South Shore Permaculture’s
PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE
5th Annual
PDC 2027
From Backyard Gardens to homesteads and regenerative farms, gain skills that apply directly to New England homes, gardens, neighborhoods, & more.
Immerse yourself in Permaculture in this hybrid course perfect to learn in your local area with classes specialized to south shore Massachusetts, Boston, and New England. Learn from experienced teachers the tools and techniques to create abundant, regenerative landscapes and transform your local community. You’ll graduate with a globally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate
Upcoming Session: 5th Annual PDC
January - June 2027
South Shore Permaculture’s Permaculture Design Certificate Course is offered once a year and takes place over the course of six months.
The course’s 72 immersive hours consists of weekly meetings through Google Meet (2 hours/week) and in-person events such as nature walks, permablitzes, and food forest tours throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
You’ll graduate with a globally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate.
2027 Permaculture Design Course
Immerse yourself in Permaculture in this hybrid course perfect to learn in your local area with classes specialized to south shore Massachusetts, Boston, and New England. Learn from experienced teachers the tools and techniques to create abundant, regenerative landscapes and transform your local community. You’ll graduate with a globally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate
Tentative Course Schedule
January 28 - July 15, 2027
Our PDC operates on a Hybrid schedule with a mix of online classes and in-person workshops.
Online Classes
Online classes: Thursday evenings, 6:30-8:30 PM (2 hours/week for 24 weeks = 48 hours)
In-person weekends: 5 strategically timed gatherings spread over 6 months
In-Person Classes
(Weekend Class Times TBA and are subject to change)
Weekend 1 (March 20):
Equinox Nature Walk & Movie night
Nature Walk at Weir River Farm - Hingham, MA
Pizza & Movie Night (& potluck dessert!)
Weekend 3 (May 15):
Your first permablitz!
Apply design principles to a real South Shore site
Natural building and earthworks demonstrations
Lunch on-site
Weekend 4 (June 12):
Food Forest Tours
Wellesley College Permaculture Garden
Boston Nature Center for dinner & movie
Weekend 5 (July 13):
Final Project Prep
Base Map Workshop
‘Client” site visit for final project
Graduation: July 25
Final Design Presentation and Graduation (family and friends welcome)
Immerse yourself in Permaculture in this hybrid course perfect to learn in your local area with classes specialized to south shore Massachusetts, Boston, and New England. Learn from experienced teachers the tools and techniques to create abundant, regenerative landscapes and transform your local community. You’ll graduate with a globally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate
“South Shore Permaculture’s PDC program is a major asset to the South Shore community and anyone looking to develop the ability to design ecologically integrated landscapes & food systems that are aligned with permaculture principles. The skills taught in this PDC are valuable to those interested in co-creating a more localized food system while restoring the health of these lands. This PDC program is one-of-a-kind in that it approaches permaculture design with a bioregional focus specific to the Northeast region.”
— Julia, 2024 PDC Alumna
Why Our PDC?
South Shore Permaculture 5th Annual Permaculture Design Course (PDC) is an opportunity to learn from experienced teachers the tools and techniques to create abundant, regenerative landscapes and transform your local community.
In addition to learning the skills to design and implement sustainable systems that honor both people and the planet, you’ll receive:
🌱 72 Hours Expert Instruction
🌱 5 Weekend Immersions at Biodiverse Locations
🌱 Globally Recognized Certification
🌱 Lifetime Alumni Network Access
🌱 Bioregional Expertise You Can't Find Anywhere Else
🌱 Community That Lasts Beyond the Course
PDC Course Outline
In both online and In-Person classes, South Shore Permaculture’s PDC covers a wide range of permaculture principles and practices. Here are a few highlights:
Introduction to Permaculture: You’ll start with the foundations — ethics, principles, and design methodology. Learn how to mimic nature’s patterns in your own space and why working with nature is more effective than against it.
Community Building: Permaculture isn’t just about plants — it’s about people. You’ll learn to create resilient social networks, organize shared projects, and foster collaboration with neighbors and local organizations.
Edible Landscapes: Transform lawns, yards, or communal spaces into productive ecosystems. From perennial guilds to fruit trees, vegetable beds, and herb spirals, you’ll see how small spaces can yield abundance.
Homesteading 101: Explore practical skills like composting, seed starting, natural building, and passive solar techniques. Even if you don’t want livestock or a full homestead, these skills enhance your backyard ecosystem and lifestyle.
Observation and Design: Field trips and in-person exercises will help you observe patterns in your local ecosystem and practice designing productive, regenerative spaces. You’ll leave the course confident to create your own permaculture plan.
Immerse yourself in Permaculture in this hybrid course perfect to learn in your local area with classes specialized to south shore Massachusetts, Boston, and New England. Learn from experienced teachers the tools and techniques to create abundant, regenerative landscapes and transform your local community. You’ll graduate with a globally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate
Immerse yourself in Permaculture in this hybrid course perfect to learn in your local area with classes specialized to south shore Massachusetts, Boston, and New England. Learn from experienced teachers the tools and techniques to create abundant, regenerative landscapes and transform your local community. You’ll graduate with a globally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate
“South Shore Permaculture's mix of online and in-person learning made it accessible and fun. I highly recommend SSP to everyone who is interested in building new skills and meaningful connections to support a more resilient future for themselves and their community. The knowledge, resources, guidance and support I received have been invaluable and well worth the investment of time and tuition.”
— Mary Ann, 2024 PDC Alumna
A PDC is for you if YOU:
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Want bioregional expertise for New England climate
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Need a flexible hybrid format that fits your work/family life
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Learn best by doing, not just listening
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Value local teachers who farm and design here
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Want globally recognized certification that opens doors
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Are ready to be part of a regenerative movement
Immerse yourself in Permaculture in this hybrid course perfect to learn in your local area with classes specialized to south shore Massachusetts, Boston, and New England. Learn from experienced teachers the tools and techniques to create abundant, regenerative landscapes and transform your local community. You’ll graduate with a globally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate
What makes South Shore Permaculture’s PDC Different?
