Why Our Course?

Our extended course length provides a considerable advantage for our students. Due to the time constraints that regular 14-day PDC’s have, the format is long lectures with limited time for discussion or other activities. This is typically very grueling and tiresome. Learning retention drops off dramatically in full-day lecture formats. Instead, we have built our course out to a 1/3rd longer time frame and use the science of learning acquisition to allow for a more effective learning experience. We provide a blend of lectures, activities, discussions, fieldwork, and demonstrations to ensure maximum understanding of the material with minimal fatigue. Our extended course length also allows for our teaching style to be much more interactive and field-based.

A defining feature of a PDC is the final design project, where students get to use their knowledge in a real-world design process. While many PDC’s devote less than a day to the design project, our course gives facilitated design project sessions spread out over more than 5 days. This includes instruction on project management as it relates to design, information gathering, client interviews, proposal forming, and implementation. These topics are important for learning to work on larger projects, and often not included in other PDC’s.

Setting.

VerdEnergia Pacifica is situated in the mountainous region of Puriscal, Costa Rica. While the Puriscal area is largely deforested, we have worked hard to reforest our corner of the neighborhood and are happily situated in a lush jungle oasis with fresh spring water, lots of fruit trees and a few humble waterfalls. Our area is largely untouched by tourism and our local community embodies a Costa Rican campo environment. Students have access to our facilities, including a yoga/dance studio, community library and a spring-fed swimming pool.

Daily Schedule.

Students meet for an early morning session before breakfast and another before lunch. Early afternoons are for relaxing and reflecting before another afternoon class session, just after the heat of the day has passed. Dinner is served just before dark. Our meals are taken in the garden around our spring-fed swimming pool. Select evenings are reserved for movies and documentaries that explore topics discussed in class in further detail.

During time off you can go for a swim in our river, waterfall or pool; walk jungle trails; enjoy the views from one of our beautiful vistas; do yoga or dance in our studio; make art; play music; check out a local soccer game; or simply relax in a hammock with a good book from our farm library.

Subject Areas.

Regenerative Agricultural Systems
Basics of Botany and Horticulture
Plant Propagation and Pruning Techniques
Composting Systems
Soils
Scale of Permanence (Decision Making for Landscape Design)
Rainwater Catchment and Water Storage
Buildings and Appropriate Technology
Agroecology, Agroforestry, Food Forest Systems
Ecovillage Design

Community and Regional Planning
Social Permaculture and Invisible Structures
Identifying Patterns in Nature Applied to Ecological Design
Group Facilitation
Project Management
Grassroots Community Development and Activism
Urban and Suburban Sustainable Transformation
Assessing Priorities for Sustainable Development
Environmental Issues related to Costa Rica
Observation and Mindfulness
Optional Daily Yoga and Guided Meditation

Farm Fresh, Local Food.

Each meal features farm-fresh, local ingredients; many of which are grown on the farm. We are proud to highlight traditional Costa Rican cuisine with a few twists.

All of our animal products come from locally-raised, pastured animals. Reasonable accommodation for vegetarians, vegans and those with food allergies can be made. Please indicate your needs in your registration and upon your arrival.

Sleeping Arrangements.

We have a range of accommodations available, including dormitories, camping spots, and private rooms. Our dormitories are comfortable, bright, and open-air, with mosquito nets, ceiling fans, dry storage boxes, and bunk beds. Camping is only available for January courses. Fully furnished, open-air private rooms are available for an additional cost.

We cannot supply tents or bedding for campers. Hammock space is very limited, so if you plan on bringing a hammock, please plan accordingly.

Yoga / Meditation.

Blending Hatha, Vinyasa, Kriya, Kundalini and Sattva yoga into her classroom, instructor Katrina Cantu caters her classes to each student to help facilitate success and restoration.

• Optional guided meditation every weekday morning, yoga sessions in the afternoon.
• 90 mins/session, 5 sessions/week
• All levels and body types welcome!

Pricing.

All courses include farm-fresh meals and daily yoga classes. A non-refundable $400 deposit is due upon your registration. (This is not an additional fee). We’re happy to offer a 5% discount to those who pay their total now. Please take note of our refund policies and our Frequently Asked Questions.

We offer partial scholarships to Costa Ricans and other residents of Latin American countries. Please contact us for more information.

January Course - Camping Accommodation: $1950

January Course - Dormitory Accommodation: $2100
January Course - Private Room Accommodation: $2500

July Course - Dormitory Accommodation: $2100

July Course - Private Room Accommodation: $2500

Instructors.

STEVEN GANISTER

Steven Ganister is a Landscape Contractor, builder/carpenter, horticulturist, designer, and consultant. He is immersed in permaculture every day, managing a developing ecovillage community in Portland, Oregon for the past 7 years, which includes a highly productive and diverse 1.5-acre permaculture garden. He holds degrees in Environmental Studies and Geography from Florida State University.

MARC TOBIN, MCRP

Marc Tobin is an educator, consultant for groups and communities, and community organizer in the fields of sustainability, regenerative culture, and urban planning. He has led experiential and outdoor-based educational experiences for over 20 years. He is a Co-Director of The City Repair Project in Portland, Oregon, that has been widely cited as a leader in urban permaculture and placemaking. Marc holds a Master of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from Naropa University.

ESTEBAN JIMINEZ

Esteban is the Farm and Operations Coordinator at Blacksheep, where he works as a technician in organic productions on multiple Blacksheep projects in the Puriscal region. He has worked with VerdEnergia since 2017, where he serves as an assistant for Verde’s Permaculture Courses, Internship and Worktrade Apprentice programs. Esteban grew up in Colon, Costa Rica. After being part of a project in La Cangreja National Park, he was inspired to help change the agricultural practices and economic status of the Puriscal region. After completing a reforestation internship and permaculture course at VerdEnergia, Esteban returned to school and earned his degree as a technician in organic productions at the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje with a specialty in organic agriculture.

KATRINA CANTU

Katrina offers a blend of Vinyasa, Kriya, Kundalini, and Sattva yoga into her classroom at VerdEnergia. Over the last 20 years, Katrina has traveled around the globe, absorbing Yoga practice from many different cultures and ways of life. She caters her classes to each student to help facilitate success and restoration. Her teaching style connects the teachings of permaculture to yoga. She also often supports students in their individual processes, as they discover themselves more deeply through community living and time in nature.

Permaculture Design Certification Course at VerdEnergia PacificaJanuary 21 - February 12, 2020This experience is currently not available.

Permaculture Design Certification Course at VerdEnergia Pacifica
January 21 - February 12, 2020

This experience is currently not available.