Permaculture Design Course

Course Details

Are you ready to make a positive impact on both your life and the world around you? Enroll in a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course and gain the skills to transform how you live, work, and interact with the environment.

The Permaculture Design Certification covers the internationally recognized 72 Hour Certification Curriculum with hands-on modules and deep dives in social permaculture in a village setting. Plus instruction from expert guest teachers and informative field trips to epic, local permaculture sites! To receive certification, students will complete and present their collaborative permaculture design project.

Trainings & Hands-On Modules Include:

Learn Hands-On Skills for Regenerative Living:

Site Analysis

Soil and Water Management

Resource Efficiency

Solar & Alternative Energy

Appropriate Technology,

Agroecology

Animal Husbandry

Natural Building

Disaster Preparedness

Intentional Community Models and Process

Conflict Resolution, Facilitation, Leadership

Pattern Recognition & Ecoliteracy

Dive Deep in an immersive environment doing real projects with a cohort of internartional students designing a regenerative future!

Course Includes:

• In-depth, Immersive Learning at Epic Sites

• Real Time Hands-on, Experiential Learning

• Collaborative Actual Permaculture Design Project and Presentation

This comprehensive course teaches you how to design sustainable systems for food production, water management, energy use, and beyond—all while working with nature, not against it. By learning permaculture principles, you’ll develop the tools to create resilient, self-sustaining ecosystems that can regenerate and thrive in any setting, from urban spaces to rural landscapes.

In a Permaculture Design Certificate course, you will learn practical, hands-on skills in everything from soil health and composting to plant selection and natural building techniques. You'll explore key topics like integrating animals into your landscape, maximizing water efficiency, and designing for biodiversity. But it’s not just about the technicalities—you’ll also learn the ethical principles of permaculture, which emphasize care for the earth, care for people, and fair share. With expert guidance, you’ll work on real-world projects and leave the course with a complete design plan that you can implement right away.

The benefits of completing a PDC are far-reaching, both for you and the planet. On a personal level, you’ll gain a deeper connection to nature and the knowledge to create a more sustainable, self-reliant lifestyle. Whether you want to grow your own food, start an eco-business, or create a green space in your community, permaculture offers the tools to make it happen. On a global scale, permaculture empowers you to contribute to environmental regeneration and social equity, helping to address the challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and food insecurity. The knowledge and skills you gain will help you live more sustainably while actively contributing to the well-being of the planet for generations to come.

Teacher Bios:

Bruce Horowitz

Co-Designer of Puna’s own Hawaiian Sanctuary Eco_Resort and Permaculture Education Center, Bruce Horowitz, is a certified Permaculture Designer & Teacher, Organic Gardener and Composter Educator, Gaia Education Certified Trainer, Professional Landscaper, Homesteader and Farmer. With an MA in Sustainable Community Bruce has taught permaculture course and worked with Ecovillage projects around the world.

Keala Young

Board President of GENNA (Global Ecovillage Network of North America), Keala is a co-founder of Atlan Ecovillage in the Cascadia Bioregion, and the editor of the renowned book, “Reinhabiting the Village.”He is a certified Permaculture Teacher and versed in alternative economics, prosocial relating, collaborative learning and land stewardship.

Tracy Matfin

Tracy Matfin is a co-founder and lead land steward of La'akea Permaculture Community. She is a Faculty member of Maharishi International University and has studied with permaculture pioneers, Penny Livigston, Doug Bullock & Jude Hobbs to name a few. Tracy brings excitement and real life examples into her teaching.

Local Kumus will provide instruction and orientation to Hawaiian Culture and Pono Conduct as a guest on the island.

Housing Options

Glamp in one of our set up glamping tents: comes with bed, side table, rug, and solar lighting. Also, additional weather protection rain fly.

Stay in a one of a kind room in a shipping container! Each room comes with a bed or two beds (select at check out), side table, and storage.

We also have fully furnished rooms availble in our Sunlodge. The back row of rooms has peaks of ocean views from inside and access to a big lanai looking out at the ocean. Front row rooms have large sliding glass windows that open up to 180 degree views. All rooms come with a queen bed, side table, dresser, mirror, lighting.

Anyone not staying on campus should pay for a spa pass for access to our spa during the course 6 days a week! Hot showers, hot tub, sauna, cold plunge, and pool.

Food Options

Choose to purchase 1, 2, or 3 catered meals a day or purchase a farm share for access to harvest a farm box weekly of your own.