What is permaculture?

Short for “Permanent Agriculture”, Permaculture is a conscious approach to food production and sustainable living. Permaculture aims to produce more outputs, like food, with fewer inputs, like labor and resources. The Principles of Permaculture are excellent building blocks for food production as well as housing, relationships, and lifestyle design. Although Permaculture is not widely known at the moment, it is rapidly spreading within the environmental and sustainability movement, and we feel certain that it is a key component to the evolution of our world.

What is a PDC?

A PDC, or Permaculture Design Certification, is what you receive after completing a Permaculture Design Course. To receive a PDC an individual needs to complete at least 72 hours of instruction, learning permaculture design from experienced teachers. While the information taught during this type of course may vary from program to program, our course includes everything from the basics of Permaculture to how to develop a formal Permaculture Design for any piece of land. Although the certification is not a formal license, it does inform potential clients and employers that you have this valuable knowledge and passion. There are myriad ways to utilize this certification after graduating such as consulting, designing and incorporating permaculture into educational curriculums and social projects.

what is South Shore Permaculture?

South Shore Permaculture is an educational organization offering various educational opportunities ranging in size from afternoon workshops on things such as canning and proper tool use, to our flagship Permaculture Design Course. In time, we plan to expand our offerings to include even more opportunities for learning and community engagement. Follow our Facebook or Instagram, or sign up for our Newsletter, to stay up to date!

What is your mission and vision at South SHore Permaculture?

Our mission is threefold; spread the message of Permaculture, build community, and positively impact the environment here on the South Shore of Massachusetts and, in turn, our planet.

We envision a future where care for the earth, and its inhabitants, is the norm; where we regularly produce more than we consume; and where the majority of folks have switched from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset.

IS the pdc APPROPRIATE FOR GRADUATES OF OTHER PDC’S?

Absolutely. Whether you’re brand-new to permaculture, or a seasoned permie professional, there’s always something new to learn or experience with this course. Plus, the opportunity to build community and network locally is special and unique to our organization.

is this course family-friendly?

Some of it is! Your microphone will be muted during class (unless you have a question or comment) and you’re welcome to have family with you at that time. Additionally, some of our in-person events will be family-friendly and we’ll highlight that when appropriate. We’re also planning kid-specific events for Spring of 2024 - join our mailing list here if you’d like to receive updates.

is this course accessible to folks who are not able-bodied?

Most of this course is absolutely accessible to anyone. There may be a few in-person events that are more challenging to participate in, such as our Earthworks Workshop, but your presence is always welcomed and encouraged. We strive to make this information accessible to as many people as possible. Please feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions or need any special accommodations.

What if I am not available for some of this course? Would I still be able to access the class content?

Yes! We will record our classes and share them with students so that they can receive all of the information we offer. Unfortunately, we will not be able to record our in-person events and will not always have a recording to share. You are welcome to repeat an in-person event for FREE as a student of the PDC.

We offer much of the same information available in other PDCs but with a focus on the ecosystem here in New England. This will empower local students to use their education to heal our community. Additionally, we offer our PDC in sections so that students may pick and choose what they learn. Although students will still need to complete all four sections to receive a formal PDC, we recognize that not all students are interested in the certificate. We also offer a scholarship program to make our courses financially feasible for everyone. For more information on our scholarship program, check out the link below.