See below for full announcement. Enrollment, payment, and refund policy appears below course announcement.
Call or email Darren Butler to sign up:
allnet@pobox.com
818.271.0963
Introduction to Permaculture
Have you wondered what permaculture is and how permaculture can help you with your gardening? Did you know that permaculture principles and ideas can be applied far beyond the landscape and garden?
Permaculture attempts to create sustainable human systems. It has most often been applied to design of landscapes and dwellings for human use, and for food production or “gardening” by working with and imitating ecosystems, but has nearly limitless potential for application in all areas of human endeavor.
In this introductory course, we’ll explore how permaculture can be used to address energy, resource, and pollution problems that we face as individuals and communities. Topics are expected to include understanding energy paths and how they relate to sustainability, broken and unbroken resource cycles, permaculture approaches to water use and soil building, introduction to succession gardening and food forestry, basic permaculture design principles, and natural patterning. If time allows, additional topics such as sacred geometry and basic introduction to guilds will also be covered.
I expect to leave students with exciting, immediately useable ideas that can be applied to their gardening and lives; broadened imagination about their own personal potentials and the potentials of human groups; practical ideas for increased sustainability in their communities and individual lives; positive vision for both personal and global futures; and a renewed sense of the wonders of human existence.
Course difficulty: 3 to 4 out of 10. This course will be conceptually and philosophically challenging. Gardening experience, basic understanding of sustainability issues, and basic knowledge of biology and ecology are recommended but not required. All attendees not well-versed in permaculture should expect difficulty.
Course dates: Two Sundays 9:30 to 1:30 PM with short breaks only, Oct 21 & 28 (arrival encouraged by 9:00 AM).
Course location: Mar Vista near Palms and Walgrove. Easy access from the 10 and 405 freeways.
Course fee: $80 for early registration through October 19; $95 thereafter or on the day of. There will be an additional $50 fee for certification. Space permitting, attendance will be allowed to single classes for $50 per class.
Fellowships and scholarships: Work trade or other barter may be available as an alternate payment of up to half tuition. Up to two scholarships are available for individuals who cannot afford to pay and cannot offer a work trade who expect to use the knowledge and skills gained for the good of others. Please inquire for details.
Reading List: Core book is Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway. Other books will be recommended throughout the course based up the day's topics of discussion.
Hosting: Contact me if you're interested in hosting a future repeat of this course.
Assistance is needed for video or audio recording of the sessions. Free tuition available in trade.
Darren Butler is a Consulting Arborist, Ecological Designer, and Landscape Specialist. He has appeared on several episodes of "Weekend Gardening" for a large international television audience as an expert horticulturist and landscaper, has been interviewed recently for the NPR radio station KCRW in Santa Monica, has taught Sustainable Landscape Design for the University of California Master Gardener Program in Los Angeles, and holds many landscape- and plant-related certifications and licenses. He currently serves on a statewide advisory committee for all University of California Master Gardener programs. He has been gardening since childhood, and developing expertise in Southern California gardening since 1996.
Comments from prior students:
"Darren is just so knowledgable. This is a crucial part of the
owner's manual for Planet Earth."
"Darren is an outstanding teacher. He integrates real life to
gardening. He's down to earth, full of laughs and personality. His
enthusiasm is infectious."
"Wow! The idea that so many things are just soil in another temporary
format is pretty powerful. Darren has thought more than any other
person I have ever met. The class was awesome."
"I got so much out of this! Packed full of information that was
immediately usable to me. I love listening to this guy! He knows so
much and is so humble about sharing what he knows. He knocks my socks
off."
"If you want to change your perspective on the world and get deeply
in touch with the Earth, come to this class!"
Enrollment, payment, and refund policy:
Full tuition to be paid in advance. No refunds for this course except
for cancellation by the instructor. If tentative details change after
enrollment has been paid, full refund is available until three days
before the first class if cancellation is based upon the change(s).
Work trade or other barter may be available as an alternate payment of up to half tuition. Free enrollment may be available on an extremely limited basis for individuals who cannot afford to pay and
cannot offer a work trade who expect to use the knowledge and skills
gained for the good of others. Contact me for details or if
interested in hosting a repeat of any given course.
Payment is by check, cash, or money order and should be sent to Darren Butler, PO Box 920434, Sylmar CA 91392-0434. Contact me if
you prefer to pay with a credit card via the internet.
Courses are rated as to my best guess about difficulty from 1 to 10
with 1 being appropriate for absolute beginners and 10 for
accomplished experts.
Courses not guaranteed to carry. Some courses fill up quickly. To avoid
disappointment, please do not delay.
Enrollment forms sent via email or regular mail after payment has
been received. Enrollment form not required to make payment and
reserve your place.
Certificates are available for all courses. Specific requirements for
completion will include required reading, minimum attendance of
approximately 70 to 75 percent with makeup for missed sessions, a
project, and additional fee of $50.
