Instructors: Brock Dolman and Kendall Dunnigan

Guest Instructors (may include): Benjamin Fahrer, Dougo Gosling, Michelle Vesser, Dave Henson, Adam Wolpert, Kate Lundquist, Carol Nieukirk, Jim Coleman, Chas Moore, Janine Björnson, Tamara Wilder, Matt Every, Erik Ohlsen

Cost: $1500/$1400 if registered two weeks in advance (residential course). Some partial work exchange opportunities are available for this course; see below for more details.  For registration information, click here.  

Click here to see a video about our Permaculture Design Course at OAEC.

Whether you currently own property or dream of it, this two-week intensive course will immerse you in information, ideas and inspiration for how to design sustainable, regenerative systems in balance with your home ecosystem. You will learn the ethics, principles and practice of “permanent culture,” by exploring topics such as organic gardening, mulching, natural building techniques, forest farming, water retention and regeneration, erosion control, community processes, and much more. Using a combination of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities at OAEC’s 80-acre site, visits to local permaculture examples, and a group design project, you will have the chance to integrate and apply the concepts of permaculture during almost 100 hours of course time. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a Certificate of Permaculture Design.

In 2009, OAEC enters its second decade and fifteenth year as a permaculture school, the most established and longest continually operating school of its kind in California. We celebrate having offered 30 courses to well over 500 students, and consistently hear feedback from graduates that OAEC's design course is a “life-changing” experience.

For a more detailed description of our facilities, including information on what to bring, visit our Participant's Information page.  

Work Exchange: A limited number of work exchange positions are available. We award these positions to course registrants based on demonstrated financial need. Participants receive a $250 reduction in course fees in exchange for 20 hours working in our kitchen or doing other course-related support tasks. If you would like to be considered for a work exchange position, check the "Work Exchange" box on your registration form. Include a brief letter describing your situation, along with your $100 course deposit. If you are not chosen for one of the positions and cannot pay the standard course fee, your deposit will be fully refunded.

• Sample Syllabus for the Permaculture Design Two-Week Intensive