Hello,
I can answer this because I experienced it. Getting a degree often means getting into debt. It doesn't have to. You can work while going to school to earn your degree. Odds are good you will sleep less. Odds are good you'll be running from your job(s) to school and you'll be studying off of
cards every spare second. You might even earn dark circles under your eyes. You may experience fatigue like you've never experienced before. Odds are good that your significant other will always want more time with you. If your love is strong amd good your relationship will survive. If your will is strong you will endure the misery of working too many hours while taking a full load. If your character is strong you will graduate with your degree and a high GPA.
If you decide to take that route, my recommendation is to take the hardest courses you possibly can in your pursuit because the skills will serve you well. By that I mean math and science based classes related to your pursuit. Take a good look at Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering. I've been involved in permaculture and organic
gardening for many years. The classes that look "easier" won't help you nearly as much as getting a solid foundation in the field. I don't want to make this reply about me and my education, I want to make it helpful to you but believe me when I tell you that solid math and engineering skills married to solid agricultural science are applicable to your area of interest.
Employment is a tough question. It's always tempting to take a well paid job offer with excellent benefits from corporations that are in direct opposition to those who practice permaculture. Your desire to pursue that field will be tested and you will discover how loyal you are to the principles of permaculture.
The degree(s) will give you far better employment opportunities, more credibility when you are giving speeches and advice, and a solid foundation for solving complex problems. The hard skills will be especially helpful in dealing with water issues.
If you take the time to locate reduced cost colleges and universities and go to those institutions along with working your resume will be very strong. Can you imagine what it would be like to walk into an job interview and they look at your resume and you show that you worked 40+ hours a week while taking a full load? I can assure you that you will stand out. Try to get inside of your potential employers' heads and imagine what they will be thinking while they're looking at the resumes of people who had parents paying the way or people who refused to work during college while accumulating debt. I'm sure I don't have to connect those dots for you.
Ultimately the decision is yours but I hope that these words are helpful.
Good luck!