Here is a description of three of our course types:
Permaculture
In our Permaculture Design Certification courses, students learn how humans can integrate ethically, holistically, and dynamically into natural ecosystems. Permaculture, is a way of observing natural patterns to design systems that work with the natural world, not against it. Permaculture is broad enough that it can be applied to anything, whether it be growing food, constructing dwellings, organizing ones finances, making social change, etc. It is a modern return to eons of smart ways of doing things.
Our PDC follows the standard 72-hour Permaculture Design Curriculum created by the Permaculture Institute. But being that our class is far longer than traditional 72-hour courses, we have additional time to: address more varied topics, execute hands-on projects, go on occasional field trips, have in-depth discussions, and engage in exercises that create greater group cohesion and community involvement. The hands-on projects will relate to class topics, and be part of a broader series of undertakings around the Lost Valley site; this allows you to explore many different permaculture projects in varying stages (projects may vary by weather and other considerations). The five-week course culminates with student groups presenting their permaculture design project for a particular area on the LV campus to the Lost Valley community and staff. Students who have completed the course will be awarded the Permaculture Design Certificate.
Gardening
This course provides a hands-on introduction to permaculture gardening and land stewardship. You will work alongside the Lost Valley Land and Garden Crew, participating in their daily activities of growing food and managing the ecological health of our site. This is not an ‘academic’ course in that it does not follow a predetermined curriculum, but rather the needs of the land and the development plans of the crew. They are working on developing the health of the soil, increasing productivity, maintaining large supplies of compost, and ensuring the health of our waterways and forest. We are creating a CSA, as well as developing a food production plan to meet the needs of our kitchen.
Lost Valley has four main gardens: a large production garden called the Creek Garden; a smaller production garden with a large hoop house called the Meadow Garden; the more bio-dynamic Sun Garden; and the Forest Garden food forest. In addition to the gardens, our 87 acres of land features tracts of forest and a large creek.
Gardening students will join PDC students multiple times per week, and all host work parties in the gardens with the students from all three courses.
Eco-Building
From small-scale projects to incorporating eco-building into a professional practice, this course will teach you the basics of do-it-yourself green design and building. Our ‘demonstration’ projects are designed to be intellectually and physically accessible to laymen and professionals alike. Whatever your interest or skill level, this program will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to develop your own natural building projects.
Natural building is not only a way to provide shelter, but also a way to care for the Earth and bring a community together. In this two-month, hands-on immersion course, students will learn this lesson first-hand. Students will learn about many types of construction, and work on up to 8 different projects on the Lost Valley site. The rhythms of the building process will tie in with the rhythms of Lost Valley sustainable land management strategies, overlapping with lessons in sustainable forest management, water systems, and harvesting of natural resources, including timbers for construction projects. Materials used will include natural wood from the site, straw, cob, and earthen plasters. This project will also explore how ‘Earthship’ techniques, such as the use of bottles and cans, can be integrated with natural building techniques.
