Pine Ridge Permaculture Design Course 2011

Permaculture design course Pine Ridge Lakota in South Dakota.

June 13-26, 2011

PERMACULTURE is a conscious design system based on how natural ecosystems work. Because nature remains the most efficient and productive system on the planet, working with nature instead of against her and following her patterns increases yields in a sustainable, eco-friendly way. Indigenous people living with respect and knowledge of these natural laws have enjoyed sustainable culture for thousands of years.

World-recognized certification course covers sustainable living systems design for all landscapes, circumstances and climates. Learn how to create sustainable food systems, water harvesting, built environments, economies, communities and more. Gain these essential skills in a Native American context, a very unique opportunity. The Oglala Lakota tribe has a rich history and Pine Ridge reservation is at the center of it with Wounded Knee and other key historical sites. In addition to the 72 hour certification course, workshops will be offered by tribal members on appropriate technologies, tribal history and native practices and there will be field trips to view sustainable projects and other aspects of the reservation.

Subjects include:

Permaculture principles, the laws of nature
Conscious design
Indigenous techniques of living and wisdom
Water catchment and conservation
Sustainable, no-chemical gardening and food forestry
Broadscale ecological remediation
Agroforestry
Care of animals
Financial permaculture
Conscious community
Tour of the reservation

The site is an 8000 acre ranch on the rez, where the Oglala-Lakota Cultural and Economic Revitilization Initiative partnered with Permaculture Guild is implementing a permaculture design for full self-sufficiency as well as cultural and economic renewal.  Please read our articles about Pine Ridge on this web site for more information. The course helps support and forward this worthy project which offers an example of resilience and self-sufficiency on the rez, and reaches out to support similar projects.

Instructor will be Warren Brush, Certified Permaculture Designer and Educator throughout North America, India and Africa, founder of True Nature Design, and co-founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm and Trees for Children. For more than 20 years, Warren has helped bring knowledge to thousands of people about sustainable living and respect for land and communities.

He teaches courses including: Permaculture Certification, Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Ferro-Cement Tank Building, Compost Toilet Systems, Greywater Solutions, Water for Every Farm, Drought Proofing, Cultural Mentoring, Introduction to Permaculture Systems, Corporation Sole Formation, Various Origins Skills, Food Forestry, among other offerings.

Assistant instructor is Cory Brennan, engaged in teaching and implementing permaculture in Haiti, Pine Ridge, Florida and California.  She organized a permaculture disaster team into Haiti after the earthquake, and brought the Haitian Minister of the Environment SE to Pine Ridge to train as a permaculture designer in 2010.  She is project manager for the permaculture project at Pine Ridge OLCERI, she founded Create Clearwater, a transition movement toward sustainable cities which inspired groups in several other towns, she recently sat on the City of Clearwater’s sustainability committee. She teaches an urban permaculture design course in several cities in Florida.

Registration details:

Prices include tuition, certification, course materials, catered meals, and camping accommodations nearby. Tipis may be available for early registrants.

Early registration with $400 non-refundable deposit to secure a place in the course is advised as enrollment is limited and the course is expected to fill quickly.

Course price is $1350, early bird price paid before May 1, 2011 is $1250.

CLICK HERE for Registration and Payment