The core strength (and reputation) of LV is its learning center on permaculture, cob/adobe works, and related topics. After I discovered LV through the GEN network, I signed up for their events mailing listThe only issue as with all PDCs is – what happens afterward. While one gains invaluable learnings and lessons, unless one has their own gardens/farms there aren’t many jobs out there (yet) that require a PDC certificate. The permaculture learnings and future usage will have quite a positive impact.
From LV's web site:
Lost Valley Permaculture Immersion Internships offer training in the
practical application of sustainable living skills.
The program is focused around learning by doing, especially organic
gardening and green infrastructure projects. It also has a
conceptual learning component. Interns are rewarded with education
through action
in an intentional community setting —
they become part of the community and play a crucial role in co-creating
sustainable systems on-site.
Annual Winter Permaculture Design Intensive Course
This is the
second longest continually running permaculture course (PDC) in North America,
taught by career design teachers and contractors Jude Hobbs, Rick
Valley, and Marisha Auerbach. The two-week course covers all the main
elements of permaculture, set in a sustainability-minded intentional
community.
Three-Month Permaculture Design Course
Interns, Lost Valley residents, and commuters from the surrounding area have the option of taking a
Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course at
Lost Valley, with one class session per week for 12 weeks. This is an
add-on for
established international standard of
72 hours of contact time with qualified instructors, including a group
design project that brings together everything the students have
learned. The course runs once each in the spring, summer, and fall.
