These are a few of the powerful points made by Allan Savory and his work to holistically manage grazing. Watch the video, hear his powerful message, and then use this new knowledge to make a difference in the world.
Click here to download the episode.
This show veers off the path some from usual episodes as I’m here to toss a question out, as the rather long title of this episode suggests, about what you, in particular, would expect or want out of an online Permaculture Design Course.
Before getting to the student side of things, a question to the other permaculture teachers who listen to the program, as I know at least a few of you do: how would you model the online experience to meet the 72-hours of instruction, as set forth by Mollison, and considered the bare minimum standard for a PDC?
Since I mentioned wanting to put together an online PDC a few months ago, I’ve mulled over the idea of what an online PDC would look like. After putting together the show on “What to look for when looking for a PDC”, I feel I can more than deliver on the requirements outlined in that material. You know who I am, who my teachers are, their teachers, and know my understanding of permaculture curriculum in every conversation with a guest or through the topical episodes assembled from my own notes.
Based on messages received after announcing the possibility of an online PDC, the core thread of desire was about having the depth of knowledge necessary to lead to a design certificate, and that the certificate is accepted by the Permaculture community. Given my teachers, the variety of people in the community who know me, and the very public format of this website and podcast, a PDC certificate from me, Scott Mann, won’t be a problem.
Now then, for the listeners who are students of permaculture, what would you want the class to look like? Before trying to answer that kind of a big, broad question, here’s what I mean: I’ve taken several online classes and talked to friends who have as well. That pool of experiences leads to some overarching examples. In some cases, the online classes were large seminars with minimal access to the instructor, and the bulk of the course work was self-directed based on a syllabus that included all activities for the semester with what chapters to read and assignment due dates. You know, read this book, do this homework, take this test, wash, lather, and repeat until you’re done. Other classes were previous recorded lectures the students watched or listened to, and then posted to a discussion forum, with homework, and 2-3 exams. One class I took consisted of a series of small assignments that built towards a final project, with instructor feedback provided on each piece building towards the final whole.
With those kinds of thoughts in mind, I come to the following questions to fill out the discussion.
How would you want to cover the PDC material? Video lectures you can watch online? A series of PDC oriented in-depth audio to download and listen to on the go? Or would you rather read the necessary material? There’s definitely reading involved however we do this, but what portion of the course would you want covered in text?
Do you want to be graded on the material? To receive scores like you might in school to determine where your work is at and where you can improve. Or would non-scored written and/or verbal feedback on assignments be enough?
How much access would you want to the instrutor? What’s your preferred method of contact? Email? Phone? Online forum? Should I have regular office hours to call and discuss questions as they arise?
Do you want a “classical” selection of Permaculture Design Course material, as outlined in Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual? Or something up-to-date and relevant to the skills, techniques, and information available now?
I know that’s a rapid fire succession of questions coming from me, but however you found this show, you continue to listen because there’s something of value in what I do. I want to honor that value by providing a course you want to take. If the majority of the feedback presents a desire for something outside my ability to properly deliver I won’t try to put together a PDC. If, however, there is a way to make it work, then we’ll have something this year.
One piece of feedback I received during the first round of conversation is that some listeners don’t want to have to sit in front of a computer all the time to cover the material, which I can understand completely. That leads me to two paths in the road, both of which I feel can be addressed, but require different ways to make it happen.
Option 1, for those who are comfortable with more time at a computer, is to do the on-line course in a way where students can meet and interact with one another and myself, and to post projects on-line as both a proof of work and for further discussion. We get more of a teacher in the classroom experience.
Option 2, to reduce the time spent on-line, is to make the interaction more of a mentor and student relationship that relies more heavily on a project based curriculum with regular one-on-one homework, and ongoing contact between myself and the student to provide feedback via email and phone calls.
Anyway, those are my thoughts right now as I chew through the details. I’d love to hear your ideas. Begin by choosing which course you’d rather participate in, 1 – a digital classroom, 2 – mentor lead learning, and leave a note in the comments for this show, or you know the usual ways to contact me:
show (at) thepermaculturepodcast (dot) com
717.827.6266.
Until the next time, take care of the earth, your self, and each other.
With all the information in, every comment, email, and download counted, here are the top 5 episodes of 2012, in no particular order.
If you recently began listening these shows represent a broad overview of the guests interviewed and topics covered at The Permaculture Podcast. If you wanted a place to “start here” these episodes provide a perspective from the beginning, and show where we will go together in the future.
The Permaculture Handbook: An Interview with Peter Bane
Radical Possibilities with Ethan Hughes
Nutrient Dense Foods with Dan Kittredge
Carbon Farming: Soils with Connor Stedman
Eric Toensmeier on Perennials, Broadscale Permaculture, and Food Forests
Click here to download the episode.
To start the New Year, I look back over 2012 and consider the year ahead: the growth of the show, support, technology changes, website changes, and upcoming topics and guests.
I say unequivocally: 2012 was a great year. After relaunching in mid-June, the show grew beyond my expectations. At that beginning 300 of you tuned in regularly to find out the happenings in the world of Permaculture. By the end of the year, conservatively, since figuring out the number of people who hear a podcast is a bit tricky, over 1,100 of you join for any given show, a number that grows with every new episode. If nothing changes, and you and I keep doing what we do, me producing shows and you sharing with like-minded folks, in 2013 the show is on track to top 3,000 listeners. 18 months from 300 to 3000. A 10-fold increase. Amazing!
This couldn’t happen without your support, which allowed the show to keep going in a meaningful way, including the award of a scholarship to a permaculture presentation, and to perform several minor technology upgrades, with more of both planned in the upcoming year. Though I still search for where to give more scholarships, I did narrow the field on the next technology upgrade, now I finished building the desktop computer for editing the show that includes a monitor large enough to ease my aging eyes, comes in the form of a new microphone.
If you can assist with that project in particular, or the show in general, go to The Permaculture Podcast and click on the Support tab to make a donation. While there you’ll find you can make a one-time contribution or, at the request of a listener, sign up for the recurring monthly option. Either way, great good comes from your generosity and I deeply appreciate any way you choose to help.
In addition to that change expect several more from this show forward. First: news, updates, and other information no longer get separated into standalone monthly episodes. Seminars, classes, courses, and similar pieces in the future get posted to the website, not included in the podcasts, with other notes added to the intro or ending of an interview or topical show, with a quick note reminding everyone about new website content.
Another change coming to the show stems from my going back to school. A few short weeks from now I enter a program for a Masters of Science in Parks, Resources, and Environmental Education, the non-M.Ed version of an M.Ed. in Environmental Education. After considerable soul searching, and my ongoing desire to take permaculture further within the credentialed society in the United States, returning to school for an advanced degree became the best option forward. Not everyone needs to walk down the road of more education, considering the great work so many of you already do, but some of people need to possess the alphabet soup after our names to take the next step, push the boundaries, and continue to grow permaculture as a whole.
Thankfully, after several discussions with my advisor and looking over my schedule, both school and personal, nothing negative happens to the show; only positive. The quantity of shows stays the same, 6-8 a month while I work towards the ideal of 2 per week without interruption. The quality improves from what I learn in class and more high quality non-podcast material gets posted to the website. Win-win for all of us.
Another change comes from additional content. Streamlining my production process over the past few months, which felt like blind luck though others might kindly call gaining experience, frees up time not only for school but also to read and, especially, write more about the myriad of topics available in the world of regenerative design.
The link above contains my current catalog of potential standalone show content, as well as people and organization to speak with and their areas of specialization. Though by no means exhaustive, take a few minutes to download and review the contents. If any of ideas or people listed stick out for me to write about or contact sooner rather than later, please let me know. Also, if you see a glaring hole that needs filled, someone or something for me to cover, or, if you prefer for a past guest to return and expand on what they already shared, I want to hear from you.
That takes a look at the past of 2012 and into the future of 2013, what about right now? At the moment the upcoming guest list includes Rafter Sass-Ferguson and his work on documenting self-identified permaculture projects about the United States. Christopher Shein and I, after missing each other due to the holidays, sit down to talk about his forthcoming book, The Vegetable Gardeners Guide to Permaculture. My friend Erin Harvey join me later in the month to talk about her experiences as a beginning farmer. And Dan Kittredge returns to further the conversation on rock dusts and nutrient dense farming. Plus, put another half-dozen or so people in the process of setting up interviews.
So much good ahead for all of us. If I can help you on your permaculture path in any way, give me a call: 717.827.6266 or send me an email: 717.827.6266.
Until the next time, take care of the Earth, your self, and each other.
Click here to download the episode.
The permaculture update for December 2012. Updates about the show, upcoming interviews, classes, and episodes.
First, let me thank everyone who listens to the show or connects with it via the website or elsewhere. I couldn’t do this without that encouragement.
Second, for everyone who’s made a donation or supported the show by spreading the word, thank you again. You help the show reach more people and continue to grow. If you haven’t, find out how at: thepermaculturepodcast.com/support
In trying to give back to the permaculture community at large, the forum is live with incoming moderators. Stop in, check it out, and add your thoughts and knowledge so this community space can contain the knowledge for anyone to practice permaculture:
http://www.thepermaculturepodcast.com/forum
Peter Bane’s book tour begins on December 7th, the day this episode goes live. Listen to my interview with him and then check out the updated tour schedule at permaculturehandbook.com.
On December 11th, Dan Kittredge joins the show for an interview about nutrient dense farming and re-mineralizing soil.
His work can be found at: http://bionutrient.org/
Christopher Shein, author of the forthcoming book “The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Permaculture” from Timber Press sits down with me across the continent on December 14th. We’ll talk about his background, as always, his work, and the book.
If you have questions for either guest, or the show in general contact me:
E-mail: show (at) thepermaculturepodcast (dot) com.
Phone: 717.827.6266
Twitter: @permaculturecst
Facebook: The Permaculture Podcast
Upcoming Classes and Permaculture Seminars
Sunrise Ranch Permaculture Course (April 2013)
Permaculture Design Course from One World Permaculture at the Austin Community College. Follow the Austin Community College link to register for the Spring 2013 semester.
Permaculture Course list from Permaculture Magazine: http://www.permaculture.co.uk/courses
Click here to download the episode.
The November Update includes:
Contact the Show:
E-mail: show (at) thepermaculturepodcast (dot) com
Voicemail: 717.827.6266
Click here to download the episode.
What’s in store for this update?
Sponsors and Supporters
Nancy Grove and everyone at Old Path Farm
Tony Murlin
Clinton Whitney
Evan Fannin
Eli Mailey
Ben Karpin
Matthew Cone
Resources
Let’s Get Dirty Permaculture Design Course Pictures
Urban Agriculture Site
Contact:
E-mail: show (at) thepermaculturepodcast (dot) com
Phone: 717-827-6266