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Permaculture 1: Fundamentals of Ecological Design

Build your knowledge about permaculture and ecological design. 

Permaculture 1: Fundamentals of Ecological Design is one of nine online courses we offer in our Horticulture Distance Learning Program.

Next course: Winter 2025 (Jan. 13 to Feb. 23) 

  • Fall 2024 course in progress:  October 14 to December 1, 2024. 

  • Registration details and refund policy
  • Cost: $675. 
  • Register online.
  • Enrollment limited
  • To be notified when registration opens for next course, fill out this form.
  • See tab below to view full course syllabus
  • See FAQ for information about earning a Permaculture Design Certificate for completion of all three permaculture courses.
  • Questions about the course? Email Matt Bennett: mb2785 [at] cornell.edu (mb2785[at]cornell[dot]edu)

About the course

This 6.5-week online course provides an opportunity for you to build your knowledge about permaculture and ecological design. Permaculture gardens, farms, and backyards balance the provision of human needs with improvement of local ecosystem health. Participants will explore the content through videos, readings, and activities and complete portions of design for a site of their choosing.

Writing and reflection are key elements of processing information and the instructor will take an active role by providing feedback on your assignments and journal entries. Students also have the opportunity to learn from one another through an open forum in which you can share your ideas with others.

The purpose of this course is to examine the basics of permaculture design and understand the potential for ecological design on a multitude of scales and contexts. Students will learn the foundational ethics, principles, and planning tools to design ecological sites in the context of their local ecosystem and future environmental change (climate change).

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Define permaculture and describe examples of permaculture sites.
  • Apply permaculture ethics and principles to a variety of contexts.
  • Discuss impacts of climate change and strategies for adapting to them.
  • Consider appropriate use of energy and technology in sustainable systems.
  • Understand a range of multi-purpose plants and design multi-kingdom polycultures.

Course Details

This course is one of three that we offer in permaculture design. (Read more about Permaculture Design: Ecosystem Mimicry and Permaculture Design: Design Practicum.) Students may elect to take courses individually if desired or as a set. You may choose an order that best suits your availability and interest. There are no prerequisite requirements for admission into this course.

To get the most out of the experience, expect to spend 10 to 15 hours per week on the lessons and assignments. The course is offered through the software Moodle, an easy-to-use online interface that you will view through your personal computer's web browser. Reliable, consistent access to a good Internet connection and a modern/current web browser are essential. You will need to have Javascript enabled and you should have common plugins installed such as Quicktime Player and Acrobat Reader. 

Most of our participants take our distance courses for life enrichment or professional development. Students who complete all three classes with a finished portfolio that meets the standards of the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute will receive an internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate.

You do not receive Cornell University credit for taking the course. But students who successfully participate and complete the course and all required assignments are eligible for Continuing Education Credits and can receive a certificate of completion from Cornell University’s Office of Continuing Education.
 
If you are post-secondary undergraduate or graduate student, explore the possibility with your faculty advisor of receiving credit for the course (typically as independent study) using your certificate as evidence of your completion.
 
New York State Certified Teachers may earn NYSED CTLE credit. Cornell Garden-Based Learning is now  an Approved Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Sponsor.

Course Schedule

  • Introduction Week: Welcome & Introductions
  • Week 1: History & Definitions of Permaculture
  • Week 2: Ethics & Case Studies
  • Week 3: Ecological Principles
  • Week 4: Climate, Energy, & Technology
  • Week 5: Zone, Sector, and Elevation Planning
  • Week 6: Permaculture Plants & Polycultures

Syllabus

Instructor: Matt Bennett: mb2785 [at] cornell.edu (mb2785[at]cornell[dot]edu)

Purpose:

To examine the basics of permaculture design and understand the potential for ecological design on a multitude of scales and contexts. Students will learn the foundational ethics, principles, and planning tools to design ecological sites in the context of their local ecosystem and future environmental change (climate change).

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Define permaculture and describe examples of permaculture sites.
  • Apply permaculture ethics and principles to a variety of contexts.
  • Discuss impacts of climate change and adaption strategies.
  • Consider appropriate use of energy and technology in sustainable systems.
  • Understand a range of multi-purpose plants and design multi-kingdom polycultures.

Course Philosophy:

Permaculture is a philosophy with three explicit ethics; Care for Earth Resources, Care for People, and Redistribution of Surplus. This course engages students in learning a foundational perspective that guides them towards designing backyards, gardens, farms, businesses, and communities in the frame of regeneration; the process of healing and restoring ecological health.

Approach:

This course will present a wide range of information including historical perspectives, ecology, landscape design, and activities to apply content to a student’s daily life. The content acknowledges the existence of climate change, ecosystem degradation, and decline in human health factors in order to understand how we can overcome these challenges.

Expectations:

  • Most importantly: Keep up with weekly assignments and activities as they deliberately build on and refer to previous lessons.
  • This course relies on your self-motivation to complete assignments, ask questions, and participate in community dialogues around the material presented.
  • The readings are a critical part to understanding content.
  • The activities will compliment readings and expand your understanding of the natural world and your impact on it.
  • Plan on spending 10 - 15 hours per week working through course lessons.
  • No previous experience in the natural sciences, ecology, landscape design, farming, gardening etc. is required, but will be helpful in expanding your understanding of permaculture. Sharing your ideas and knowledge in the discussion forums can benefit the entire class.
  • Permaculture attracts a wide variety of people and the more we know your personal interests and goals the better we can address them through lessons, journals and discussion forums.
  • As complex and emotional issues are discussed, please be sensitive and supportive of other classmates. Rude or offensive language, and overly critical commentary will not be tolerated.

Choosing your design site:

An outdoor site is a critical part of your activities in this course. It will be the basis of your final portfolio to earn your Permaculture Design Certificate if you take all three parts of the course.

You will spend a considerable of time outside at your selected site. If you own property it might your ideal site. If you are not a landowner consider a site that would benefit from some design consideration such as a community park, garden, or the land of a friend or relative. A place that is close to where you live or work is best, as you will visit it often.

Lessons:

Each week’s lesson contains the following components:

  • Presentations of the core material, usually as a video or series of videos.
  • Readings to reinforce or expand upon the material presented.
  • Activities conducting around your chosen site; some with deliverables to share with the instructor or your classmates.
  • Reflective writing to allow you to develop a thoughtful perspective and a dialogue with the course instructor.
  • Discussion forum questions and topics for discussion.
  • Optional additional readings, activities and resources.

Deadlines:

Complete and submit to the course instructor before the published deadlines that are typically at 12:00am (midnight) each Thursday. Late assignments will be accepted but instructor feedback may be delayed. Informing the instructor in advance that an assignment will be late is helpful. Most assignments are submitted using the Cornell Moodle website or may be emailed directly to the instructor. Consider optional activities only after completing and submitting required assignments.

Required Readings:

There is no required textbook through it is highly recommended that students purchase Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison (2nd printing, 2000) as an excellent supplementary text. A list of optional books to be used with this course can be found in the 'Additional Resources' topic at the end of the course.

Supplies:

  • A computer with reliable Internet access (to view videos) and the ability to compose and submit written assignments is essential.
  • A roll of 24” – 36” tracing paper
  • A set of your favorite markers or colored pencils
  • A clipboard for field assignments
  • A space to keep a large (minimum 24” x 36”) base map.
  • You may also want to start a binder for assignments, handouts and other resources.