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 cover:
- 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
Why Choose a Common Circle Education Permaculture Design Course?
With the majority of the global population living in urban and suburban environments, our courses meet people there, focusing the curriculum towards urban and suburban solutions. Most other permaculture design courses are heavily focused on rural agricultural solutions, rather than the skills most critically needed in suburban and urban settings.
“My experience in the course was invaluable. I find myself with a new permaculture lens that I can put on at will, and see the world around me in a way that I feel leads to making more conscious decisions and living better in harmony with the earth.” – Deborah F., course graduate
Our programs heavily focus on inner permaculture, compassionate communication, eco-psychology and other community design and development skills. Course participants often remark that these elements are the most useful parts of the course — and yet they are often not present in other courses. With people being one of the most abundant resources present in urban environments, the community-building skills our courses provide are absolutely critical.
With the focus on Regenerative Leadership, this program offers the opportunity for tremendous personal growth through both inner and outer permaculture work. We spend a significant amount of time exploring our inner landscapes and honoring our experience as a people living through profoundly challenging times. Through the honoring of our shared experience, we discover ways towards truly regenerative leadership deeply rooted in a nature-based value system.
Internationally Recognized Certification
This course includes and builds upon the standard Permaculture Design Certification curriculum, as laid out by the co-founder of Permaculture, Bill Mollison. Upon successful completion of the course requirements, graduates are awarded the Common Circle Education Regenerative Leadership and Urban Permaculture Design Certification which includes (and dramatically exceeds) the prestigious and internationally-recognized Permaculture Design Certificate. Our certification requires attendance for at least 90% of the entire program, successful completion of a design project, demonstrating proficiency in covered topics, and instructor approval.
Intensive Residential Course Field Trips
Site visits 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 some of the hosts with whom we often work for our Oregon permaculture courses; this is only a sample list and is not indicative of site visits on any given program, and some programs do not include site visits (please contact us for specific details about site visits for CA programs):
- 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.
Lost Valley Educational Center (Dexter, OR)
The Lost Valley center and intentional community form what the residents consider to be an “aspiring” ecovllage, and a “living laboratory” for exploring, experimenting, and demonstrating how humans can successfully live simply and well within their ecosystems. Lost Valley focuses on permaculture, sustainable food production and human community, as well as on providing specific programs for people in the region on how to successfully respond to current and future environmental resource limitations.
- 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.
- MattCyn Farms (Albany, OR)
This family-owned organic farm grows food sustainably, caring for the land as well as providing a valuable food source for local eaters. As Michael Pollan has pointed out in his recent books, it’s vital that we begin to “solarize” agriculture, moving from fossil-fuel-heavy methods to organic farming, and localizing our food supply so that we are not burning oil to ship refrigerated food vast distances. Putting farming back into the hands of small-scale farmers within local areas is good for people (especially kids, who grow up with access to green spaces and a closer relationship with animals and crops), as well as good for the land. It also makes for more delicious food!
- 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.
- Hayes Valley Farm (San Francisco, CA)
What happens when a freeway off-ramp is turned into a permaculture community center? After the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, San Francisco’s Central Freeway was compromised. In the years to come the ramps bordered by Laguna, Oak, Fell, and Octavia Streets were closed, and the lot was locked up. On January 24, 2010, the City activated the site for temporary green space use, and the community started pouring in, turning the site into a permaculture garden.
* Please note that course logistics and details are subject to change without notice or refund.
Space is limited, and courses often sell out early.
Payment plans are available for your convenience!
Click here to apply for this program!
Check out some of the things past participants have said about this program:
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
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