Permaculture Design Courses by Kansas Permaculture Institute

The Summer 2024 Permaculture Design Course will be taught as three 3-day weekend sessions at Heartland Farm, Pawnee Rock; Willow Lake Student Farm, Manhattan; and Lawrence.

The Summer 2024 PDC offered at Kansas State University is open to students and community members! Students seeking course credit should enroll through KSU’s Global Campus. 

May 17-19, June 14-16, and June 28-30, 2024

Registration CLOSES Friday, April 19, 2024

Students completing this course will be able to: 

• Describe the challenges facing our current economic and agricultural systems and how permaculture principles provide sustainable solutions. 
• Understand how permaculture ethics and principles guide sustainable agriculture systems design. 
• Apply the systems of permaculture design to solve problems in real-world situations from conceptual frameworks through installation and maintenance. 
• Explain the dynamics of biologically rich and diverse soils, soil development and conservation, and why healthy soil is vital to a sustainable food system. 
• Plant perennial polyculture systems from no-till raised bed gardens to cultivation of food forests. Understand how to maintain a perennial food production system. 
• Create landscapes that harvest water, influence microclimates, and build soil structure. 
• Embrace energy-efficient approaches to building construction, energy conservation, renewable energy sources, and resource utilization.
• Utilize livestock to improve soil structure and biodiversity in dry climates. 
• Recognize invisible structures and social systems that create the fabric of our lives and communities. 

Preparations 

• Students should bring a notebook and writing utensils. 
• It will be helpful to have colored pencils, but some will also be provided for the design sessions 
• If the student has a laptop or tablet that they would like to use, that is also welcome 
• We will talk about a few different software packages for creating professional-looking designs and having access to Google Earth to work on their personal project will be helpful but not required   

Need financial assistance to attend our Permaculture Design Course?