Permaculture is ethics based design that applies principles to address challenges between people and the environment. As we know, challenges abound. In the next few decades we will need to reskill more of the population faster than ever before in human history. Much of what permaculture has to offer is part of that reskilling. We can design human habitats that are resilient, redundant and that provide for our needs.
Our course follows the curriculum by the Permaculture Institute of North America. Permaculture design certification requires 72 hours minimum of student participation time. This course is heavy on the ethics, principles and design aspects of permaculture. We cover many techniques that are useful in design. Students learn about whole systems and how to design a real existing site, working together in teams through the course and presenting their design on the second to last weekend. The certificate does NOT mean that you are certified to teach a PDC or that you have all the tools and skills to be a professional Permaculture designer. The permaculture design course is the foundation; students still need to build the walls, roof, openings, finish, and landscape. We have tools to help with this.
Meals (lunch during course weekends) are community style and prepared by the course students on a rotational basis, this helps us to keep the overall course costs down, we work with everyone to make sure that this is ok and that no one is put into a position of hardship by participating. Pikes Peak Permaculture provides ample snacks. Well-behaved and monitored children are welcome at all course weekends with advanced discussion and agreement.Â
We will be running our course over 10 weekends beginning in February and ending in August. We will be at various locations within Southern Colorado for the duration of the PDC with one or two field trips planned that are within 4 hours of Colorado Springs. Our course fee is: $1550
We have 6 spaces for work trade at a reduced course cost. We also offer an early registration discount of $200. This means that if you register by January 5th your course cost will be $1350. We never turn anyone away who wants this training but can’t afford the full course tuition, if you have a desire to participate and have a need we have financial aid available.
We limit the course size to 24 students. There is more interest than ever in this training. If you have a desire to participate please get signed up early so you don’t miss out.
“When I first learned permaculture as an independent learner I felt like I had learned a whole new language that no one else spoke. My friends were supportive, but none of them knew what I was talking about anymore. It wasn’t until I found Pikes Peak Permaculture and took an in person PDC that I found people that spoke my new language. Now I help people learn the new language so I have more people to talk to!”
Class Dates:
February 27th (evening), 28th & March 1st
March 14th & 15th
March 28th & 29th
April 11th & 12th
April 25th & 26th
May 9th & 10th
June 13th & 14th
July 11th & 12th
August 8th & 9th
August 22nd& 23rd
Throughout the course we will have classroom days and hands on or tour days. These hands on days and tour days will occur more in the late spring through the summer months as opposed to early in the course.
As mentioned above we follow the curriculum by the Permaculture Institute of North America. Topics in this curriculum include but are not limited to:
Introduction to Permaculture, Ethics and Principles, The Local Ecosystem, Patterns and Pattern Application, Climates, Biogeography and Microclimates, Design Methods and Process, The Home System, Water, Earthworks, Trees, Forests, Plants, and Cultivated Ecologies, Animals, Aquaculture, The Built Environment, Waste and Bioremediation, Appropriate Technology, Design for Catastrophe, Urban Permaculture, Broadscale Landscape Design, Design for Invisible Structures, Economic Systems, Access to Land, Ecovillage and Neighborhood Design
Send us a message to get on the waitlist for next year’s course!
Student testimonials
“I am a graduate from the 2024 course. If you want to get some hands-on permaculture experience you can actually use to make a difference in our area, irreplaceable local wisdom, certification from excellent and duly recognized teachers, and lasting community with people who live in our area and know your unique challenges, you will be so glad you joined!! We were blessed to get so much incredible value for such a low price. If this is something you want to do, you will find a way. Reach out to Pikes Peak Permaculture! People care is a permaculture ethic. – Emily Sutton student in our 2024 PDC. Emily joined us again in 2025 to solidify more permaculture into her life