What is Permaculture…

“Permaculture, a design system that reconciles human communities with the ecological imperatives of a living planet.”
Ben Haggard

Permaculture design is site specific, client specific, and culture specific.

Permaculture principles focus on thoughtful designs for small-scale intensive systems which are labor efficient and use biological resources instead of fossil fuels. Designs stress ecological connections and closed energy and material loops. The core of permaculture is design and the working relationships and connections between all things. Each component in a system performs multiple functions, and each function is supported by many elements. Key to efficient design is observation and replication of natural ecosystems, where designers maximize diversity with polycultures, stress efficient energy planning for houses and settlement, using and accelerating natural plant succession, and increasing the highly productive “edge zones” within the system.  –Bill Mollison, co-founder of Permaculture with David Holmgren, circ 1970s

Staying abreast of Permaculture activities in California:

The best way to keep informed about permaculture activities, trainings, and design certificate classes in the Los Angeles Area is to subscribe to the Los Angeles Permaculture Guild

You can subscribe to other California permaculture guild listserves, including Santa Cruz, Central Coast, Santa Barbara, Orange County, and San Diego Permaculture Guild.  Go here to find your option:

https://www.arashi.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi

And here are some other basic resources below:

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Free on-line design course in development.
Some sections already available (April 2013).  Go here to take a look and click on to Parts 1 – 3:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/online-permaculture-design-course

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Contact David Kahn at Edendale Farm in Silverlake area of Los Angeles: info@edendalefarm.com
Provides permaculture workshops and tours at his intensely urban farm.: http://www.sustainablehabitats.org/about/projects.html

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Permaculture Design Certificate Courses in Los Angeles with Larry Santoyo.  See www.earthflow.org

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Contact Dr. Bill Roley at the Permaculture Institute of Southern California drroley@cox.net Provides a variety of Permaculture classes in Laguna Beach and surrounds in Orange 

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County. L.A. Arboretum: http://www.arboretum.org/
Provides annual Permaculture Design Certificate courses in Arcadia 
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Quail Springs, a permaculture farm. Contact info: http://www.quailsprings.org/content/blogcategory/29/83/   PO Box 417 New Cuyama, CA 93254 tel: 805.886.7239 fax: 866.321.1102 Provides regular Permaculture Design Certificate Courses in the Santa Barbara area. 

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Permaculture Activist: Quarterly magazine published in the U.S.
Subscribe or Back issues available.  Many articles available on-line:  http://www.permacultureactivist.net/

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Permaculture Magazine published in the U.K.  Articles available on-line:  http://www.permaculture.co.uk/

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HopeDance Magazine on-line.  Subscribe: www.hopedance.org
Based in San Luis Obsispo, HopeDance covers all thing permaculture on the Central Coast.

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Los Angeles Natural Building Meet-Up:

http://www.meetup.com/los-angeles-natural-building

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On-Line Permaculture Design Certificate Courses:

http://www.beaverstatepermaculture.com/events/osu-online-permaculture-course

There are many more on-line PDC courses: explore them by googling:
<on-line permaculture design certificate courses>  There may be one appropriate for you.  Always check references before registering.

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San Diego Sustainable Living Institute:  http://sdsustainable.org/
A comprehensive line-up of classes and workshops on all the physical aspects of permaculture.  Founded by a group of optimists:  We believe that we can make simple, daily changes that promote a more harmonious balance between humans and the earth.   We know that every action towards sustainability is the right action.  We can produce an abundance of local food with limited water resources, we are able to regenerate poor soils, we are equipped with the tools to build community and we will leave each piece of land better than when we found it, all the while enjoying ourselves and the process.

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Introduction to Permaculture Classes at Edendale Farm
Sustainability in the City: Beyond Permaculture, including:
-  Permaculture design principles
-  Practical ways permaculture methods are practiced at Edendale Farm
-  Tour the Farm and its diverse features
-  Explore in depth some of the design features and philosophy practiced at Edendale Farm
-  How Edendale practices zero waste
-  Practicing basic sustainability in the city regarding food, water, Solar Energy, Transportation,
Waste, Air, Soil, Wildlife, Farm Animals, Appropriate Technology, Building with natural materials,
Community, Conservation, Water Reuse, Regeneration, Organic Growing Techniques: Irrigation, Composting,
Chickens & Small farm animals, Aquaculture & Aquaponics.

Cost: $50
To register: Please send your reservation to events@edendalefarm.com
David Kahn
323 454 3447
visit:  http://www.edendalefarm.com/

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Learn How Mushrooms Can Save your health and the World with Paul Stamets:
You will be amazed.

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Vandana Shiva – Agriculture for Life: Beyond the suicidal Economy of Industrial Farming and Globalized Agriculture.  Dr. Vandana Shiva inspires and awakens us as she describes the history of her anti-corporate/pro-farmer activism in her home country of India and many other talks.  If you need a kick in the pants to get active, do watch a few of these videos.

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