PDC in Ann Arbor Michigan ($500)

I wish that I was a tad closer and my kids were a little older because I would soooooo take this. I am acquainted with some of the teachers from local workshops. Really great guys.

SE MICHIGAN (Ann Arbor/Ypsi) -- http://permacultureproductions.com/educators-pdc/

From the webpage:
A Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) for only $500

Permaculture design is decision making, critical thinking, and problem solving protocols based on the patterns expressed in nature. It joins high science and appropriate technology to meet local needs in all aspects of society from economy to waste management, food and water security to city planning and education.

SoMI Permaculture Mixer at Dawn Farm

On the second Saturday of each month we’ll gather in Ann Arbor to learn the skills needed to bring our communities into a local sustainable future. We will meet for 4 hours per session over two years, to fulfill the 72 hours required for the PDC. This PDC is designed for Michigan educators, parents, and community organizers, with SCECHs & undergrad/grad credits available but this course is perfect for anyone interested in the potential that permaculture has to offer.

About the Teaching Team

PDC Teacher Jesse Tack foraging for applesJesse Tack took his PDC in Detroit in 2011 with Larry Santoyo and Keith Johnson, his teacher training with Peter Bane and Sandy Cruz in 2014, and runs the local sustainable group – Abundant Michigan, Permaculture Ypsilanti (AMPY) — actively moving towards local security for food and water systems. Partnering with Dawn Farm, AMPY has planted 1500 trees for fuel, food, and fiber resources for our local economy. Jesse has been an educator for 15 years, teaching guitar to individuals from 5-80 years old, small ensembles, rock bands, group and individual music therapy.

PDCE teacher Milton Dixon teaching during his teacher trainingC. Milton Dixon is a permaculturist, musician, forager, and web designer. He recently relocated to Ann Arbor from Chicago and is now working to sync with the rhythms of permaculture in his new location. He is a professional permaculture educator and designer, having taken a PDC with Midwest Permaculture in 2009 and a teacher training course with David Jacke in 2010. He has taught PDCs with Midwest Permaculture and The Permaculture Project at Kinstone Circle, is codesigner of greatlakespermacultureportal.com and organizes the Washtenaw Permaculture Meetup.

Additional teachers will include Zeal Chen, Nathan Ayers, Bridget O’Brien, and Kristin Kaul.

Our PDC Includes

observation skills
ethics and the basis of ecological design
permaculture principles
indicators of sustainability, and how to use them
natural patterns as a design tool
the permaculture design process
the water cycle
catching and storage water
trees and their many roles
designing plant communities
biomimicry
methods of green and natural building
designing for disaster
population, energy use, and Peak Oil
appropriate technologies
community dynamics
city repair
designing for urban, suburban, or rural situations
money, finance, and local currency networks
permaculture in education
green business guilds and networks
building social capital
a design project – design curriculum, your home, site, or other project
PDC teachers Milton, Jesse, & Zeal participate in the AMPY GSC

Textbook

We will use Earth Users Guide to Permaculture by Rosemarry Morrow as the course textbook, the cost of which is not included in the price of the course. Please have your textbook by the start of the course. Jeannine Palms has offered to coordinate a bulk buy through Crazy Wisdom Bookstore, email her at jeannine@wetmeadow.org for more information.

Tentative Schedule of Course Dates

January 10, 2015
February 14, 2015
March 14, 2015
April 11, 2015
May – Off for end of school year
June 13, 2015 – May be moved to coincide with SEMIS Summer Institute, Date TBA
July 10, 2015
August 8, 2015
September 12, 2015
October 10, 2015
November 14, 2015
December 12, 2015
January 9, 2016
February 13, 2016
March 12, 2016
April 9, 2016
May – – Off for end of school year
June 11, 2016 – May be moved to coincide with SEMIS Summer Institute, Date TBA
July 9, 2016
August 13, 2016
September 10, 2016
October 8, 2016

Classes will be recorded and available to students who miss a session for review and so that they can come to the next class prepared and ready for the next topic.

Good price, but an awfully extended schedule. Hard to keep information in mind from one session to the next. Probably a great option for those with limited budgets and tight schedules.

I wish them well and just wish I were in the area so I had to make the decision.

Hey, thanks for posting about our course! We've totally filled up enrollment after having it out in the world for about a month, the first class is starting in a few hours...

The extended schedule is going to be a challenge but that was a direct result of how we went about creating the course. We got a group of educators together and asked them what it would take to make this course possible. Four hours a month was what was reasonable for them and that's what we went with. They were also able to offer resources to make the course viable at the price it was.

I think the response speaks for itself. It just makes me wonder why, as designers, we haven't done more to iterate the format of the PDC. I think there is a great need to get this information/knowledge/experience out there but the standard course design just doesn't work for so many people.

For sure we're going to have to tweak things so that we can use the extended schedule to our advantage but that seems a reasonable task.

Wish us luck!

Absolutely wish you the best with this.