. I wouldn't. I would choose more options.

-CK

Chris Kott wrote:

I have decided that, with the exception of one of Paul's suped-up technical PDCs for advanced permies, I don't need to take one. I have no desire to teach permaculture at this time, and they couldn't teach me anything I couldn't already teach others, just by participating on this site. I am also not so dead-set on the use of the term permaculture to describe my activities that I want to pay a premium for it and spend a bunch of my time going over things I already know just so I can tack "permaculture" on to whatever I'm doing; I am actually happier thinking of it all as regenerative and resilient systems design.

You only need the PDC certificate to teach the PDC.  Anyone can teach permaculture and use the word permaculture.  It's expected one is to abide by the ethics and principles of permaculture if using the word.

Really? It used to be a hot-topic, and contentious. I suppose it was hashed out. Good to know.

-CK

I wasn't even specific about what type of internship. In looking for a regenerative farming apprenticeship. No worries about pdc as I'm about to get a whole load of info from the kicstarter.

Hi Huxley,

On the island of Hawaii, we offer a permaculture internship in which we teach our interns how to work the land, harvest fruit and veg, create compost tea and so much more.
Here is the official job description: This track focuses on hands-in-the-earth permaculture education. Through action, you will learn to tend to gardens, nurseries, food guilds and permaculture design from a variety of instructors. This is for people who love getting dirty and waking early!
APPLY ONLINE HERE: https://hawaiiansanctuary.com/internships-in-hawaii/

We hope to hear from you soon!
Hawaiian Sanctuary