The principles of Permaculture are commonly associated with a rural or agrarian setting, but they are applicable everywhere.
It is an adaptable set of problem-solving and decision-making ethics based on the patterns and systems of nature.
When we use this approach it creates a fundamental shift in our attitude, towards how to create innovative and sustainable solutions of abundance rather than scarcity and crisis.
We promote:
... Thoughtful Decision-Making
... Creative Problem-Solving
... But Reject “One Size Fits All” Solutions
"Before taking the class I didn't have a direction for my life. The Permaculture Design Course opened up a whole new world of possibilities and gave me a new direction that I was excited and inspired by. Larry has such a charisma and is hilarious. He brings personality and has such a good way of explaining concepts that pulls you in and grips you."
-Craig Kupolsky
After taking the course, I could see more clearly how everything is interconnected, and I’ve been able to apply the design principles to many areas of my life. I fucking love Larry. He has no filter, which made it much easier to discuss topics that can sometimes be uncomfortable. His approach and teaching style have challenged my beliefs and inspired me to live with a deeper sense of compassion and respect.
- Stacy Fisher Gunn founder and CEO of Living UP
I completed the course in March of 2017 and had revelations and affirmations about the importance of this work. I worked for years in the film industry as an actor and in script development and found myself unfulfilled. I was concerned with issues of ecology and climate and wanted to do something about it. I was able to change careers and started working for somebody I met in the course. I couldn't be happier about the change or more excited about my future!
- Cameron Miller Site and Projects Manager, The Birdhouse
"The Permaculture Design Course with Larry Santoyo has been an unbelievably fun and rewarding experience! And you don't have to be a gardener green thumb like me to use permaculture design in what you do!"
-Dakota R.
"Big thank you for the permaculture design training it has changed the way I think about the world..... And it has made me a better business person, something I didn't think a “gardening class” could do."
-Leslie D.
• Learn. Collaborate. Implement. Our trainings are about action, creating meaningful tangible action - have everything you need to build your sustainable future.
• Fast-track your learning with 96 hours of expert instruction AND over 24 hours of hands on learning at real sites all over Southern California.
• Never be confused or stumped again by a problem... our problem solving tools show you how to observe, design, and implement solutions that work time and time again.
• Be leagues ahead of others upon graduation... Complete a full-fledged design project with guidance from our expert staff.
• Learn the right way through mentor-student relationships. Learn one on one with an expert... You learn the way humans are meant to learn: through focused, individualized training passed down from a teacher to their student.
• Understanding the principles behind real, long-term, ecological sustainability (Plus become an agent of change by gaining skills you can use to excel on any team or project.)
• Become a champion at finding the right solution for the right project... apply what is needed not what is wanted.
• We help people escape burnout, fatigue, and being overwhelmed by learning the principles behind living a simple, impactful, and purpose-filled life.
Nature teaches us the language of patterns and shows how the garden can act as a metaphor for systems design. Observing and understanding the information presented by natural habitats reveals foundational design principles.
Mollisonian Design Ethics
The Origins of Form
Natural Succession Modelling
Biomimicry
Indicators of Sustainability
Design Methodologies, Sectors & Zones
Geolocational Profiling
All locations and situations have a designated set of zones and sectors that determine site design decisions. Factors that are identified and addressed include solar, hydrological, geological, cultural, and political conditions. These conditions also inform the palette of techniques and technologies that are applied.
Base Mapping & Property Design
Reversing Erosion & Watershed Management Practices
Greywater Systems
Soils, Compost & Mulch
Conservation of Energy
Passive Cooling & Heating Techniques
Strawbale, Cob and Adobe Buildings
Horticultural Designs
Site development includes a self-analysis of human dynamics, capital and socioeconomic study. It shows methods for community-wide sustainability, creating right-livelihoods and a sense of place. Personal and communal development pushes the designer to integrate themselves into the design, which aids in its success.
Micro-Economies
Wilderness Preservation
Eco-neighborhoods and Intentional Communities
Business Guilds and Cooperatives
Alternative Banking and Economic Strategies
Community Celebration