Re-design your life, re-envision the world!

Are you looking for an empowering and sustainable way to create change in yourself, the land you live on, and your community?

Permaculture is a design science rooted in the observation of natural systems. The principles of permaculture teach us how to design ways of living that have the stability and resiliency of natural ecosystems — they show us positive solutions for creating and managing systems for food, medicine, and building materials, as well as relationships with ourselves,  animals, and our communities. Permaculture always keeps in sight three ethics: care of Earth, care of people, and sharing surplus.

We have solutions that are available on any scale, and we can make a change that will reach out to future generations.

See our permaculture design video: Permaculture Design
See Penny Livingston-Stark in the video: Permaculture 101
Find out more about permaculture: What Is Permaculture?

Upcoming courses

Introduction to Permaculture

Through lecture and hands-on components, this introductory course will offer an overview of the basics of Permaculture. 

2-day Introduction to Permaculture
Bolinas: October 26-27, 2013
Santa Cruz: November 9-10, 2013

Permaculture Design Courses

We offer the internationally recognized permaculture design certification in two formats: a 2-week intensive course and a year-long course that meets one Saturday or Sunday each month. Following are our upcoming courses – click on the titles for more details and registration:

2-Week Intensives 
Summer: June 7-22
Fall: Sept 2013

Four Seasons - Bolinas
October 2013–September 2014

Four Seasons - Santa Cruz
November 2013–October 2014

Permaculture in Action: Advanced Trainings

Advanced Permaculture Design Practicum
This yearlong project-based training builds on the foundational 72-hour Permaculture Design Course curriculum to enhance your design literacy, knowledge base, and professionalism.

    Module 2 - The Permaculture Garden: Food, Forage & Medicine 
    March 23 • April 27 • May 18 • June 22

    Module 3 - The Permaculture Orchard: Designing & Maintaining Edible Forest Gardens
    July 20 • August 24 • September 28 • October 26

Edible and Medicinal Plants of California: A Bioregional Exploration
235 hour Foundational Course (over 12 months)
October 2013 - September 2014

This interdisciplinary program will engage participants on all levels through a combination of classroom lecture, field exploration, and a variety of hands-on exercises. Topics will include botany basics, plant identification in the field, medicinal/edible/utilitarian uses and much more. This course is a wonderful opportunity for those who have completed a permaculture design course to deepen their knowledge of plants. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RDI's Permaculture Design Certification Courses

In our permaculture design certification courses, you will learn how to observe and use the same principles that make ecological systems self-sustaining and apply them to integrated homes and gardens. In addition, you will learn how to apply these principles to energy systems and water supplies, healthy communities, meaningful and fulfilling work, ecological economies and global political movements for change.

The course also weaves together the principles and practices of permaculture with nature awareness — participate in activities that deepen your awareness and intimacy with the rest of the natural world. Our program is founded on the reality that we are nature and have an amazing role in our watershed ecosystems.

Throughout it all, you'll be engaged in learning and experiencing an empowering way of living in the world, surrounded and supported by like-minded people and instructors. Our goal is to make you a part of our farm community, incorporating our seasonal activities into your permaculture experience as time permits. Activities may include spring and fall pruning, seed planting, plant propagation, bed preparation, compost pile making, water harvesting techniques, natural building and other activities.

Each of our permaculture design certification courses includes the following:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Testimonials

Read what others have said about these courses

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Recommended Reading

We provide a DVD workbook with excellent resources and reading material that we ask you to read as part of the coursework. In addition, we have an ongoing list of recommended reading that includes everything from foundational manuels by Bill Mollison to magazine articles on new applications of solar power. The list is not required reading for the course, but available to you as a resource as you continue your permaculture explorations.

The following three books are highly recommended:

Permaculture: A Designer's Manual, Bill Mollison
Introduction to Permaculture, Bill Mollison
Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-scale Permaculture, Toby Hemenway

For questions or additional information, contact:
415-868-9681 voicemail or email us