Lead Teacher: Andrew Faust

**Due to a personal obligation Claudia Joseph will not be teaching this program.  Her choice for a replacement is Andrew Faust.  The Open Center is delighted to be working with him.**

Permaculture is an integrated design science which is geared to retrofitting our industrial infrastructure to be more regional and ecological. It seems to me also to be a way to sustainably design a rich and rewarding low-energy life. Since our current way of living  in the G-8 nations consumes massive amounts of oil, water and other finite resources and also produces much of the pollution contributing to our degraded environment and the climate crisis, ecologically intelligent ways of living are essential to our future well being and prosperity.

Based on traditional methodologies and modern science, permaculture was developed in rural Australia, some highly experienced teachers in New York are exploring ways to use permaculture in urban settings: Andrew Fausts' course at The Open Center will be bringing a wealth of wisdom and application of Permaculture Design to Manhattan.  I encourage you to consider taking the course below.

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Permaculture Design Certification in New York City
with Andrew Faust and Guests

Andrew Faust (B.A., Guilford College) has been a certified permaculture designer since 1996 and a certified alternative school teacher since 1993. He homesteaded off the grid in WV for six years where he created the Center for Bioregional Living (www.homebiome.com). With 17 years of experience in bioregional education, Andrew is presently thriving on permaculture design work, teaching, consulting, and gardening in New York City and the northeastern U.S. with nonprofits, businesses, schools, communities and homeowners.  

Course Description

This course will cover the core 72-hour Permaculture Design curriculum, including 12 additional hours of class time to adapt this course to our region and to contemporary ecological issues in the United States. You will learn how to apply permaculture principles to a diversity of settings and issues with an emphasis on urban and temperate environments. 
: Natural Building : Urban Permaculture
: Bioregional Economies  

Lectures, extensive and diverse handouts, discussions and field trips will explore:

- evolution of agriculture
- Biodynamics
- bioregional designs
- natural history of Eastern woodlands and designs that cooperate with their regeneration
- passive solar and natural building techniques
- passive integrated water systems
- Living machines and natural wastewater treatment
- energy and nutrient cycling
- watershed health
- the integration of animals into cultivated ecosystems

Other topics include:
 - growing organic and biodynamic orchards
- creating organic raised vegetable beds in inner city garden plots with hand tools
- cultivating gourmet mushrooms employing living roofs and rooftop gardens
- indoor and apartment gardening
- sprouted grains and beans
- making tinctures and salves
- making fermented foods
- whole foods and designing rain gardens that will prevent flooding, address sewage treatment plant overflows and provide clean water Course will conclude with students doing their own Permaculture site design.

An 11-Session Course
9am-4pm
July 19, August 16, August 23 & 24, August 30 & 31, September 6, September 13, Ocotober 18, October 25, & November 1 

Cost: Full Payment: 08SEC36TAI
Members $1180/ Nonmembers $1225

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION BY JUNE 27:
Members $1080/ Nonmembers $1125 

Payment Plan: 08SEC36TBI
Members $1255/ Nonmembers $1300

For a complete syllabus and additional information call Maria Rodriguez at 212-219-2527 x 135 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   

All classes and field trips are from 9 am - 4 pm.

Some class time will be spent outdoors. Please dress appropriately.
SPACE IS LIMITED! Please register early.

For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it