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. The basic values of permaculture are:
1. Care of Earth
2. Care of People
3. Fair Share
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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Permaculture Design Certificate Courses in Los Angeles with Larry Santoyo. See:
http://www.permacultureacademy.com/
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Institute for Urban Ecology: http://www.instituteofurbanecology.org/
The IUE is a Los Angeles-based center for learning focused on living ecological solutions for the urban environment. We seek to create, discover, and illuminate the ideas which will convert isolated, disconnected communities into thriving, symbiotic ecosystems of interaction, benefaction, and community action. Learn more about us.
IUE offers hands on classes and workshops, work studies, internships, volunteer opportunities and more for those interested in learning and developing the art of urban ecology. See our upcoming events.
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Sustainable Vocations: Permaculture Design Course for Young Adults, ages 15 thru 25 held at Quail Springs (near Santa Barbara CA) for three weeks each summer (July 30 – Aug 18, 2013). Hands on, immersion experience. Includes:
– Permaculture design
– Sustainable living
– Leadership training
– Community building
– Green vocations preparation
Go here for details: www.sustainablevocations.org
Contact Dr. Bill Roley at the Permaculture Institute of Southern California drroley@cox.net
Provides a variety of Permaculture consulting, classes in Laguna Beach and surrounds in Orange County
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County. L.A. Arboretum: http://www.arboretum.org/ Provides annual Permaculture Design Certificate courses in Arcadia -----------------------------------
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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From time to time, there are PDC courses on line. You can explore them by doing a search for:
<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:
https://www.facebook.com/TheSanDiegoSustainableLivingInstitute
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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Learn How Mushrooms Can Save your health and the World with:
Peter McCoy of Radical Mycology
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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