[singlepic id=269 w=300 h=225 float=right]May 25 – June 9, 2013: Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) residential intensive.

The Permaculture Design Certificate course is an internationally-recognized, seventy-two hour course resulting in a Permaculture Design Certificate. It provides an introduction to permaculture design as set forth by movement founder Bill Mollison.

The course will again be taught by Graham Calder of P3 Permaculture.

Cost $1200 – includes tuition, all meals and camping. Here are direct links to the registration page and the course description on Graham’s Calder’s website.

Observing soil structure

The PDC serves as foundation for further permaculture work and study and is a prerequisite for the Diploma in Permaculture Design, offered through The Permaculture Institute. Credit for this course is now accepted by a growing number of universities around the world.

To date, thousands of permaculture designers worldwide have been certified through this course, and now comprise a global network of educators, ecological activists who influence major corporations, individuals creating new business alternatives and groups of committed people working together to change the way we view and design into our landscapes.

Placing features on the property according to contours

The course covers sustainable living systems for a wide variety of landscapes and climates. It includes the application of permaculture principles to food production, home design, construction, energy conservation and generation, and explores alternative economic structures and legal strategies.

The course will take place at both The Blockhouse School Project and Solomon Brook Farm, 20 minutes away, with camping accommodation at the farm either outdoors or in their dry barn.

This website has a lot of photos and posts from last year’s course held at the School.

Welcome to Solomon Brook Farm!

Solomon Brook Farm is a beautiful 30 acre old farm property at 404 Farmington Road, Barss Corner.

The house dates back to the 1800’s, and the huge dairy barn (with attached milking room and wood-shavings room) has almost unlimited potential.

The 12 acres of field and pasture has east and south exposure sloping east and north; a marvelous home for animals, (and bees?) and a wonderful place to start an orchard with grapes and other fruit trees.

The rich drumlin soil is great for gardens and greenhouses alike – spiral herb gardens, kitchen gardens and veggies galore! Who knows where it could all lead?

Lets not forget about the 18 acres of woods – the healthier the forest, the healthier the fields! The border between field and forest creates a wonderful setting for forest gardening. With all that biodiversity, and nature’s insect controllers perched in the bushes, the trees create a natural windbreak, and grow carbon to help keep everything in balance. Who could ask for more!

The east and north sloping woods draw the water up towards the fields, and as we follow the forest down the slopes we find a most wonderful hidden gem. A river, known as Solomon Brook, borders the entire side and back of property with the most amazing 20 ft waterfall. This waterfall, with its spiraling pool at the base, is the heartbeat of the property. Not only does this create the possibility of generating our own micro – hydro power, it is a place of regenerating our own spirits.

A wonderful place of retreat, a place to heal and grow back to healthy relationships, a place to commune with the land and each other.

Contact David Cameron (email hidden; JavaScript is required) to express interest or get more information.

Map to Solomon Brook Farm:

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