How to give a PDC that is internationally recognised?

Hi everyone,

I want to offer permaculture courses where I live (in Montreal, Canada) and eventually work up to designing and giving a full PDC! I am wondering:

1. do you have to be a recognised organisation of some kind in order to give a PDC / certificate that is internationally recognised?
2. what are the "rules" or guidelines before being able to give a certificate???

ANy advice, articles, help, insights, would be so appreciated!

Thank you!

dona luna wrote:Hi everyone,

I want to offer permaculture courses where I live (in Montreal, Canada) and eventually work up to designing and giving a full PDC! I am wondering:

1. do you have to be a recognised organisation of some kind in order to give a PDC / certificate that is internationally recognised?
2. what are the "rules" or guidelines before being able to give a certificate???

ANy advice, articles, help, insights, would be so appreciated!

Thank you!

I believe you have to have a diploma in permaculture

dona luna wrote:Hi everyone,

I want to offer permaculture courses where I live (in Montreal, Canada) and eventually work up to designing and giving a full PDC! I am wondering:

1. do you have to be a recognised organisation of some kind in order to give a PDC / certificate that is internationally recognised?
2. what are the "rules" or guidelines before being able to give a certificate???

ANy advice, articles, help, insights, would be so appreciated!

Thank you!

It should be possible through a school / University system to offer a *general* course in Permaculture, and have it sanctioned by the school awarding the diploma. The way I see it, the biggest obstacle to a diploma in Permaculture is the incredible number of permutations that a person should be familiar with. soil, climate, micro climates, water[ abundance or scarcity], cultivars available alone creates a challenge for a one size fits all type of diploma. Making in *internationally* recognized would be even harder, in my humble opinion. Yet it is still something that is highly valuable. Certainly if you want to be a landscaper, a degree in Permaculture is what I would want for the person helping me design one. It should encompass pretty much everything: trees, mushrooms, beekeeping. The task certainly is daunting. And that is only one side: The customer also holds another important key: How much effort/ money can they put in the balance. finally, local laws and ordinances have a way of intruding on your best dream!
I see Permaculture as a wonderful way of life, but just like soul searching, difficult to convince other people to adopt. I'm looking at my local landscapers and botanical gardens as good sources of information because they know what is local, what can work *here*. To be internationally recognized, a PDC holder would first have to be successful in his/ her own region. Certainly, the *principles* of good permaculture must be known inside and out by all who profess they are "doing permaculture". The task is that past the *principles*, it is easy to get tangled in a maze of different/local possibilities. But I still believe it is a great goal. For right now, just like Candide: "Il faut cultiver son propre jardin" (Voltaire)

dona luna wrote:I want to offer permaculture courses where I live (in Montreal, Canada) and eventually work up to designing and giving a full PDC!
Thank you!

Disclaimer: I do not have a PDC. I'd be there like a shot, if I had a scholarship though!

First thought that comes to my mind, have you earned a Permaculture Design Certificate?

I ask, because, to teach A PDC, first, you must have a Permaculture Design Certificate for having attended an intensive course that has been taught by someone who has a PDC.
To be internationally recognised, a jump start would be to take PDCs from several of the internationally recognized names. Cultivate friendships with these people. Intern on their farms. Show them that you can work hard on their projects, and have attained a grasp on their teachings. You know, network. Just like succeeding in any other field.

Be sure to attend at least one PDC from an instructor that has a similar  climate to where you wish to locate your school. IE: Banana circles don't make a lot sense located in the Mid-South. Huglecultures do not work well in desert regions... etc.

Read through this thread. There is a lot of info in it. https://permies.com/t/3898/permaculture-projects/permaculture-design-PDC
You have found the PDC course offerings here at permies. There are others not advertised here in this forum.

For a sampling of what ought to be taught at a PDC you could purchase Tim's teacher notes that are for sale here. He taught from these notes at Paul's place this year. I got the notes, the amount of information in them is astounding to me. It claims to be a draft. It is nearly a book.

The sub heading for this product: This is your chance to take a peek into the workings of the permaculture teacher's process.
https://permies.com/wiki/66379/digital-market/digital-market/Permaculture-Design-Teacher-Notes-Tim

Just in case you missed this thread, limited time offer for a FREE permaculture manual download. E-mail sign up is all that is required, no monetary support for related kickstarter.

https://permies.com/t/70600/Permaculture-Student-FREE

From Matt Powers: "It's only for a limited time though while I'm running the Kickstarter for the Advanced Permaculture Student Online course to accompany this new textbook with over 30 amazing educators and experts (of which I'm sure you know most but have never heard of them all together in one course). It will be the first advanced permaculture course to have career paths built into it, so we can send out The Regenerative Career Guide to guidance counselor's offices everywhere - we need to create a way for the mainstream to pick up permaculture and make it part of our culture. Healing the earth has to become a way of life and livelihood."