This document outlines a draft for Version 2.0 of a Diploma of Applied Permaculture Design. The diploma system is designed to be agile, project-based, and involve ongoing mentoring. It aims to grow the permaculture community and provide low-cost, lifelong learning opportunities. Students would complete design packets to demonstrate their learning over 2 years until graduation, with support from local and online mentors. The diploma would be initially accredited by Gaia University and local colleges. Feedback is requested on the draft proposal.

1. Diploma of Applied
Permaculture Design
Version 2.0
DRAFT
for Local Enabling Organizations
Presented by Gaia University, Peninsula Permaculture, AppleSeed
Permaculture
Endorsed by: ? (your organization!?!)

2. Overview
• Guiding Principles
• Why create a Diploma? And some history.
• Goals of the Diploma
• How does it work?
• Roadmap & Feedback

3. Guiding Principles
Goals Articulation
• Agile Permaculture Design Process
• Rapid prototype
• Community feedback
• Version deployment
• Feature requests
• Transparent roadmap

4. Why a Diploma System?
Goals Articulation
• Post-PDC progression
• Professional development of
permaculture community
• Dynamic of continual quality
improvement
• Teacher progressions

5. A Brief History
Site Analysis & Assessment; Survey
• The first Diploma system - Mollison
• The UK system - Langford et al
• Other European Systems (IT, ES, DE)
• Accredited Permaculture Training (APT - AU)
• Chaordic Permaculture Institute

6. A Brief History
Site Analysis & Assessment; Survey
• Earlier systems were versions 1.0, 1.1, etc.
• Designed and implemented pre-computers
• Lack of transparency, accountability, and no adequate
compensation for mentors & advisors
• Now, it’s time to design v2.0
• Transcends and includes learnings from all earlier versions

7. Goals of v2.0
Diplomats
• Post-PDC permaculture learning!
• Project-based, diplomat-directed
• Ongoing mentoring & support
• Multiple concentrations & themes

8. Goals of v2.0 Community
• Grow the permaculture community
• Held by bioregional organizations
(e.g. RDI, FLPCI, PINE, etc.)
• Shared processes & infrastructure
• Grow the permaculture commons

9. Goals of v2.0
Financial
• Low financial barriers to participate
• Community-supported funding
• Scholarships available

10. How does it work?
An overview of the Diploma Process - Described in detail in following slides.
Meet Dyami!
She just finished a Design
PDC, and wants to Packet
keep learning. Action Learning
Diploma
Certificate
3 months accredited by
local & intl
Universities
Gaia University,
She signs up Design Prescott? Evergreen?
for DAPD. Packet 01
0 Mo. 3 Mo. 1 Yr. ~2 Yrs.
• Moves through a spiral of learning with mentoring, resources,
self-review... after 10 design packets completed, she graduates!

11. Suggested Themes
Emerge through the course of the Diploma - Über-flexible
• Site Design • Finance & Economics
• Site Development • Manufacturing
• Education • Media and
Communications
• Research
• Administration
• Art & Culture
• Agriculture
• Community
Development
• Other...

12. Action Learning Certificate How does it work?
• First 3 Months of a diploma -
The basics of Action Learning
• Modules:
• Action Learning
• Design Process & Skills
• Documentation
• Digital Literacy
• The whole certificate is delivered online by
west-coast team at Earth Action Mentor

13. Action Learning Cycle How does it work?
I consider my learning &
unlearning needs
I design my next I design projects to
action learning cycle Each cycle deliver these needs
with the benefit of produces a and stay alert for
my new learnings & Design Packet unpredicted learnings
unlearnings & unlearnings
I reflect on my learnings & fully document the
project’s outcomes and processes

14. Design Packet How does it work?
Example Design Packet
(posted online with shared software)
Design Project 05 - Forest Garden
1. Project Brief (Goals & Client Interview)
2. Site Analysis (Base maps, soils, water, etc)
3. Design
- Drawings & Details
- Design description • Learning Reflections:
- Implementation plan - What went well?
4. Implementation evidence - What could be
5. Evaluation of Design improved?
• Self-Evaluation

15. Design Packet Technology How does it work?
• Posted online with shared software
• At first, use Gaia University E-Learning site (GEL)
• Peer review becomes possible
• Public display of best
work spreads Example Design Packet
permaculture meme Design Project 05 - Forest Garden
• Export publishable
1. Project Brief (Goals & Client Interview)
2. Site Analysis (Base maps, soils, water, etc)
3. Design
material to Earth - Drawings & Details
- Design description
• Learning
Reflections:
- Implementation plan
Action Mentor
- What went
4. Implementation evidence well?
5. Evaluation of Design - What could be

16. Mentoring
How does it work?
• Local - through Local Enabling Organization
• Online - through Earth Action Mentor

17. Earth Action
Mentor
Permaculture Mentoring
• Access to Premium Content
• Mentors from various backgrounds and
skill sets
Community Inspiration
•Discussion Forums
•Live Conference Calls
Direct Application
•Tools to apply immediatly to your life
•Design and Communication Training

18. Community Supported Funding
•Everyone pays low monthly fee to support the
mentoring community
•Operated out of 501c3 with all profits beyond
operating expense going to support on-the-ground
Casual permaculture projects and scholarships
Learners
Casual Learners Dedicated Students Diplomats Mentors

19. Diploma Design on EarthActionMentor.org
• Provide Distance Learning to enable anyone to have access to
permaculture mentoring
• Provide publication for portfolio
• Assist diplomats studying at bioregional centers
• Independent Study Curriculum, Learning Worksheets, videos,
articles, interviews, case studies and valuable permaculture
content to aid in students studies.

20. Completion
How does it work?
• Congratulations! Well done Dyami!
• Local universities & colleges may accredit
your Permaculture Diploma.
e.g. Prescott, Evergreen, etc.
• Gaia University has pre-approved your
diploma for accelerated entry into
accredited degree programs:
• Year 4 of BSc
• Year 2 of MSc

21. Features of v2.0
• Features for three groups:
• Pre-Diplomats
• Local Enabling Organizations
• Permaculture Commons

22. Pre-Diplomats
Features of v2.0
• Self-directed, project-based learning
• Access to permaculture resources
• Active, experienced mentors

23. Pre-Diplomats
Features of v2.0
• Transparent quality assurance system
• Initially accredited by Gaia University
• Life-long professional development

24. Local Enabling Organizations
Features of v2.0
• Local management & local income
• Increased opportunities for experienced
permaculture designers
• Energize regional/local priority projects!

25. Local Enabling Organizations
Features of v2.0
• Shared infrastructure = Lower costs
• External quality assurance system
• Initially accredited by Gaia University

26. Permaculture Commons
Features of v2.0
• Online documentation & sharing of
permaculture designs & resources
• Collaborative research projects of scale
• Peer review and publishing

27. Permaculture Commons
Features of v2.0
• Continual professional development
• Capacity to field large-scale consultancy
teams
• Accelerated succession of movement

28. Implementation &
Evaluation
• Guiding Principles
• Roadmap
• Feedback

29. Guiding Principles
Implementation & Evaluation
• Agile Permaculture Design Process
• Rapid prototype
• Community feedback
• Version deployment
• Feature requests
• Transparent roadmap

30. Roadmap
Implementation & Evaluation
• Proposed Dates of evaluation and feedback:
0 Mo. • Aug 2009 - conceptual design shared with targeted
audiences
3 Mo.
• Aug-Oct 2009 - design refined and shared with larger
LEO audience, prototype launched with EAM
6 Mo. • Jan-Mar 2010 - design refined and shared with global
permaculture community
9 Mo. • Jun 2010 - DAPD Prototypes launch in North America,
Chile, Israel, ... ?

31. How much does it cost?
• Current Projected costs for Economy-One:
(Over-developed countries like USA, Canada, Western Europe, Israel, etc.)
• $2470 over 2 years
• $1450 to LEO for mentoring, review, admin
• $420 to Earth Action Mentor
• $600 to DAPD system administration
• Variation expexted between LEOs

32. Livelihood Example
• The DAPD can provide right livelihoods for
LEO-approved mentors:

33. Feedback
Implementation & Evaluation
• Whad’ya think?
• Give us your feedback:
• http://sites.google.com/site/permaculturediploma/feedback

34. Diploma of Applied
Permaculture Design
Version 2.0
DRAFT
for Local Enabling Organizations
Presented by Gaia University, Peninsula Permaculture, AppleSeed
Permaculture
Endorsed by: ? (your organization!?!)