Permaculture Design Course in the Virgin Islands!

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Just a few more days and a few more spots in the first Permaculture

Design Course happening in the U.S. Virgin Islands at the Virgin

Islands Sustainable Farm Institute, followed by Gaia University Degree

programs in December.

Info below.

-Living Mandala

____________________

Permaculture Design Certificate Course

Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute

November 9-22, 2009

U.S. Virgin Islands

For More Info & Registration Visit LivingMandala.com

In Association with

Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute & Appleseed Permaculture

Facilitators & Instructors

Ethan Roland, Dyami Regan-, Ben

Course Description

Learn how to create sustainable, productive, and beautiful human

environments using natural ecosystems as models. Permaculture is an

evolving and expanding design system for ecological living,

integrating plants, animals, buildings, people, and communities.

Through experiential, participatory, field-based, and classroom

learning, participants will explore the relationships between

personal, social, and ecological sustainability in the rich context of

life at the Creque Dam Farm, home of the Virgin Islands Sustainable

Farm Institute in St. Croix, USVI.

Course Components

This two week program focuses on design as an ecological process,

assessing natural systems, and weaving integrated solutions to local

and global problems. Faculty guide students through the design of

projects beginning with interviews of clients, needs assessment,

development of real solutions, and culminate in a formal permaculture

design and presentation.. The design course culminates with

presentation of design work to the class, community, and clients.

Topics Include

Site analysis of vegetation and wildlife, natural building, compost

and soil, water preservation, guilds, zoning, forest gardens, seed

saving, grey water, and tools for planning, mapping, and executing a

sustainable, abundant ecosystem and human culture

Cultural Mentoring

Woven throughout the weeks will be the principles of Cultural

Mentoring. Cultural Mentoring is derived from native teachings from

many lineages including that of Tom Brown and Jon Young, and creates

support for the development of a healthy individual and community.

Site Details

The Virgin Island programs will be hosted by the Sustainable Farm

institute, located in the Virgin Islands, U.S. The Virgin Islands

Sustainable Farm Institute is over one hundred acres of rolling green

hills and valleys nestled in the highlands of the northwest corner of

St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. VISFI promotes the development

of agroecology: an innovative field of agriculture that enjoins

productivity with resource conservation, using ecological and

indiginous management models to create sustainable life systems. We

believe local, organic agriculture and a practical educational

experience are the first steps toward building vital communities and

achieving long term sustainability within a healthy environment. These

beliefs led to the establishment of our Four Pillars: Education,

Sustainability, Community, and Environment. We use these focal points

to guide decisions that will promote our farm’s vision. For more

information om the Sustainable Farm Institute please visit: www.visfi.org

Tuition & Registration

Course tuoition is $1150 U.S. dollars. This includes all board and

camping. Cabana bunks are an extra $15/night. Queen Size cabanas are

an extra $50/night.

For More Info & Registration Visit LivingMandala.com

Upcoming Gaia University Degree Programs at VISFI

Integrative EcoSocial Design / Organizing Learning for EcoSocial

Regeneration / Open Topic

Dec 1 - 13, 2009

For More Info Visit LivingMandala.com

Integrative EcoSocial Design (IESD) BSc, MSc, GD*

For those wanting to integrate ecological and social aspects of design

into projects that focus on ecosystems, societies, communities,

technologies, and personal lifestyles.

Organizing Learning for EcoSocial Regeneration (OLE) MSc, GD

For those interested in applied organizational learning and design.

Some people focus on the development of a GU regional center as their

primary project.

Open Topic (OT) BSc, MSc, GD

For those who are working at a strategic level as world changers and

want to design their own program topic.

*GD Post Masters Graduate Diploma

Dates

Orientation Workshop: Dec 1-8, 2009

Extension Workshop (IESD & OLE): Dec 9 - 13, 2009

Closing workshop year: Dec, 2010

Closing workshop year 2 & Gradutation: Dec, 2011

Stay in Touch About Future Courses & Updates

Visit us online at www.LivingMandala.com

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