Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)
We offer our permaculture design certificates in four different formats to suite your interest from our do it yourself at your pace DIY version through our online scheduled certificate course to our personalized coaching and full on design studio format. No matter where you are in your permaculture education process we have a option to suit your needs.
Interested?
Sign up to take the free prerequisite course
Next course March 28th 18 of 20 spots remaining
"I took my first PDC with Jesse Lemieux in 2009 and was at the edge of my seat pretty much the whole time, absorbed in his teaching. His passion, knowledge and experience in permaculture clearly comes across in how he facilitates a class. I brought him to Saskatoon twice to teach PDCs since then and observed his ongoing commitment to provide the best learning environment possible for his students. He seems to be always teaching in any conversation he has with them. He’s inspired me to return the surplus to my community, assisting me and fellow Lemieux grads with advice along the way as we set up our own community group. I highly recommend taking a PDC or any permaculture course with Jesse."
- Ken MacLeod, PDC graduate,
Co-Founder, Permaculture Research Institute of Saskatchewan
The Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) is internationally recognized. Graduates of the permaculture design certificate are involved globally and locally in earth repair, regenerative agriculture and community development. Anywhere good work is being done you will find PDC graduates. Sometimes operating alone more often as part of integrated design teams. Participating at all levels from the grassroots to the government, NGOs to the UN.
The Pacific Permaculture PDC will teach you how to use our permaculture design process: from setting project values, goals and criteria; through reading and assessing climatic, landscape, ecological and social factors; to generating on paper designs and implementation plans that bring together:
Elements of Water
A pond supplies gravity fed irrigation to gardens down slope.
Micro-Climate
South Facing Rock Terraces, create a hot pocket for vegetables in Northern Saskatchewan
Vegetable Production
Selecting the best location for your garden has very little to do with soil!
Food Forests and Perennial Food Systems
Fruit Trees, Berries, Perennial Vegetable, Herbs and Medicines these essential permaculture systems have it all!
Animal Systems
Chickens, Pigs, Cows, Goats, Sheep...whatever the case may be but getting them working for you!
Permaculture integrates all of these things and much much more.
Our PDC is more than 72 hrs long, and follows closely to the curriculum laid out by Bill Mollison (founder of the permaculture concept). We use his seminal work "Permaculture A Designers' Manual" as the course textbook.
To ensure there is something for everyone, we provided three equally effective, yet different, learning packages. From our learn at your own pace DIY package, through the online certificate course, to the full-on homesteader experience I am sure that you will find what you are looking for.
Sincerely
Jesse Lemieux, BSc. PDC
Principal, Designer and Teacher
Pacific Permaculture
P.S.
I have been teaching PDC courses since 2007 and have rarely had a dissatisfied student. Many of my students keep in regular contact. Many of whom have gone on to make major career shifts and start their own business. Business full of meaning and connection with communities and landscapes. As a teacher nothing thrills me more than to hear from past students 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 years later sharing all the good work they have gotten themselves into.
"Hey Jesse,
I have a small biz with my dad and we are closing down by the end of July. I'm going to start a farm on my property as my new career. 1 acre right around my house I'm going to SPIN farm, eventually the 2-3 acres behind will be some perennial prairie pasture and the low spot in the back of my field I want to turn into a duck pond/wetland.
Two years ago I had no idea what permaculture really was or ho I could apply it to abusiness but I emailed you and asked about what books I should get. This was about a year before I took my PDC [with you]. I ws looking at them on my shelf yesterday and realized how much good information you directed me to and what a good path it set me on. I really feel like things are coming together and that I'm lining things up to have a successful business and I just wanted to say thanks for all your help. I hope all is well with you and your family!
Thanks for everything."
- Scott Hebert, June 12th 2015
Owner Operator, Flavourful Farms
"Previous to my permaculture training I felt lost in my career. I came away from my permaculture design certificate confident I had found a community and a practice which I could put my energy towards. In fact, I left a previous career and started a permaculture business. Perhaps it's the way Jesse taught permaculture - it all seemed so doable. All in all, this course spawned one of the most formative changes in my life so far."
- Adrian Buckley, B. of Community Devlopement, PDC graduate
Advisory Group, Meaningful Work Project
"I took the 72 hour Permaculture Design Course from Pacific Permaculture. Each class introduced principles and challenged us to think beyond our understandings. The course establishes a solid foundation for sustainable living and productivity. Jesse's commitment to living out permaculture principles and creating community is infectious."
- Lisa, PDC graduate
"In the Summer of 2009, I had the pleasure of taking a permaculture design certificate (PDC) with Jesse Lemieux, lead instructor at Pacific Permaculture. Jesse's wealth of knowledge, extensive experience, and passion for the material made the course exceptionally thought provoking and life changing. He runs a well organized course with clear instruction and engaging activities. Since taking the PDC, I have attempted to integrate permaculture design and systems thinking into all aspects of my life. In the Spring of 2010, I approached the principal of a large Edmonton High School to create a garden in the school's derelict central courtyard. Today, containing more then eighty species of edible perennial plants, the courtyard flourishes as a food producing forest in the centre of the school; building soil, sequestering carbon, encouraging diversity, yielding food, and serving students and staff as a cross-curricular learning. It goes without saying that had it not been for [my permaculture training], I would not be attempting the rewarding work that I am doing today. Taking a PDC has literally changed my life in every aspect."
"It is with high praise that I recommend Pacific Permaculture's permaculture certificate. You will not regret taking this course."
- Dustin Bajer - B.Ed., PDC graduate
Founder of "permacultureschool.ca" and "dustinbajer.com"
"Jenny and I hosted and participated as students in Jesse's permaculture design certificate in summer 2011. The experience has provided our family with a new lens through which to interpret and interact with the world. That is, with nature, the built environment and our community. Jesse's passionate delivery of the curriculum was grounded in his extensive experience in multiple climates and contexts. Thus, he was able to render permaculture design 'theory' as real and lived through anecdotes and storytelling. Jesse has inspired us to continue to learn about and apply the principles of pemaculture, empowering us to design living systems that not only sustain but regenerate earth and community."
- Colin and Jenny Anderson, PDC Graduates
Past Managers, Harvest Moon Society
"This course was amazing! I'd been in horticulture for about 6 years, going to school and becoming educated in the traditional sense was great. But, the permaculture training made it all worth while. Permaculture design showed me connections where I had previously seen none. I learned common sense and practical solutions that had never been brought to light before. Whether you're looking to do large scale Earth shaping, or develop your urban oasis, I highly recommend you take this course."
- Raegen Olmstead PDC Journeyman Landscape Horticulturist CLT Certified Arborist, PDC graduate
"My permaculture training with Pacific Permaculture illuminated the relationships between self-sufficiency, solidarity, and sustainability. Pacific Permaculture's approach to design makes the key information and strategies accessible to groups of people who are ready to think in innovative ways, get their hands dirty, and have fun!"
- Jeh Custerra, Food Sovereignty Activist, PDC graduate
"I took my first PDC with Jesse Lemieux in 2009 and was at the edge of my seat pretty much the whole time, absorbed in his teaching. His passion, knowledge and experience in permaculture clearly comes across in how he facilitates a class. I brought him to Saskatoon twice to teach PDCs since then and observed his ongoing commitment to provide the best learning environment possible for his students. He seems to be always teaching in any conversation he has with them. He’s inspired me to return the surplus to my community, assisting me and fellow Lemieux grads with advice along the way as we set up our own community group. I highly recommend taking a PDC or any permaculture course with Jesse."
- Ken MacLeod, PDC graduate,
Co-Founder, Permaculture Research Institute of Saskatchewan
"I am grateful to have learned about permaculture from Jesse, who is experienced, passionate and practical about solving the ecological and social challenges we face together. He is well rooted in a direct lineage from the originators of permaculture, and continues to be active and effective as a propagator of this vital body of knowledge. I recommend him highly to anyone who is seeking an inspiring and comprehensive method for living in harmony with nature."
- Ian Avery, B.Mus, PDC graduate