The most powerful program we offer, this three-month intensive course combines our Urban Permaculture and Regenerative Leadership Certificate training, followed by a Wilderness First Aid training before we head on the road as we cycle coast to coast from Eugene, Oregon all the way across America to Washington DC (we’ll be roughly following the Adventure Cycling TransAM and other bike routes – about 4200 miles), promoting and learning about sustainable living and intentional communities. The stunning places you will visit on this program and the extraordinary people you will meet will challenge and inspire you..
This coast to coast sustainable living bicycle tour program is about intentional community living – through the extensive bicycle tour training and preparation, the group will form a self-contained community on wheels that will cycle coast to coast across the nation learning and promoting sustainable living. Because all of our programs are always designed for beginner and intermediate cyclists, we will teach you how to fix your own flats, fundamentals of bicycle mechanics, wilderness first aid, many safe bicycle touring skills, and provide you with the best possible routes. The permaculture course at the start of the course will give you a very thorough foundation in sustainable community design. Our experienced coast to coast bicycle tour facilitators will help facilitate the entire program, holding the community container and sharing their experience and guidance along the way — but otherwise serving primarily as members of the community.
Here are some quick facts about this educational cycle coast to coast permaculture course program:
- Includes our Urban Permaculture Design and Regenerative Leadership Certification training
- Includes our Oregon Sustainability in Motion Bike Tour
- Includes a Wilderness First Aid certification training!
- We will be following the TransAM route – roughly 4000 miles.
- Average of 60 miles per day (~4-8 hours per day) with rest/service days roughly once per week
- This is a supported tour – a vehicle carries all the gear.
- Meals are included – organic and vegan ingredients and menu will be provided, group members take turns cooking
- Experienced and knowledgeable tour support staff team will cycle with the group.
- Camping accommodations for most of the program
Aside from the amazing places you will visit on this coast to coast bicycle tour program, the most inspiring and transformational aspect of this program is undoubtedly the incredible community that will form throughout the course. The depth and richness of dialogue of each of our sustainable living programs naturally leads to friendships and relationships that last well past the bicycle tour itself. We’ve often heard comments from participants who mention that they have never experienced community the way that they have during a Common Circle Education bicycle tour program.
Throughout 
this three month coast to coast bicycle tour program you will have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of educational hands-on activities. You’ll visit family organic farms, learning how your food is grown, what it means for something to be organic, and why it’s absolutely critical to support local organic farmers. You will also cycle to model eco-villages and intentional communities where you will learn all about the challenges and gifts of choosing to live in community. As we cycle coast to coast, along the way we will make stops at green businesses and cooperatives, demonstrating the power of community economics.
Visit incredible places on the edge of the sustainability revolution as you cycle coast to coast
The sustainable living places we will visit will both inspire and ground learning in experience. By visiting places and people “really doing it”, we see, hear and feel the how the ideas and philosophies of sustainability, permaculture, regenerative design and intentional community translate to real life, with all the pitfalls and difficulties, as well as the unexpected joy, that come when you dare to realize a dream.
Here are just a few of the many places you’ll visit on this sustainable living trip as you cycle coast to coast:
- Dharmalaya Center for Human Development (Eugene, OR)
Developed on just a 3/4-acre property in suburban Eugene, this model permaculture site features a strawbale/cob buildings and classroom, solar photovoltaic panels, passive solar design, rainwater catchment systems, composting bathroom facilities, as well as a greywater catchment and filtration system that delivers post-shower water to a backyard pond.
Dedicated to a holistic vision of social, spiritual and ecological community, Dharmalaya serves as a hub of regenerative activity for the neighborhood and larger community with a variety of programs. The site is also host to the PROUT Institute (Progressive Resource Utilization Theory) and other permaculture and yoga-related research and development.
- Maitreya Ecovillage and Intentional Community (Eugene, OR)
Maitreya is a small, residential community whose intention is that members know each other well enough that they naturally turn to each other for friendship and support. The community’s buildings are green, it grows much of its own food, and it hosts concerts, dances, yoga and mediation circles, and other events focused on learning and growth.
- Sunbow Farm (Corvallis, OR)
Sunbow Farm was established by Harry MacCormack in 1972, as an intentional organic market-garden. The farm is a complex of living structures: 6 greenhouse/grow tunnels, shade houses, several barns, and a cob/rammed earth education center and bath house. Four wells provide pristine water to all life on the property. Sunbow is an island of alternative reality in a society tugged by upward mobility and financial gain regardless of consequences. Here it is clear that the farm and all life are our primary teachers. In that sense the farm is a life-promoting lab.
Experience sustainable living and learn practical skills for your home, career, business or community. Learn to design nature-inspired, resilient and truly sustainable thriving systems – composting bathrooms, water-catchment systems, greenhouses, organic gardens, green buildings, eco-villages and communities.
Permaculture is a sustainable design science rooted in natural patterns. By observing the way nature works and then applying the same patterns and principles, we learn to design truly sustainable, extremely resilient systems.
Permaculture is what our ancestors instinctively knew when they lived in villages, made their own things, and grew their own food. It is the art of respecting nature and working with it, rather than against it, to cultivate land, plants, animals and people by fostering mutually beneficial relationships between them. It is also is a philosophy, one that changes you from the inside, as you see that there is a way to heal the earth, live in harmony with nature, and create abundance we can share.
“Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.” – Bill Mollison
Join this certification program and become part of the movement that’s sweeping the planet and restoring the order so necessary to our world. Experience and learn about methods that combine the wisdom of history and tradition with the modern developments in appropriate technology.
Here are just some of the things we will cover in the permaculture course before we cycle coast to coast:
- Permaculture principles for smart, sustainable design
- Pattern observation and site analysis
- Reading the land and natural cycles
- Soil regeneration and land restoration
- Food forests, trees and garden design
- Rainwater harvesting and conservation
- Graywater considerations and system design
- Renewable energy and appropriate technology
- Passive and active solar design
- Natural building construction
- Waste recycling and treatment
- Aquaculture and animals
- Agroforestry and forest gardening
- Useful plants and herbs
- Cooperative economics and financial permaculture
- Scale – designing sustainable, thriving cities
- …and much more
Being the change by doing – an unparalleled experience
Along the way we’ll be part of the permaculture transformation, helping to create a sustainable living system in an urban environment. You’ll be building your knowledge as well with this up-close, hands-on living workshop so when you leave you’ll be equipped to build a better world for yourself and your family, as you cycle coast to coast.
For all of you who want to see and experience a simpler, greener way to live, our live with nature sustainability tour is a once in a lifetime expedition with knowledge that will last a lifetime. Don’t miss this incredible bicycle tour!
* Please note that course logistics and details are subject to change without notice or refund.
We hope you will join us and cycle coast to coast with us. Know that bicycle tour space is limited, and courses often sell out early. Payment plans are available for your convenience!
Click here to cycle coast to coast with us!
Check out some of the things past participants have said about our permaculture courses and bicycle tours:
"I first met Common Circle back in 2008 on one of their absolutely AMAZING bike tours. I never could have fathomed at first just how much I would be taking away from such an experience. Besides the daily enlightenment in the connection between organic foods and the environment, besides the ongoing flow of insight on low impact living, this tour proved not only to be just a scenic bike run, but a life changing event! One could just feel the ambition behind this expedition; it was so inspiring. The people were amazing, the biking was amazing, the Oregon Coast was amazing AND the food was amazing! On the last day of the tour I was in complete awe. For a moment I lacked the words to describe how I felt, but I knew what it was. My mind was clear, effortlessly clear in that moment,(rid of all my usual fleeting worries) and I cannot thank Common Circle enough for making me feel life as it aught to be!"
--Haley B, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I did a bike tour with Common Circle Education. It was a really terrific experience. The reasonably-priced tour brought together a wonderful group of down-to-earth people. In addition to the bike ride along the breath-taking oregon coast, every day incorporated a service and an educational component which allowed us to get to know each other and meet many creative and courageous folks along the journey. The tour was well organized and led by a competent and compassionate team."
--Alison D, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"This was one of the most memorable and inspiring experiences i have ever had. I pedaled myself through along the coast of Oregon visiting different food shares, organic farms, and meeting people who live to make a difference. During the trip I biked through luscious scenery, through forests, beaches, and cities, it was hard to believe it was only a week. All of the guides are extremely down to earth, and truly care about what they teach. The best part is that you learn from experiences rather then opinions. By getting yourself from place to place, following maps, meeting new people, and doing service projects. It was like a vacation from selfishness, living everyday to learn about, and work towards something bigger then yourself, I came out of this tour feeling incredibly relaxed."
--Dylan P, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"So if you want a great intro to Permaculture design, or you have already had some experience in permaculture and would like to see a wide variety of examples this is the course for you. If you want to take one course and instantly know how to farm, this is not for you, go take a 6 week course or longer.
That being said, the instructors here are top notch. Common Circle has brought together a wide variety of ideas dealing with not only the treatment of the land and the design of farms, but with the treatment of people and the planet. This course will be life changing for many and I see it rising to be one of the premier courses in the future.
For some the vegan diet is challenging, for me it was refreshing and enlivening. I found myself happy to be there everyday, constantly learning a slew of new information and ideas. One of my favorite parts of the course is the field trips. You get to see a wide variety of organic farms, from the traditional to the esoteric. The two facilitators Slav and H.W. are great souls. There to make sure you have what you need and to keep the peace amongst those of us who are not used to sharing space with a group.
This was an amazing two weeks that I will not forget for a long long time. I made friends that I will probably keep for my lifetime. Thank you common Circle! Much love and good luck!."
--Brett M, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"My wife and I went on their Permaculture tour as part of our honeymoon four years ago ('07). We knew what we were getting into and felt that overall it was a good experience. We got to meet some amazing people and see some really good work being done. The miles were low enough for the non-cyclists (tho' I was hoping for more). Oregon is beautiful and it felt to good to do service learning activities. I had only done self contained touring before so I am not sure how much structure or how cushy this tour was comparatively. It felt very structured and I enjoy taking turns with different tasks and camping in wonderful places."
--Terry M, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I thoroughly enjoyed my Common Circle Course. It was an amazing experience and one I want to do again. I am waiting for the Hawaii trip. Sounds amazing to me. I learned a lot, challenged myself, met great people and was thrilled that we shared in a lifestyle that was new and different to so many of us."
--Rosemary R, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I was part of the first Permaculture Design Course that Common Circle offered in Eugene, OR. We had an amazing group of people. I really appreciated the effort to create comfort and safety, as being in such close quarters with new folks can be challenging. Not only this did we receive, which in itself was such a blessing, cooking meals together, singing our names each morning, and acknowledging our interconnectedness, but we also learned how to survey sites, analyze their needs, develop plans for spaces, implement change, and evaluate efficiency and efficacy.
It was lovely to take field trips to experience what people have manifested, to be inspired to glean ideas and work toward the reestablishment of Earth/Human symbiosis, a vast task no doubt, however, each participant of this course leaves largely empowered though, amazingly, armed only with a single straw... but in that one straw...
I very much recommend this course to anyone experimenting with barnyard homesteading, people who just love nature and cultivation, or anyone hungry for some sincere human connection."
--Deborah F, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I attended Common Circle's Hawaii Bike Tour in 2009 and enjoyed the experience so much I attended CC's Permaculture Design Course in Eugene, Oregon later that same year!
The experiences I have had and people I have met through Common Circle has been life changing. On these trips, a community is created and everyone's individuality is honored, welcomed and celebrated as you work together each day to prepare meals, confront issues large and small and discover how each and every one of us can be the change that we wish to see in the world.
The programs offered are exciting, intellectual and mind expanding! Be prepared to meet awesome people, eat lovingly prepared healthy food and connect truthfully and completely with yourself, your fellow travelers and the world around you"
--Marlee F, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion + Permaculture Design
"This sustainable energy in motion bike tour was absolutely incredible! I went with a friend several years ago and we rode 200 some miles between Portland and Eugene, OR. The hosts were engaging and inspiring, from organic farmers (Sunbow!) and eco-villages to sustainable suburbs and cycling collectives. The key was that we learned hands-on how to change our lifestyles and attitudes to incorporate organic and permaculture philosophy. Why has society taken so long to "formally" recognize what cultures all over the world have been practicing for millenia, ie sustainable agriculture and living practices... Oil, wars, and capitalism will no longer seem necessary once we get off our profit and technology-driven high horse and focus on the fundamentals of our existence: water, food supply, soil health and nutrients, and community. I enjoyed the food a lot, already being vegan, and though many people groaned at first they all ended up liking it too. Especially since we took turns with cooking, you got to taste many unique styles of cuisine. It may seem an inconvenience for omnivores, but organic veganism is really the simplest way to make a monumental impact on the environment, energy, and human and animal exploitation, hence it is an important component of this course.
Slav and his crew were excellent facilitators, very encouraging of our ideas and revelations while also actively participating and learning themselves. The essence of the experience is a horizontal transfer of information and reciprocal support, rather than a top-down "you must do everything this way" approach that we have taken for granted in our jobs and family relationships, many people had to re-learn cooperation, which was a good thing. Most importantly, this experience gives you the impetus to share what you have learned and to spread the excitement of freeing one's self from the chains of wasteful, self-indulgent consumerism. We cannot expect a better and safer world unless we take it upon ourselves to share and teach the ways we have learned to make it that way. I highly recommend this experience, there is no better opportunity to see the landscape and the earth as an integral part of our being, and to surround yourself with others who feel the same way."
--Emmanuel M, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I participated in the first Common Circle Permaculture Design Certification course held at the Berkeley site in early 2010. It was a course I had been wanting to take for several years, but the logistics for other courses didn't fit my carbon footprint ethic. This course was intense, well-rounded (in that we got plenty of hands-on experience in a local youth collective garden), required participation by the students in multiple venues, as well including top-notch teachers and guest speakers."
--Karen A, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I originally joined this bike tour on behalf of my sister threatening my mother that she was going to go across country by herself. I sucked it up and biked like crazy and ate all this vegan food and for the first couple of days I wanted to leave. What I needed was time to adjust, by the end of the tour I was in tears and I never wanted to return home.
Not only did this common circle tour education show me a whole other world that I didn't find possible, it introduced me to an environment and a lifestyle my body had so much been craving ever since birth, it is when exercising and eating right and working together in an environment such as the west cost that brought about so much positive energy I felt that I was truly alive and now I long for the day that I have no strings attached in order to move to the west cost and become more involved in this amazing way of living and I thank common circle for such motivation, upon returning home to Long Island I even kept up the biking because on the first day of the tour I biked for 10 hours without dieing so anything physical activity that took less then that felt like a piece of cake to me which was such a beautiful thing.
You learn allot on this tour but its really not something I can put into words for you to understand, its a feeling, an experience that one must have themselves and I highly recommend it because in all reality we all thrive to feel alive some just search forever or look in all the wrong places to feel this way."
--Jean-Marie B, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"Common Circle's Permaculture Design course was a genuine heart and mind opening experience. If you are interested in finding how you can be part of the life giving earth healing solution in today's global ecological and social crisis this course gives you an in depth and extensive overview of what it takes to make it happen.
A highly interactive curriculum enables students to work together building deep bonds and lasting friendships that enables learning not only from the teacher but from each other's unique experience.
The guest speakers were phenomenal as were the field trips and hands on experience essential in creating the connections to understand the design theory in action.
Since Common Circle's course I have been empowered to continued my path as a permaculture designer studying natural and green building at Merritt College in Oakland.
Permaculture design should be an essential course for anyone who is serious about ecological and social justice and wants to learn how to be empowered and make changes that aren't dependent on waiting for bureaucratic government systems to change their abusive ways.
If you're ready for that paradigm shift of consciousness take the next Permaculture Design course with Common Circle as soon as you can."
--Jessica M, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I went on the cycling tour with Common Circle last summer, and if I lived on the West Coast I would go every year. Maybe it is because I'm from New York, but on the tour were the thirty nicest folks I've ever met. Vladislav got us interacting in the rewarding, personal way from the very beginning, for in our first group activity we each looked into the eyes of a few of our new traveling companions.
And so we jumped right into the world of sublime, complex, healthy, uniquely human happiness from the more popular world of base, simple, unhealthy, animalistic happiness from which we had come, and to which we would sadly have to return...for now. Singing, talking, and sharing our stories, we turned activities from fun to thrilling through the use of the love connection that week, rather than the use of drugs such as alcohol. On our travels we found very few if any biting insects, a result of the dry summer; but we did find many profuse growths of wild blackberries, and included them in our vegan meal preparations. We enjoyed in those meals not a simple mixture of fat and sugar, but a complex mixture of spices and vegetables, inducing another aspect of that complex and healthy sort of happiness.
This tour gave us the requisite experience to empathize with those who might share with us their dreams of getting people together, for the power of those dreams lies not in facts and figures, but in the sublime experience they aim to bring to us the whole year round. And its positive reinforcement to form deep connections with people made us more likely to care about those dreams, for dreams travel fastest over the love connection."
--Peter G, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"The permaculture class offered by Common Circle was a wonderful (if trying) experience. The class makes the student confront basic issues/contradictions that we face--and offers uplifting answers/possibilities so that the student can move forward. I enjoyed the intensity of it; others may not (the class/experience is MUCH more than a simple exploration of organic gardening and permaculture design.) Highly recommended."
--Doug D, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"My experience with the Permaculture course offered in Eugene, OR was ideal, and I do, and will continue to recommend it to my friends. I impulsively signed up at their website without reading all of their rules/polices (which was foolish, but I said it was impulsive, right?). I have no regrets as everything worked well for me, the travel, accommodations, food, group experience, faculty and guest presenters, curriculum, pace, the trips to farms and other experiences were exactly what I needed to get my 'head right' on the impact I would like to make in my communities. It provided a wonderful opportunity to broaden my idea of what is possible in a cooperative community.
Upon arrival, honestly, I did not know what to expect other than I was ripe and ready to learn a new way of approaching the same problems. (Being from a large mid-western city that is stuck into the "what's in it for me" attitude.) The course was a refreshing way to refocus on what is important to me and shift away from a stagnant mind-set.
I can recommend their course, sure, it was a wonderful program with wonderful people, meaningful interactions, awesome coursework, a very hands on experiential adventure. For that, I am grateful. Thank you."
--Lauren D, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"Completed the Urban Permaculture Design Certification Course. Came away with a way of perceiving our earth and a set of principles and practical tools for addressing the corporate profit-based mindset that has created our dependence on Petrochemicals. Our teachers, Jay and Sage, brought a wealth of experience, a perfect blend of science and spirit. Great guest teachers on a broad range of topics. Exposure to community-building experiences. Hands-on, in the field experience in Permaculture practices. Networking. Inspiring. By the end of our twelve Saturday twelve hour classes we had become a genuine community. I recommend the experience."
--Gene M, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I enjoyed the Certification program very much. I feel I will probably stay in touch with my cohort for my lifetime. We came from various backgrounds - VERY different. Many different belief boxes and what I loved most was that in the end, we are a family. There was an opening of new ways to look at things, and some of remembering of old ways to look at things; all of which are very dear to my heart. Slav is not a PR person, What impresses me about him, is his passion to make a difference in the world, and his vision to see and move into the URBAN permaculture and Social permaculture part of the puzzle.
What I love best about our class was watching the interactions. I have a personal belief that if I wish my outer world to be more at Peace, I must first look inside myself to see what I am not at peace within me and find a way to become one with it. This happened in our class dynamics, and I was grateful to see it at work during our time together.
The Gardens were very fun! I had a Blast learning about mycelium, aquaponics, cob, rock walls, cardboard sheet mulching, ,mapping, swales, burms, and fishtails, sit spots, greywater, green building, fair trade, carbon foot prints, stacking functions and much more. But most of all was the coming together of the group and working through our difficulties, helping each other out, and finding common ground to build our relationships on.
This course was wonderful. I think the course will grow and evolve over time. The constant, will be the coming together of heart thinking.That for me is just such an great thing!"
--Nancy G, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I can only imagine the preparation involved in running a course like this. I think you did an excellent job, and it was certainly an educational (and social) experience for me. The instructors were great. I didn't agree with all perspectives, but it was nice to hear them. It was a lot of information to absorb, and I'm sure some of it is still seeping in. "
--Elsie G, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Urban Permaculture
"Larry Korn gets a 10 on a scale from one to five. He was absolutely amazing-- he GETS permaculture or permaculture GETS him. I am so glad we were able to spend a week with him and pick his brain. He has the EXPERIENCE that is necessary to teach such a subject and he is an incredible instructor. "
--Katherine G, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Urban Permaculture
"I enjoyed the community setting, the classrooms and the opportunity to see the splendor of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge on a daily basis. The highlight was the fascinating, friendly and well-educated group of people who attended. I feel very fortunate to have had contact with so many of these folks and continue to keep in touch with many. The experienced could have been greatly enhanced by offering evening discussions or activities in the area. "
--Nancy F, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"First time to spend so many days in Fort Mason. A beautiful site. Historical buildings with high ceiling. Natural lights and air circulation created a pleasant learning location. Excellent instructors sharing their knowledge. Non traditional educational style, less on the lectures and more on the sharing and interactive exercises. I consider these 5 days well spent. Since I didn't have any expectation about the course, everything is a learning experience for me. Fellow classmates were all dynamic community proactivists. Great to spent the time learning and connecting with various instructors and participants. "
--Marsha G, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Urban Permaculture
"All materials and the teachers were fantastic. I loved our various day lecuturers - and was nice to hear from varied voices working in the field. Working at Hayes Valley Farm was great! I loved being at Fort Mason. The classroom facilities were outstanding to me. Really enjoyed my time there. Life changing. Very grateful. Thank you!"
--Andrew S, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Urban Permaculture
"Thought it was all very interesting and raised by excitement level about the class. Loved the obvious passion and commitment of the teachers and the great wealth of information all of them were. I thought the group of students were on the whole very supportive of each other and that was a wonderful part of the experience. I thought Saundra was artful and thoughtful in her handling of the class, support of each student and knowledge she had to offer."
--Anne M, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"In addition to what I learned from the instructors I also learned a lot from my classmates. It was really great to meet like-minded people and make some new friends. The instructors (primary and guests) were great."
--Evelyn B, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"Sunbow Farm was exceptional. The work day was very educational and working with the primarily women's group stringing garlic was a great get-acquainted exercise. Great learning experience, just for the Dharmalaya site itself! "
--Minnette S, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I was impressed and excited by what was described and presented on the website for what to expect from the course, as it was exactly what I was looking for at the time. I thought all of the sites and hosts were engaging, inspiring, thought provoking and beautiful. I really enjoyed the opportunity to experience many types of farms and the different ways the farm owners approached different methods of growing food organically. I loved all of the sites for different reasons. I also really enjoyed the format of riding for one day and rest/service project the following day. I think it worked out well. "
--Meagen A, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"John Sundquist and Harry McCormick's farms were fascinating. Would have loved to have more in depth presentations at both. Matt and Cindy were great hosts and their farm was instructive as well. Because of the people involved, this was an awesome experience. We were able to form a really tight community and I have stayed and will stay connected with many of the amazing people I met on this tour. Many new possibilities have opened for me as a result. "
--Adam H, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I love watching how everything unfolds in each and every group. From the group dynamics and communication, to lasting bonds and new ways of seeing the world, there is never a shortage of fun and learning. These orientations continue to bring people together that might not otherwise have had the chance to meet, learn, share, and grow in the amazing group we all become. Dharmalaya is truly a feast for the senses. I am always excited to partake in the service projects on the tours. I look forward to the next way to get my hands dirty."
--Nathan H, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I loved eating fresh blackberries at John's. I liked the biking portion a lot - really what I wanted to do. I learned a lot about bikes and riding. Good range of sites and interesting people (farmers) visited. Good to see what things are involved in living off the land in a smaller than commercial manner."
--Marilyn W, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"The sites were a nice mix of places, in different stages of development. It would be nice to stay at more places but I understand the logistics of moving every day would be tough. I would recommend day trips to other sites for the free days if feasible. It would be ok if service projects were longer and/or more difficult, it felt good to give back to our hosts."
--Edward S, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I loved all the places, and all the hosts. I thought the hosts were really wonderful people and I loved to hear them talk about their experiences. I was happy to be helping our hosts, so for that the projects were great. And of course it is lovely to work outside and to be a part of a farm for a day. I enjoyed that aspect, to be sure. My favorite part was the people, I thought it was an incredible group and I really enjoyed spending time with all of them."
--Dashielle V, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"The classroom had no walls, it wasn't a single place or persons. I learned and shared with peers in an open community atmosphere. each and every person gave to me a special gift - and my life has changed! I miss everyone. The site visits were very thought provoking and a true treat. Each place different and special in its own right - it was an important factor in the journey to see so many examples of change. I think the site was a perfect location for our course - very beautiful! Steve and I really enjoyed camping under the pear tree. it was inspiring to be camping out in a transformed urban backyard - it made to content of the course a lived in reality. "
--Heather M, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I met some really great people and my approach to thinking has changed. My understanding about what is possible is broadened. Great variety of guest instructors who brought a lot of great material to the cost."
--Reena S, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I was inspired and deeply appreciative of the level of quality in he instruction and the level of personal engagement with the instructors who were all clearly moved and motivated by the material at hand. The site visits were really interesting and informative. I especially enjoyed meeting Harry and visiting Sunbow farms. All of the sites were unique in there own way and it was inspiring to see how the ideal of permaculture could be implemented in such a variety of ways and scales. I do wish that the service projects could have been more intentionally instructive in teaching us skills related to creating permacultured environments (ie: caring for chickens, building natural structures, harvesting and planting edible landscapes). However, the inclusion of service projects are in and of themselves fantastic in showing gratitude to our hosts and getting a feel for their daily lives.
I loved the course site and our hosts. The strawbale classroom was welcoming and comfortable. The composting toilets were a life changing, perception altering experience, and the natural environment / native ecosystem was extraordinarily nurturing. The experience was definitely impactful. I am still processing all that I learned during the course and figuring out how it will manifest changes within my life and community. In future incarnations of this course, I would like to see even more emphasis placed on meditation and internal processes. "
--Mariza Z, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I thought the instructors were very knowledgable, positive and very helpful. Thoroughly enjoyed them. Very diverse experience & views of permaculture. It was an amazing experience. It really opened up my mind on what true sustainable living looks like & how important all living things are to the quality & health of my life & the planet. I am forever changed. I made some amazing connections that I will keep forever. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect, peaceful place to reside. Amazing energy, very beautiful hosts, and an incredible example of sustainable living with the earth."
--Cindy N, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"The people, instructors, course material: all these things made this course a most enjoyable experience for me! I am grateful! I really loved seeing the farms and meeting the farmers."
--Amalia B, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I will certainly vouch for this ride. I have never been on another bike tour, but I would feel safe assuming that this one is among the best. Anybody else who went on the tour with me will confirm that beforehand I was freaking out and I got to Portland without even a bike (I couldn't afford to get my bike on the plane) but they helped me find a bike rental.
I made some of my best friends on this trip and I opened up in a way like never before. The hosts you stay with provide such an enriching vision of the world and it's such a relief to be on a trip with people you can really connect with off the bat. "
--David B, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"The community was by far the best aspect of the course for me. I felt a lot of trust and compassion from each fellow participant and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and having interesting conversations. I also feel like I learned a lot from the instructors, site visits, and heart of now. Larry and Shaktari were both very knowledgeable and kind; I enjoyed their instruction very much. All of the sites were very interesting. I personally liked Lost Valley the best and getting to build the cob house."
--Erin C, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"Loved the sites. Having some hands-on experience is what made this class so great to me. Brigid house was great for it's location and nature as a home to many, and the community garden felt a little more open-ended. Core instructors were fantastic, and most of the guests were great as well."
--Desmond C, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"The course itself and the passion of the instructor evoked a strong sense of curiosity and intrigue in me!"
--Rebecca A, Graduate, Permaculture Fundamentals
"The instructor was very friendly, personable, and obviously knowledgeable. if there were a "very good" option, I would choose that!"
--Felicia C, Graduate, Permaculture Fundamentals
"I felt so grateful to be eating all organic, vegan and gluten free for two weeks! I learnt a lot from the people I came in contact with, and was grateful for the entire experience of it all. You provide such a great service to people, educating, inspiring and motivating them towards enhancing their lives through personal growth and awakening them to their own power to create a shift in the world."
--Adelle B, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I enjoyed the tour. It is a wonderful and inspiring alternative to the majority of ordinary bicycle vacation tours offered, and on the other hand is lower cost and more easy-going that fundraising rides. Our hosts were entrancing and helpful, the routes were well-planned, the guides were all positive and available, and our co-riders were a varied and great bunch of people.
I spent a week riding through the Willamette Valley (Oregon). The support van (for our gear and food) runs on biodeisel. Meals are vegan, and are cooked collectively at each campsite. We visited/camped at a sustainable-agriculture cherry farm, an organic farm, a “green” housing development, and a yoga center that featured a straw-bale meeting house and composting toilets; to thank our hosts, we performed service projects for a few hours at each place we camped (e.g., picking garlic, pulling weeds).
In Eugene we visited the Bike Friday factory and the Center for Appropriate Transport, with the opportunity to try some great bikes at each location, including a zippy recumbent tricycle that was so much fun it should be illegal (see photo). People who spoke with us at the stops were inspiring and wonderful. Even a visit to the food co-op in Eugene was a lift.
Our fellow riders were a great and varied bunch, ranging from some over-65 guys down to a 12-year-old girl (on the back of her father’s tandem). Of course, they had to be interesting folks – who else would sign up for a tour such as this, rather than a typical fun-ride tour? With only about 200 miles of riding per week, this company isn’t seeking endurance cyclists; rather, these are fairly relaxed rides, focused on the people and places visited as much as on cycling."
--Tom A, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"Your success is really important to me. I hope that as I advocate for your company it influences the entire travel industry as a whole. While changing the lives of your participants, you are also creating a shift in the market towards socially and environmentally responsible tourism. Thank you. "
--Alyssa M, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"Loved it, loved my mates and the people we visited and stayed with. And yes there was conflict and some disappointment. Looking back, it was all perfect, even the hot button issues that came up. But overall a great opportunity to learn. It is all about building community and communication and it begins with us."
--Meredith D, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I had a wonderful time because I love biking in beautiful places. For years I've wanted to bike on the Oregon Coast. I loved the time at Cape Lookout and the Three Capes Scenic Route and the pretty country roads. The route was great. At first I was disappointed that we would not be right on the coast all the time, but the rural roads were lovely and it was better not to be dealing with the traffic on Rt 101 all the time. The Three Capes Route is the Oregon Coast at its best, hills and all. I hadn't camped for decades and wasn't sure how I would handle that part, but it was really fun. I didn't know what to expect about the group of people, but the camaraderie in the group was one of the best things about the trip. I enjoyed the service work a lot. Thank you for a great experience."
--Laurie D, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I loved meeting the hosts and staying at their places. Please continue to keep the tour alcohol free!! I think it would be a very good idea to hire another good tour guide like the one who led our trip. I liked him because he stayed calm under pressure and was helpful."
--Jennifer R, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I had a great time. It was my first bike tour, but I enjoyed the challenge and felt that I accomplished personal goals. I enjoyed taking photographs and I will never forget what it was like to see the coast for the first time while riding my bike! The group was fun. I felt like some people were a little too picky. I had a great time!"
--Allison B, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I loved the philosophy, fellow riders, and the people we met and the places we stayed. I was surprised how tasty the dinners were. It showed me how we could pack up our camper with non-perishables and eat very well. We loved our hosts---in varying degrees. The best were Renya and John---they opened up their hearts as well as their home to us. The wife/mom at the dairy kept us at a distance, but she was always working. On the way back I stopped by, and without all the rest of the gang, she was warm and friendly.
We loved meeting rather famous people that were more our age---at Sunbow Farm and at the Eco-Village. They both gave us so much good information and background stories. The couple at the Mustard Seed Farm had such a unique set up with the community, for them to work a bit and pick all they want---great Quaker ideas! The wife there was really charming and invited Joy and me in to see her house. Also, she gave us a plate of vegan choc. chip cookies piled up with a candle on top for my birthday! We loved the yoga center and the way the compost toilets and showers were integrated with the pond and garden. "
--Stephanie S, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"Every person was amazing, incredibly interesting to talk with. Would have liked more time talking with others and perhaps having us lead some discussions. The places we went were incredible and the people were each special treasures. The routes were good."
--Elaine A, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I had a good time. It was my first bike tour and first time to Oregon, so I really enjoyed the scenery and the experience. I enjoyed our stops and hosts and did learn a lot. The hosts were really interesting folks, I wish we would of had more time with them. I enjoyed the service projects."
--Cristin B, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I had a very nice three weeks on the tour. The group was very diverse, which really enriched the experience for me. Thanks for putting this together. I am glad I went and might do it again."
--Micah M, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I'd just like to say thanks for an outstanding week. I've been raving about the trip and am even thinking about doing it again. We had a really good group. Thanks again. Maybe you'll see me again next summer."
--Linda M, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I have been singing praises for this trip. That we could put together a group of such diversity and with such intensity so happily and agreeably speaks volumes for you, Jason (bravo!!!) and the group. Having been on a variety of bike trips, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, for its concept and the route. This is a superb idea and I applaud your initiative."
--Kenn H, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"My overall experience was quite good. The tour route was very beautiful! My partner and I do not get to see much of each other during the school year and even our summers can be hard. Riding this tour was a wonderful way for us to spend a week together. I felt very safe on the tour. I really enjoyed our hosts and learning about their projects.
I liked the diversity of ages and abilities. It made me feel more comfortable coming from were I am at as a cyclist. Everyone was very friendly for the most part and I met some great people. I was also happy to see so many women participating!"
--Jessica W, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I wanted to do something adventurous, to cycle in nature, to be surrounded by beauty, to learn, and Be with my friends and make new ones. Mission accomplished.
The experience was extraordinary. The people we met along the way and the places we visited were fascinating. The trip was well organized once on site and safety was a priority. The staff was passionate and personable. The diversity of the group amazed me - age, career, life experience but the bonds that formed were beautiful and strong and I remain in touch with some of them today.
The commonalities in philosophy tied us together and the depth and breadth of knowledge shared resulted in an insightful, inspiring and most memorable journey."
--Tatiana N, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"The orientation site was perfect for exposing us to permaculture that we would be learning about during the week. Site visits were awesome. All the hosts were wonderful, knowledgeable, inspiring and gracious. The service projects were enjoyable and informative. It was great to see how much could be accomplished with a group of people working together. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The biking experience was wonderful and I appreciated the opportunity to learn to be self-sufficient on a self-contained tour. The knowledge gained and interaction with the farmers and other presenters, as well as the other participants, was invaluable. The staff and interns were wonderful, fun, helpful and knowledgeable. Most of the organizational aspects of the trip and certainly the content of the site visits and the bicycling were excellent."
--Jody S, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I loved the diversity on the farms and the amount of knowledge the farmer's had. They were incredible. I had so much fun and learned so much working side by side with the farmers and other participants. I will always treasure what I learned from the farmer's and the other participants."
--Kirsten K, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"Never in my life have I been able to interact with such a group of instructors who are not only passionate about what they are doing but also about sharing it with us and empowering us to act upon our values and visions. This is possible, in part, because this program recognizes that great teachers are born out of passion and authenticity, not necessarily from degrees. I want to thank all of the instructors and leaders for their contributions to a powerful experience. I am deeply grateful for this experience, and I do feel like it has changed my life for the better.
The site visits were all inspiring because they were part of a conversation that is happening right now. From a bio-diesel gas station to a neighborhood cob house construction, we got to be in the presence of real people acting on what they believe in to create a world they would like to live in. Existing in this type of creative tension is exciting and demands respect in my opinion.
The program was intense, and challenging, but also rewarding. I can't really say enough good things about it. This is not to say that it was perfect, but it was truly transformative. I will never be able to look at the world through the same lens again, and for that I am grateful. I also feel a great sense of responsibility that comes with awareness of what is and what can be and I have a clearer sense of purpose and direction for my life that was a living seed in me before the course that broke its shell afterwards. The breaking of that shell can be painful at times, but it's part of a greater process. The beauty of life comes from the diverse range of human experience, not just the pleasant ones. I repeat a note of gratitude once again. "
--Sarah T, Graduate, Permaculture Design & Regenerative Leadership
"The site visits were great that they all had showers!! The farmers were all wonderful people. It was fun and unique to bike and learn and work on farms. The participants were awesome!! "
--Jennifer D, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"My experience of this community-building, sustainability-education-action project leads me to believe it will become one of the biggest community action events of my generation. Remarkably, many people I met on this trip have responded positively to the reality of the overly commercialized, mechanized, growing consumer shadow of our country. They have carved out small inspiring ways to live sanely and even celebrate in such a fast-paced, oil-fueled, whirl-blur experience of life. As you can guess the 'cycling tour' was no vacation. We did service projects everyday at each place we stopped. We served, learned, and taught as we went. Now that the ship has set sail, I can only imagine this kind of participatory action and education gaining momentum and getting stronger. "
--David M, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I will be eternally grateful for the life changing experience I had on the common circle expedition I went on during the first summer of their rides. Touring through the backroads of Oregon stopping at sustainable communities, farms, schools, and businesses, showed me that there is a whole lot going on to be inspired by in this country. Eating healthy, exercising, meeting new amazing people, who became my friends, there is no other way I would rather spend time on vacation! This is an experience to have at least once in your life. And keep your eyes out for the movie I just directed, “Within Reach”, paying homage to the ride I went on with Common Circle and how it sparked a major transformation in my life... but you will have to watch the movie for the rest of the story!”"
--Ryan M, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"Most people go to Hawaii for the beaches, the surfing, the volcanoes or the resorts. I went there to bike across it. After finding a company from Oregon called Common Circle Expeditions, I bought a plane ticket, and on Boxing Day I was on a flight to Hawaii’s Big Island. I biked from Hilo to Kona, and stayed at organic farms, bed and breakfasts, intentional living communities, and state parks within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Bike touring holidays are amazing ways to see the world without a plate of glass between you and your travel destination. Traveling by bicycle gives you the freedom to get off main roads and see details you can’t see by bus or tour.
Bike touring is a great way to see the world, or your own backyard beyond your town or city. Traveling by bicycle tour gives you more freedom and a much more intimate sense of place than other ways of traveling. I learned about permaculture and organic farming from my bike trip. I got help at a bamboo farm, pick coffee beans for a day, and meet interesting people from all over the U.S. and Canada. "
--Haley K, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I think you have a fantastic initiative I and I will continue to fully support everything it is you are working towards. You provide such a great service to people, educating, inspiring and motivating them towards enhancing their lives through personal growth and awakening them to their own power to create a shift in the world. "
--Adelle B, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"The site visits were well organized, interesting, entertaining, informative, educational, and often gorgeous; many boasted prime examples of working components of the ideals of permaculture in practical use, and if some of the guides were a little bit vague or less than enthused, that is no fault of Common Circle's.
Overall, what can I say? The people, the surroundings, the good feelings... It all came together to create an extraordinary experience. The few small gripes I had don't hold a candle next to the warm, bright, and happy memories I now have from my time with Common Circle."
--Rachel R, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"I liked the variety of scale of site visits. It was nice to see people with small yards, the small farm and then the many acres as well. It was definitely fun to be working with the whole group. The very last day at Dharmalaya, while pulling some weeds, a few people commented that they had wanted to be doing that the whole time. Things sort of made more sense when we were actually outside doing."
--Jillian P, Graduate, Regenerative Leadership & Permaculture Design
"My wife, son and I joined 12 other bikers in early August for a one week sustainable farming bike tour in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The tour involved biking 40-60 miles one day and then touring/working on an organic farm the next day. Along the way we learned a lot about permaculture principles, sustainable farming practices, and community building. The trip was led by Vladislav Davidzon (founder of Common Circle Education) and HW Brady. I recommend Common Circle Education's bike tours to anyone interested in combining a self contained bike adventure with an opportunity learn some things about sustainable farming and permaculture."
--Edward C, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"This was an amazing experience. I've been trying to spread the word to friends. If you are considering it, DO IT. You won't regret it."
--Neil T, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I loved the diversity on the farms and the amount of knowledge the farmer's had. They were incredible. I had so much fun and learned so much working side by side with the farmers and other participants."
--Kirsten K, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I want to say that I really enjoyed the course and found it educational and enriching on many levels. It definitely added to my awareness, evolution and consciousness. Met many amazing people that are the stuff of dreams and are an asset to this earth."
--Jack B, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"It was nice to have a whole day to spend with the group and to get to know them through the exercises. Dharmalaya was wonderful. "
--Ross W, Graduate, Sustainability in Motion Bicycle Tour
"I really appreciate the work you put into this program. Coming back home to reflect on my experience is really what put it together for me. I can really see now why this program would be the leading permaculture school in the nation. The additional teachers were just as important as what Larry taught. I would definitely recommend this program to others, especially if the same or similar teachers are included."
--Lynn F, Graduate, Permaculture & Regenerative Leadership
"I learned so much at every level. The meals were out of this world. The teams did such a creative job of cooking something new each day and presenting it with such artistry. "
--Christiane W, Graduate, Permaculture Design & Regenerative Leadership
"Every instructor was so knowledgeable and intelligent. I have worked teaching accounting at private state colleges, and the instructors at those institutions could not even compare to those who taught this course. It is two sides of a coin- glad to be on the side I am most aligned with. This is the beginning of really thinking , creating and learning outside the box. I have been many places in this long lifetime. There are many places I have been that I called Heaven on Earth. Hidden Villa is one of those places.
This course was the BEST time I have had in the past 6 years"
--Lana T, Graduate, Permaculture Design & Regenerative Leadership
twitter
flickr
facebook
youtube
