About.

The three-week Permaculture Design Course (PDC) offers training in holistic problem-solving for all aspects of human settlement, both visible and invisible. Located beach front and near the Corcovado rainforest we will demonstrate, explain and train you to integrate whole systems design and pattern thinking into your social, economic, land, water, plant and shelter subsystems.


Minimum 72 hours internationally recognized permaculture fundamentals curriculum, delivers the standard course originally initiated by Bill and Lisa Mollison’s Permaculture Institute (PI) recognized since 1984 by institutes around the world. 


Students will learn practical applications of ecology, design for buildings, soil, water, and vegetation management, design for animals, technology, economics, urban and rural environments, and planning for catastrophe, among other subjects. Permaculture is an ethical design system. Those completing the course will receive a certificate attesting to their participation.


The PDC will be led by Nicolo Scifo. An environmental activist since youth, Nicolo brings long experience in organic farming, permaculture design and practice, construction and ecological landscaping trades together with training in the arts of psychology,(counselling and life skills coaching) of personal transformation, NVC, Sociocracy, and healthy communication to his practice of permaculture design. 

He divides his time between Costa Rica and Western Canada

 


Program.

THE COURSE INCLUDES:

72 hours 

3 meals a day, made by our chef(s) from locally sourced, fresh organic foods. 
At least one design project, or multiple design vignettes as the group dictates.

Field Trip to some interesting demonstration sites, as available in season.

The PDC Course will be taught in English, with Spanish translators available.


Students who cannot afford the course costs may consider working with We The Trees, a permaculture crowd funding site.
Please read the following documents before attending the Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) Course 2018:
Finca Morpho's Community Living Agreements
Finca Morpho's Red-Book
Finca Morpho's Co-Creator's Agreements


Students are asked to arrive  prior to 6pm on Saturday, Nov. 30, anytime earlier in the day/afternoon for 7pm Introductions. 

Prices include accommodations for the night of Dec. 13th

Check out time following the course is 11:00 am, Dec. 14.


Each morning will begin with an opening session at 8:30 for review and announcements.


Course Schedule (subject to change slightly)

Sunday 12/1:

 9:00-10:30; Evidence, Ethics, and What is Permaculture?

11:00-12:30; Pc Principles

Lunch break 

2:30-3:30; Principles II

3:45-5:15; Observation

5:00-6:30; Patterns in Nature


Monday 12/2

9:00-10:30; Ecosystems 

11-12:30; Climate and Biogeography

Lunch Break

2:30-4:15; Reading the Landscape - Team

4:30-6:00; Water


Tuesday 12/3 

9:00-10:30; Trees and Forests

11:00-12:30; Soils

2:30-6:00; Levelling Instruments, Earth-working Projects- Team


Wednesday 12/4 

9:00-10:30; Microclimate

11:00-12:30; Home Systems, Elevations, Sectors, and Zones

2:30-3:45; Garden Practical (sheet mulch)

4:00-5:15; Garden Design, IPM, Seeds

5:30-6:30; Food & Nutrition


Thursday 12/5

9:00-10:00; Bldg. Design

10:15-11:15; Bldg. Science

11:30- 12:30; Waste Treatment 

2:30-3:30; Mapping I

3:15-4:15; Energy & Appropriate Technology

5:00-6:00; Fire and Catastrophe 


Friday 12/6 

9:00-10:00; Aquaculture 

10:15-11:15; Agroforestry

11:30-12:30; Design Methods

2:30-3:00; Design Projects - description & selection

3:00-5:30; Site Observation

5:30- 6:00; Team reports


Saturday 12/7 

Day of Rest


Sunday 12/8

9:00-10:30; Settlement Patterns

11:00-12:30; Urban Strategies 

2:30-3:45; Mapping II

4:00-5:00; Small Animals I 

5:15-6:00; Information Gathering; Interview/Analysis


Monday 12/9

9:00-10:30; Pattern Languages

11:00-12:30; Broad scale Strategies

2:30-3:30; Interview client

3:45-6 :00; Conceptual Design & short presentations -Team


Tuesday. 12/10 

9:00-10:00; Economics & Human Needs

10:15-11:15; Invisible Structures 

11:30-12:30; Money & Financial Systems

2:30-4:45; Create Base Maps

5:00-6:00; Budgeting & Costs


Wednesday 12/11

9:00-10:30; Villages & Neighbourhoods

10:45-11:15; Presentation Skills 

11:30-12:30; Team Projects

2:30-6:00; Design Projects


Thursday 12/12

9:00-10:00; Earth working

10:15-11:15; Large Animals

11:30-4:00; Design Projects

4:15-6:00; Presentations (time as needed)


Friday 12/13 

9:00-10:00; World Ecosystems

10:15-11:00; Making a Living 

11:30-12:30; Transition, Localization, Energy Descent

2:30-4:00; Certificates, Networks, Closing Circle

Highlights.

  • Evidence of the Need for Change and the Ethics of Sustainability
  • Principles of Permaculture
  • Observation and Landscape Analysis
  • Pattern & Design
  • Ecosystems: the Models of Nature
  • The Gaian System: Climate and Biogeography
  • Forests, Trees & Tree Care
  • Water Harvesting, Management, and Conservation
  • Building Soil Fertility
  • Creating the Home System
  • The Third Skin: Natural Building Design
  • Waste Recycling and Treatment
  • Aquaculture and Animals
  • Agroforestry and Forest Gardening
  • Useful Plants and Planting Strategies
  • Feeding Yourself from Home
  • Garden Design & Establishment
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Tools & Appropriate Technologies
  • Patterns of Settlement
  • Cooperative Economics, Money & Financial Systems
  • Mapping and Design Exercises
  • Villages and Neighborhoods, The Hope and the ResultsA Home in the City
  • Elements of Practical Design
  • Team Design Projects

Living Conditions.

Sleeping

  • tent camping
  • shared rooms
  • private room

Omnivore Food

  • communal kitchen access
  • communally cooked meals
  • over 80% locally sourced

Internet

  • fast: streaming video

Finca Morpho

Getting here.

Directions from San Jose International Airport -

  1. As you exit the airport there are bus that are the main street that go by. If you take the bus number 23 and get off next to the children's hospital you can then walk to the BLanco Lobo Station. but if you don't feel comfortable it is a 20$ taxi ride to the Blanco Lobo Station There are 2 buses that leave from the Blanco Lobo Station at the intersection of Calle 12 and Avenidas 7/9 in the Coca Cola District of San Jose. The first one leaves at 8am and the second leaves at 12pm and are around $15 dollars to Puerto Jimenez. We highly recommend using the bus system, which is a 8 hour trip that allows you to see a lot of the country. The bus will bring you to Puerto Jimenez and from here you can catch a taxi to the farm. Our address is 14km Sur de Bomba de Osa en la calla de Matapalo con puerton murado.
  2. There are 2 small engine airlines that also take daily trips to Puerto Jimenez. Sansa and Nature Air are at the airport and from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez it is an hour long flight.
  3. Driving Directions - When you are in Puerto Jimenez you follow you the only paved road till it ends and turn right at an intersection that has the Gas Station(Bomba de Osa) and a BM grocery store. From here we are 14km south on this road with a purple gate on your left and a sign that says Finca Morpho. Make sure to check your Odometer.
  1. If you arrive and are unable to catch one of the two buses or a airplane, then there is a cheap hostel called Hotel Cala ( 506-2441-3219) very close to airport, where you can stay for the night and arrange for a taxi early in the morning before traffic hits.

Contact

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