How do I become a Permaculture Designer? In the following I am going to list the classic pathway to become a Permaculture Designer for all those thinking of starting their exciting new direction in life.
Introductory Course
Typically, a friend drags you along to some kind of hippie weekend — or at least that’s what you think at first. But there, you had so many lightbulbs go off that you decided that “This is it! This is amazing.”
Introductory courses are usually held frequently through a lively Permaculture community or in a country with an active permaculture school or association. These courses give a first, playful introduction to the topic and draw people in with simple, hands-on tools. Usually, they last one or two days. Often they include tactile experiences in a garden or forests and give you a first insight into how these Permaculture people operate worldwide.
You will learn: A unique first introduction to Permaculture Design and its real-world application.
72h Permaculture Design Certificate, or “PDC”
People who fell in love with Permaculture during the introductory course then continue to learn the basics of Permaculture. This course, lasting a total of 72h, is the foundation to start designing and understanding Permaculture Design at a deeper level. The ‘72h’ can be misleading — it actually packs as much input as a three-year apprenticeship into just a few weeks or months. The amount of information that students have to learn should not be underestimated.
Usually, such courses are taught wherever there is a lively Permaculture community. and they are held on site during one or two weeks or they could be held throughout a year by meeting once a month.
Today, there are international teachers who offer the “PDC” online as well. I personally suggest taking an on-site course because you will experience working with your hands and connect with your newfound family, which are so valuable and satisfying.
Saying this from my own personal experience, I recommend taking more than just one PDC. Why? Because they are very specific to the place and the project they are held in. Also, the teachers include their own flavour and give it a certain vibe. It’s a huge difference if you take your PDC in Findhorn Ecovillage or in a new project in Greece which has only existed for two years. The two sites will provide you with a very different experience. Taking a PDC in a completely different country or setting helps broaden your perspective. The course content, however, is the same all over the world.
Once you are in possession of the PDC, you are allowed to teach Permaculture Design to others.
You will learn: Introduction to Permaculture, observational skills, designing with nature, planning permaculture systems, sustainable food production, water management, soil health and fertility, energy systems, community and social design, practical exercises.
Permaculture Designer Diploma
The Permaculture “University”. The hardcore permies opt for the diploma once they have done the PDC and are serious about making Permaculture Design a part of their future life. It represents the highest educational achievement in the field of permaculture design you can get. The Diploma pathway goes beyond the foundational knowledge offered in the (PDC) and focuses on applying advanced concepts and practical skills in real-world settings and projects.
Typically, this takes a minimum of two years of study and completion of ten projects according to permaculture design methods. You need to showcase your expertise at the end of your studies to get accredited. Accreditation is a public presentation of your projects and work.
Normally though, it takes much longer than two years — people have work, family, and their own land-based projects, which can’t be rushed. All that takes a lot of time.
There is the opportunity to attend the diploma courses in many European countries at present (and worldwide), however, the availability varies and the organisation can be slightly different. For example, some do offer a foundational year with several weekend workshops that needs to be completed as a base. Others offer a completely self-organised diploma course where a body is only responsible for your final accreditation. So it is good to check the requirements and administration of each country thoroughly before choosing.
You will learn: Advanced design principles, ecological systems design, integrative patterns and processes, social permaculture, permaculture business design, regenerative agriculture practice, site planning and management, research and development, teaching and facilitation skills, project management, and more about yourself than you ever expected 🙂
Miscellaneous courses
There are a variety of optional courses you can take independently. They are usually regionally organised; they could even be part of the diploma pathway or even online. Examples are a teacher training course, specific building courses, food forest courses held independently.
Useful links to permaculture associations in Europe
(not complete, I added what could be found at the time of publishing the article)
🇩🇪 Germany Permakultur Akademie (Permaculture Academy Germany) – https://permakultur-akademie.de
🇦🇹 Permakultur Austria https://www.permakultur-austria-akademie.at/, Permakultur im Alpenraum https://www.permakultur-akademie.com/
🇫🇷 France Université Populaire de Permaculture – https://permaculturefrance.org
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Permakultur Schweiz – https://www.permakultur.ch Permaculture Suisse – https://www.permaculture.ch/
🇮🇸 Iceland: Vistræktarfélag Íslands https://www.facebook.com/vistraekt
🇭🇺 Hungarian Permaculture Association (MAPER) — https://eng.permakultura.hu/
🇨🇿 Permakultura (CS) — Czech National Permaculture Association https://www.permakulturacs.cz/english
🇸🇰 Škola permakultúry (Slovakia) — https://www.skolapermakultury.sk/
🇷🇸 Permaculture Association Serbia — https://permaculture.rs
🇲🇰 Natura MK (North Macedonia) — https://www.naturamk.org/index‑EN.html
🇹🇷 Permatürk Foundation (Turkey) — https://en.permaturk.org
🇨🇾 Permaculture Designs Cyprus — https://www.permaculturedesignscyprus.com
🇬🇷 Permaculture Greece (Permaculture Association of Greece) — https://permaculture-greece.org/en/
🇷🇴 Institutul de Cercetare în Permacultură din România — https://www.initiativelocale.ro
🇲🇩 Moldova Organic Value Chain Alliance (MOVCA) — https://movca.md/en
🇭🇷 Hrvatska Permakultura (Croatia) — https://www.perforum.info
Introductory Course
Typically, a friend drags you along to some kind of hippie weekend — or at least that’s what you think at first. But there, you had so many lightbulbs go off that you decided that “This is it! This is amazing.”
Introductory courses are usually held frequently through a lively Permaculture community or in a country with an active permaculture school or association. These courses give a first, playful introduction to the topic and draw people in with simple, hands-on tools. Usually, they last one or two days. Often they include tactile experiences in a garden or forests and give you a first insight into how these Permaculture people operate worldwide.
You will learn: A unique first introduction to Permaculture Design and its real-world application.
72h Permaculture Design Certificate, or “PDC”
People who fell in love with Permaculture during the introductory course then continue to learn the basics of Permaculture. This course, lasting a total of 72h, is the foundation to start designing and understanding Permaculture Design at a deeper level. The ‘72h’ can be misleading — it actually packs as much input as a three-year apprenticeship into just a few weeks or months. The amount of information that students have to learn should not be underestimated.
Usually, such courses are taught wherever there is a lively Permaculture community. and they are held on site during one or two weeks or they could be held throughout a year by meeting once a month.
Today, there are international teachers who offer the “PDC” online as well. I personally suggest taking an on-site course because you will experience working with your hands and connect with your newfound family, which are so valuable and satisfying.
Saying this from my own personal experience, I recommend taking more than just one PDC. Why? Because they are very specific to the place and the project they are held in. Also, the teachers include their own flavour and give it a certain vibe. It’s a huge difference if you take your PDC in Findhorn Ecovillage or in a new project in Greece which has only existed for two years. The two sites will provide you with a very different experience. Taking a PDC in a completely different country or setting helps broaden your perspective. The course content, however, is the same all over the world.
Once you are in possession of the PDC, you are allowed to teach Permaculture Design to others.
You will learn: Introduction to Permaculture, observational skills, designing with nature, planning permaculture systems, sustainable food production, water management, soil health and fertility, energy systems, community and social design, practical exercises.
Permaculture Designer Diploma
The Permaculture “University”. The hardcore permies opt for the diploma once they have done the PDC and are serious about making Permaculture Design a part of their future life. It represents the highest educational achievement in the field of permaculture design you can get. The Diploma pathway goes beyond the foundational knowledge offered in the (PDC) and focuses on applying advanced concepts and practical skills in real-world settings and projects.
Typically, this takes a minimum of two years of study and completion of ten projects according to permaculture design methods. You need to showcase your expertise at the end of your studies to get accredited. Accreditation is a public presentation of your projects and work.
Normally though, it takes much longer than two years — people have work, family, and their own land-based projects, which can’t be rushed. All that takes a lot of time.
There is the opportunity to attend the diploma courses in many European countries at present (and worldwide), however, the availability varies and the organisation can be slightly different. For example, some do offer a foundational year with several weekend workshops that needs to be completed as a base. Others offer a completely self-organised diploma course where a body is only responsible for your final accreditation. So it is good to check the requirements and administration of each country thoroughly before choosing.
You will learn: Advanced design principles, ecological systems design, integrative patterns and processes, social permaculture, permaculture business design, regenerative agriculture practice, site planning and management, research and development, teaching and facilitation skills, project management, and more about yourself than you ever expected 🙂
Miscellaneous courses
There are a variety of optional courses you can take independently. They are usually regionally organised; they could even be part of the diploma pathway or even online. Examples are a teacher training course, specific building courses, food forest courses held independently.
Useful links to permaculture associations in Europe
(not complete, I added what could be found at the time of publishing the article)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Permaculture Association Britain – https://www.permaculture.org.uk
🇮🇪 All Ireland Permaculture Association — https://permaculture.ie/🇩🇪 Germany Permakultur Akademie (Permaculture Academy Germany) – https://permakultur-akademie.de
🇦🇹 Permakultur Austria https://www.permakultur-austria-akademie.at/, Permakultur im Alpenraum https://www.permakultur-akademie.com/
🇫🇷 France Université Populaire de Permaculture – https://permaculturefrance.org
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Permakultur Schweiz – https://www.permakultur.ch Permaculture Suisse – https://www.permaculture.ch/
🇪🇸 Spain
Permacultura Íbera Network – https://permaculturaiberica.org🇮🇹 Italy
Accademia Italiana di Permacultura –https://www.accademiaitalianapermacultura.it🇸🇪 Sweden / Nordic / Baltic Region
Nordic Permaculture Academy – https://nordicpermacultureacademy.org🇮🇸 Iceland: Vistræktarfélag Íslands https://www.facebook.com/vistraekt
🇭🇺 Hungarian Permaculture Association (MAPER) — https://eng.permakultura.hu/
🇨🇿 Permakultura (CS) — Czech National Permaculture Association https://www.permakulturacs.cz/english
🇸🇰 Škola permakultúry (Slovakia) — https://www.skolapermakultury.sk/
🇷🇸 Permaculture Association Serbia — https://permaculture.rs
🇲🇰 Natura MK (North Macedonia) — https://www.naturamk.org/index‑EN.html
🇹🇷 Permatürk Foundation (Turkey) — https://en.permaturk.org
🇨🇾 Permaculture Designs Cyprus — https://www.permaculturedesignscyprus.com
🇬🇷 Permaculture Greece (Permaculture Association of Greece) — https://permaculture-greece.org/en/
🇷🇴 Institutul de Cercetare în Permacultură din România — https://www.initiativelocale.ro
🇲🇩 Moldova Organic Value Chain Alliance (MOVCA) — https://movca.md/en
🇭🇷 Hrvatska Permakultura (Croatia) — https://www.perforum.info