Plant & Soil Science: Permaculture

Design of agriculturally productive environments that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of the natural biosphere to harmoniously integrate landscape and people. Prerequisite: PSS 1100 or PSS 1210 or BIOL 1450 or NR 2030 or BCOR 1450 or BCOR 2100 or other basic ecology course or Instructor permission.

Minimum sophomore standing; Prerequisites enforced by the system: PSS 1100 or 1210 or BIOL 1450 or NR 2030 or BCOR 1450 or 2100; Open to Degree and PACE students; Instructor permission required

Permaculture is an ethically based, whole-systems design approach to creating sustainable landscapes and human settlements. It strives to create agriculturally productive environments that have the diversity, stability, and resiliency of the natural biosphere while harmoniously integrating people and landscapes. As an interdisciplinary design method, permaculture is rooted in horticulture and agriculture, but also spans into regional planning, ecology, animal husbandry, technology, architecture, and international development. This introductory permaculture course explores the fundamentals of permaculture science and design.

This is a fully online and asynchronous course. Students will work individually through weekly online learning modules that include assigned reading, recorded lectures, and other supplemental videos/materials. Students will engage with each other through discussion board prompts and reviewing design work.

Students will be evaluated on a series of 10 short permaculture design exercises, weekly open-book content quizzes, and a final design project.