Permaculture Design Certification – Finca Morpho

The two-week Permaculture Design Course (PDC) offers training in holistic problem-solving for all aspects of human settlement, both visible and invisible. Located beach front and near the Corcovado rainforest we will demonstrate, explain and train you to integrate whole systems design and pattern thinking into your social, economic, land, water, plant and shelter subsystems.

Minimum 72 hours internationally recognized permaculture fundamentals curriculum, delivers the standard course originally initiated by Bill and Lisa Mollison’s Permaculture Institute (PI) recognized since 1984 by institutes around the world.

Students will learn practical applications of ecology, design for buildings, soil, water, and vegetation management, design for animals, technology, economics, urban and rural environments, and planning for catastrophe, among other subjects. Permaculture is an ethical design system. Those completing the course will receive a certificate attesting to their participation.

The PDC will be led by Nicolo Scifo. An environmental activist since youth, Nicolo brings long experience in organic farming, permaculture design and practice, construction and ecological landscaping trades together with training in the arts of psychology,(counselling and life skills coaching) of personal transformation, NVC, Sociocracy, and healthy communication to his practice of permaculture design.

He divides his time between Costa Rica and Western Canada

THE COURSE INCLUDES:

72 hours 

3 meals a day, made by our chef(s) from locally sourced, fresh organic foods. 
At least one design project, or multiple design vignettes as the group dictates.
A Talent Show at the concluding celebration.

Field Trip to some interesting demonstration sites.

The PDC Course will be taught in English, with Spanish translators available.

Students who cannot afford the course costs may consider working with We The Trees, a permaculture crowd funding site.
Please read the following documents before attending the Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) Course 2018:
Finca Morpho’s Community Living Agreements
Finca Morpho’s Red-Book
Finca Morpho’s Co-Creator’s Agreements

THE WEEKLY FLOW 

(subject to change slightly)

Students are asked to arrive on Saturday, Nov. 30, anytime earlier in the day/afternoon;

 7pm Introductions.

Each morning will begin with an opening session at 8:30 for review and announcements.

Sunday 12/1:

 9:00-10:30; Evidence, Ethics, and What is Permaculture?

11:00-12:30; Pc Principles

Lunch break 

2:30-3:30; Principles II

3:45-5:15; Observation

5:00-6:30; Patterns in Nature

Monday 12/2

9:00-10:30; Ecosystems 

11-12:30; Climate and Biogeography

Lunch Break

2:30-4:15; Reading the Landscape – Team

4:30-6:00; Water

Tuesday 12/3 

9:00-10:30; Trees and Forests

11:00-12:30; Soils

2:30-6:00; Levelling Instruments, Earth-working Projects- Team

Wednesday 12/4 

9:00-10:30; Microclimate

11:00-12:30; Home Systems, Elevations, Sectors, and Zones

2:30-3:45; Garden Practical (sheet mulch)

4:00-5:15; Garden Design, IPM, Seeds

5:30-6:30; Food & Nutrition

Thursday 12/5

9:00-10:00; Bldg. Design

10:15-11:15; Bldg. Science

11:30- 12:30; Waste Treatment 

2:30-3:30; Mapping I

3:15-4:15; Energy & Appropriate Technology

5:00-6:00; Fire and Catastrophe 

Friday 12/6 

9:00-10:00; Aquaculture 

10:15-11:15; Agroforestry

11:30-12:30; Design Methods

2:30-3:00; Design Projects – description & selection

3:00-5:30; Site Observation

5:30- 6:00; Team reports

Saturday 12/7 

Day of Rest

Sunday 12/8

9:00-10:30; Settlement Patterns

11:00-12:30; Urban Strategies 

2:30-3:45; Mapping II

4:00-5:00; Small Animals I 

5:15-6:00; Information Gathering; Interview/Analysis

Monday 12/9

9:00-10:30; Pattern Languages

11:00-12:30; Broad scale Strategies

2:30-3:30; Interview client

3:45-6 :00; Conceptual Design & short presentations -Team

Tuesday. 12/10 

9:00-10:00; Economics & Human Needs

10:15-11:15; Invisible Structures 

11:30-12:30; Money & Financial Systems

2:30-4:45; Create Base Maps

5:00-6:00; Budgeting & Costs

Wednesday 12/11

9:00-10:30; Villages & Neighbourhoods

10:45-11:15; Presentation Skills 

11:30-12:30; Team Projects

2:30-6:00; Design Projects

Thursday 12/12

9:00-10:00; Earth working

10:15-11:15; Large Animals

11:30-4:00; Design Projects

4:15-6:00; Presentations (time as needed)

Friday 12/13 

9:00-10:00; World Ecosystems

10:15-11:00; Making a Living 

11:30-12:30; Transition, Localization, Energy Descent

2:30-4:00; Certificates, Networks, Closing Circle