In order to earn the Design Certificate

Attend Class

If for some reason you need to miss a part of class, you will need to make arrangements with the instructors. The last homestead design weekend is mandatory.

Participate

There will be many activities in class and some "homework". You need to put your best into this work to design your best homestead and increase your resiliency in and around Anchorage and the rest of the state.

Work Collaboratively

Working with others is sometimes the most difficult thing! Work hard to work together: offer ideas, bring enthusiasm, provide support, etc.

Honor Ethics and Principles

We expect both rural and urban homestead participants to adhere to permaculture principles and ethics during the course.

Demonstrate Learning

Make sure that you show how much you've learned in your actions, discussions and especially your final project.

Have Fun!

Part of being resilient while homesteading is being able to create your own entertainment. The talent show is required and it never fails to be a highlight of the course.

WHaT WILL I get out of THIS COURSE?

Some people enroll for personal enrichment and in order to get new skills, design their own home, homestead or project in a more ecologically sound.

Some have taken it for their professional learning (ie continuing education, especially if they are considering a move to a more earth centered career.)

Gardeners or Farmers often take the course in order to deal with the climate changes we are starting to see.

Many people take it so they can learn new skills, expecially if they have just moved into a new community/climate/setting.

Others are just looking for inspiration in a world that seems chaotic.

And a few take it because their spouses/friends have and they want to understand what permaculture really is.

Whatever YOUR reason, you can expect to:

1. Walk any property and suggest techniques based on your new knowledge of permaculture ethics, values, and methods to improve the resiliency of the property.

2. Use permaculture principles in your daily life as you grapple with decisions you need to make.

3. Understand energy flows, zones, sectors and micro climates to produce more yields

(water, food, soil, households, community, etc).

4. Create edible perennial systems even in Alaska.

5. Grow and store food with little or no fossil fuels use.

6. Act as a resource for your friends and neighbors

so they too can build resilience.

7. Look at problems as solutions by changing

the way you think.

8. Diversify your income streams.

9. Transform.

10. Become a strong community member.

To see the full curriculum, click here