PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE

A Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) is an internationally recognized qualification. The first PDC was created and delivered by Bill Mollison in 1980s. The original PDC format is a 72 hour on-site intensive educational programme. Modular PDC’s have become increasingly popular, especially in urbanized environments, as many people are too busy to invest in a two-week intensive training programme. A Modular PDC distributes the same content material over a series of evenings, days or weekends. This provides participants with greater flexibility and opportunity to familiarize themselves with content material and develop a more detailed design project. The APW PDC uses the modular format and draws together emerging strands from permaculture and other disciplines to provide an Auckland specific bioregional education programme.

To attain a PDC participants need to complete twelve workshops and a design project of their choice. APW issue a Permaculture in New Zealand accredited PDC. To earn an APW PDC students are required to complete all six foundation workshops and can choose from any of the remaining fourteen workshops offered by APW. The foundation workshops provide students with a comprehensive overview of permaculture and regenerative design theory and practice today.

Design Project

The design project is an opportunity for participants to apply their knowledge of permaculture to a relevant, real life situation of their choosing. There are no absolute limitations on the subject matter of the project, so long as students demonstrate an understanding of the permaculture design principles introduced in the first workshop - Philosophy and Design. In the past, projects have addressed a range of themes, including the design of suburban, lifestyle block and rural properties, creating a permaculture analysis tool for selecting a property, application of permaculture principles to an IT business, establishing and working with a community group; and redesign of a public space. Other projects and themes could include: a retrofit of a house or residential street; setting up a local complimentary currency, resource centre, education or healthcare initiative; a community led biodiversity, energy or waste water strategy; or a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project.

The design can be completed individually or in groups with an expectation that each student spends at least 20 hours on the project. Tutors will be available for feedback during the process. Participants will be required to create and present a ten-minute presentation of their projects to tutors and colleagues. The full brief and outline will be issued upon registration.