What is a Permaculture Design Certificate Course?

    Permaculture Design Certificate Courses (PDC) have been delivered since the early 1980's to possibly millions of people across the globe. All manner of people have done a PDC to equip themselves with an ability to confront constant cultural & environmental change & to become more sustainable, low energy members of the community. The PDC is an efficient & cost effective means of gaining the knowledge of Permaculture Ethics & Principles together with amassing a skills, techniques & knowledge base for designing & developing sustainable human settlements. The 2 week residential format combines all of this to make for a totally empowering experience that is very likely to change your life......and of course then there's the party at the end and the friends you'll make for life....typically the PDC is a very full experience.

Why do the Estancia Ranquilco Permaculture Design Certificate Course?

   The Estancia Ranquilco PDC is delivered by one of the world's most experienced Permaculture Design professionals and Registered PDC Teacher in Darren Doherty (Australia), who has designed and developed over 1100 properties across 4 continents and has taught many PDC's, including with both Bill Mollison & David Holmgren (the co-originators of Permaculture). "....The inaugural Estancia Ranquilco PDC proved to be a live changing event for all those concerned, myself included. The idyllic hydro-powered environment is absolutely breath-taking as is the hospitality of the people that make Ranquilco such a brilliant venue. I found it very difficult to leave, if my family were with me I'd probably still be there!! Ranquilco presents a very unique opportunity to be totally immersed in the daily life of a working 110 000 acre Andean ranch, whilst providing the facilities to conduct a modern, interactive, creative adult learning experience. From the luxury of the SuperCama bus from Buenos Aires to Zapala, the amazing horseback ride in, the wild Trocoman River, Chef Martin's feasts, constant Mate and fresh Asado, swashbuckling guitar playing Gaucho's, and gorgeous hand built housing with views to die for....I can't think of a better place to do a PDC whether its your first or 15th!!...''

All students of Darren Doherty are provided with free access to all course materials, slideshows, articles, manuals etc. etc. This is designed to provide participants to have the best chance of being able to become Permaculture teachers themselves, or to simply revise the plethora of information at their leisure following the course.

What Topics are Covered at the Estancia Ranquilco Permaculture Design Certificate Course?

   The Permaculture Institute (Bill Mollison) Permaculture Design Certificate Course certified curriculum is delivered. The curriculum is therefore based on Mollison's magnus opis: Permaculture: A Designer's Manual. The PDC is a very intensive learning experience that requires creative facilitation to be delivered optimally. The course has been specifically designed to meet the needs of adult learners, using a wide range of creative facilitation methods which have been roundly appreciated by the participants.

   The 72 hour Permaculture Institute PDC is equivalent to one university/college subject of one semester. It has always been intended to be a course focussed on design and thinking, rather than about technique. That said our PDC manages to balance the needs of participants to have the curriculum delivered using a diverse range of outdoor practicums & design exercises for applied learning along with imagery-based slideshows & videos.

Broad topics covered are as follows:

Day 1 - Permaculture Ethics & Principles
Day 2 - Concepts & Themes of Design
Day 2 - Methods of Design
Day 3 - Pattern Understanding
Day 4 - Climatic Factors
Day 5 - Trees & Their Energy Transactions
Day 6 - Water
Day 7 - Soils
Day 8 - Earthworking & Earth Resources
Day 9 - The Humid Tropics
Day 10 - Dryland Strategies
Day 11 - Humid Cool to Cold Climates
Day 12 - Aquaculture
Day 13 - The Strategies of an Alternative Nation

For each day there is a different subject and with that a design exercise and other practicums that keeps everyone invigorated and involved. Students come away from this course with the ability to design sustainable systems.

Some comments from immediate past students of Darren Doherty:

What did you like most about the course?

- "The slideshows of Darren's applied work"
- "It was structured well; and very interactive"
- "Hand's on exercises: the films & applications"
- "The size & dynamics of a small group in a personal setting"
- "The informal setting: not reliant on the text: learning from Darren's experience as a private consultant"
- "Group & instructor interaction was constant & helpful: evening activities, compost & beer making!
- "Instructor and diverse teaching methods, e.g. Lectures, films, slideshows, design exercises, field trips, socializing"

Did the course instructor make a positive contribution to your learning experience? If so, how, if not, why not?

-"Absolutely. Made everything very informal & interesting wth style and personal experiences'
-"Yes, he's very good with adult learners who are too squirmy to sit still"
-"Yes, the instructor is skilled in his delivery of the concepts; can explain concepts clearly"
-"Yes; being so down-to-earth and straight forward"
-"Hell yes, Darren has been a great teacher & friend, he has a great sense of humor and treats everyone as peers"
-"Yes, he helped me pull knowledge together into an integrated process"
-"Absolutely, excellent teaching rapport and wealth of experience based on years of Permaculture consulting and teaching PDC courses"