We still have a few spots left! Application Deadline has been extended to May 15, 2023.
An 8 day, 72-hour short course for Certification in Permaculture Design sponsored by Regenerative Earth Design, LLC and the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. The course will be led by Danielle Wyman Castellano at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, Virginia.
Friday, June 23, 2023 - Monday, June 26, 2023
AND
Friday, July 28, 2023 - Monday, July 31, 2023
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to connect participants to their landscapes; first through observation and interaction, and then through design. We will explore what it means to create resiliency on an individual, community and even global scale around the production of food. The concept of permaculture (or permanent agriculture) was coined by Bill Mollison in the 1980’s. Permaculture involves the cultivation of food and fiber in a way that mimics nature and its patterns. (Think forest gardening as opposed to industrial agriculture.) This design process asks the participants to develop a completely new relationship with nature, one in which the designer learns how to understand and discover what the land wants rather than imposing destructive practices. Participants will have a wide variety of hands-on learning experiences available to them across OSGF’s stunning property. All are welcome and invited to join this world-changing course.
Topics will include: an overview of our current food system, design principles and practices, climate, topography (how to read the landscape), soil, plants, farming techniques, water, sun (microclimates), wind, infrastructure, energy cycling within the system, animals, permaculture ethics, earthworks, natural building, aqua and hydroponics, herbal remedies, community building and more.
Eligibility: This field course is ideally suited to professionals from a wide range of backgrounds who know that another way is possible.
Humanists, artists, scientists, social scientists, educators, and advanced students across disciplines are all welcome, whether experienced or budding designers. We hope that participants will find varied applications for the material to share what they gain from the program. Participants should come with a sense of curiosity, and be ready to participate actively in the process of understanding landscapes, to learn alongside their peers, to build community, to share and listen while contemplating the needs of the surrounding landscapes.
Due to continuing COVID uncertainty, this course will be limited to 12 participants and no onsite accommodations will be provided. This is a commuter course and each participant will be required to provide their own lodging and transportation for the duration of the course. OSGF also requires that all visitors be fully vaccinated including a booster (if eligible). Masks should be worn when indoors or when social distancing is not possible.
About Regenerative Earth Design, LLC: At Regenerative Earth Design, our aim is to evoke a reconnection with the natural world through holistic education, community building and design.
Change the perception of natural resources and landscapes through appropriate water and land management practices.
Provide the freedom to develop healthy lifestyles and culture, by changing the way we farm and distribute food (i.e. utilizing agroforestry and direct markets).
Revitalize local economies and boost community scale resilience through the adoption of regenerative land management and natural building methods.
About OSGF: The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) is a philanthropic foundation based at the former primary estate of the late Paul and Rachel Mellon, who were major philanthropists in the U.S. of the arts, humanities, and sciences in the second half of the twentieth century. OSGF is located in the northern Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains region (ca. one-hour drive from Washington, D.C.). Led by Sir Peter Crane, the Foundation’s inaugural President, OSGF provides short courses and supports residencies for artists and scholars. Its celebrated Library comprises rare books, manuscripts and works of art relating to horticulture, landscape design, botany and natural history. It is becoming a new center of stimulation of all things botanical, from fundamental research in plant evolution and conservation, to horticultural and plant conservation practice, to the history and art of plants gardens and landscapes.
Instructor: Danielle Wyman Castellano is President of Regenerative Earth Design and is an Adjunct Professor for Food Systems and Policy with the School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University. Born and raised in upstate New York, she moved to Virginia with her family in 1996. Danielle has worked to implement change within the food system for the past 13 years; from farm to school/institution. She created the edible landscape and gardens program at George Mason University where she received her undergraduate degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and Graduate Degree in Sustainable Food Systems. For her master’s project she created a Sustainable Food Systems Mapping Tool that incorporates a strong experiential component towards connecting us with our local foodsheds. She received her Permaculture Design Certification in 2011 and then her Permaculture Teacher Training in 2014 from the Permaculture Project, LLC. She provides consultation and design services within the food system on both a residential and commercial scale. She and her husband have worked with clients from a handful of states on realizing their own permaculture visions.
Guest instructors for this course may include members of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation's Garden and Biocultural Conservation Farm teams.
Accommodation and Travel Information: Participants will be provided with lunch daily, and snacks throughout the program day as well as dinner on two nights. Instructional lectures and class discussions will occur indoors while more of the hands-on demonstrations and landscape discussion will occur outdoors. Participants will need to bring proper clothing for being in the field (a suggested list will be provided after acceptance). Participants are expected to provide their own transportation and lodging.
Dates and Duration: The course runs for eight (8) days total, however, it will be split into two (4) day sessions. The first session will be held Friday, June 23, 2023 - Monday, June 26, 2023. The second session will be held Friday, July 28, 2023 - Monday, July 31, 2023. In order to receive the 72-hour certification, participants must attend all 8 days.
Expect the program to run from 8:30am until 5:00pm daily with additional evening activities on two of the course days (exact dates TBD).
Course Materials: Participants will be provided a course syllabus and a list of items to bring prior the the start date. Participants are expected to bring their own materials for note-taking and sketches. Supplemental readings and/or videos may be provided in between course sessions.
Course Fee: $750 (includes course content, certification and all lunches). Four (4) partial scholarships are available. Applicants will be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis. A partial tuition payment will be due within thirty (30) days of acceptance notification to hold a spot in the course.
Two (2) partial scholarships are available, and open to anyone who indicates so on their application. New for 2023 - the Oak Spring Garden Foundation is excited to announce two (2) full scholarships open to Fauquier County Public School Educators. If applying as an FCPS educator, please indicate so on the Submittable application. All scholarship applicants will be notified of the award decision before March 30, 2023.
Selection Process: Application review will be done by Danielle Wyman Castellano.
Application Deadline: May 15, 2023