Ecovillage design fundamentals

From EcoReality

Goal: This class presents the principles by which an ecovillage is designed, interspersed with field work and practical exercises. Upon completion, the successful student:

• knows and understands the definition of an ecovillage,
• can apply Permaculture principles to the design of an ecovillage,
• will be more valuable and influential in their own beginning ecovillage group,
• is better prepared for the coming energy decline.

Instructor: Jan Steinman and Carol Wagner, Certified Teachers, Cascadia Permaculture Institute

Sessions: two-day intensive, interspersed lecture/lab with computer modeling

Dates: Saturday/Sunday, February 3/4, 2007

Credit: 1 CEU

Text: Permaculture: Principles & Pathways Beyond Sustainability by David Holmgren, 2002

Syllabus:

• Day 1:
  • 0800: Administrivia and introductions
  • 0830: Ecovillage Introduction
  • 0900: Q&A, group exercise
  • 1000: break
  • 1015: Permaculture Introduction
    • Three ethics introduced
    • Twelve principles introduced
  • 1100: Q&A, group exercise
  • 1200: lunch
  • 1230: Permaculture expanded:
    • Observation and interact
    • Catch and store energy
    • group exercise
  • 1500: break
  • 1515: Permaculture expanded:
    • Obtain a yield
    • Self-regulation and feedback
    • group exercise
  • 1745: break for the day
• Day 2:
  • 0800: Permaculture expanded:
    • Using and valuing renewable resources
    • Produce no waste
    • group exercise
  • 1000: break
  • 1015: Permaculture expanded:
    • From patterns to details
    • Integrate, not segregate
    • group exercise
  • 1230: lunch
  • 1300: Permaculture expanded:
    • Small and slow solutions
    • Use and value diversity
    • group exercise
  • 1515: break
  • 1530: Permaculture expanded:
    • Use edges and value the marginal
    • Respond to change
    • group exercise
  • 1745: Wrap-up
  • 1815: break for the day