Permaculture

Permaculture is a contraction of the words “Permanent” and “Agriculture” and is borne of the seemingly self-evident observation that, as founder Bill Mollison says “ No culture can survive without a sustainable source of food and a land use ethic” and a closer inspection of our industrial systems reveals that we indeed have neither.

Permaculture is a way of thinking and ways of doing. It is applied ecology the goal of which is sustainable human habitat.

It is an ethical system of design that mimics nature’s patterns to cultivate ecologies that have the resiliency, complexity and diversity of natural, self- sustaining systems.

What they say about

"Claude,

Thank you very much for speaking to the class and showing them your Permaculture site! It was most enjoyable and inspirational !! :) I came homewith lots of ideas for things to do at my own home."

University of Vermont Professor Bill Murphy - billita [at] starband [dot] net

"Claude, I joyfully skipped through your website.... good work and hooray for you in entering the political circles! There is certainly no question that you have great debating skills and a stunning ability to influence ! "

Laurie Winkler - laurie_winkler [at] hotmail [dot] com

"Hello Mr. Genest,
 My name is Oliver Kuepper. I met you with my class. Your speaking moved me greatly.... (hearing you its') .... almost as if things are starting to make sense. "

oliverkuepper2001 [at] yahoo [dot] com

"Hi Claude, 
My name is Zach Hunter and I visited your farm last week. I appreciated your enthusiasm and determination. It was especially hopeful to learn you are involved with politics as well. I think folks like you are becoming increasingly important...thanks for the inspiration and keep up the good work."

zhunter [at] zoo [dot] uvm [dot] edu

"Claude,
... It's too bad you live there and not here. You'd make a good addition to the L.A. World Affairs Council, which by the way, I was just invited to join at the"Diplomat" level. But I'm not the guy they need-you are !"

Raul Martinez - raulmar [at] earthlink [dot] net

"Dear Claude,
 My wife and I just read the news article on you - What a joy ! You are among those who are beginning to show us the answers and you certainly have the charisma to do it on a large scale. I cannot tell you how much I respect what you are doing."

Richard Villeneuve

"Thanks to your charm and charisma, you will surely be able to touch a lot of people. I hope that you will be able to reach a majority of people before it's too late ... Bravo Claude !"

Madelaine Villeneuve

Course topics include (and are not limited to)

• Evidence for change and the ethics of Sustainability
• Natural building design and techniques
• Principles and philosophical underpinnings of Permaculture
• Waste: it's a verb.
• Observation and Landscape analysis
• Aquaculture and animal systems
• Pattern and Design
• Agroforestry and food forestry
• Ecosystem understanding
• Useful plants and planting strategies
• Climate dynamics and the Gaia Theory
• Successional Strategies: Stacking in place and time
• Forest communities and tree crops
• Garden design and establishment
• Water harvesting, management, conservation and applications
• Integrated pest Management
• Building soil fertility
• Tools and appropriate technologies
• The Home system: Cultivating ecologies
• Patterns of settlement and the EcoVillage.
• Cooperative and alternative economics
• Mapping skills
• Urban Permaculture
• Invisible Structures and Social Strategies
• Designing for catastrophe
• Self-reliance, Community building and food security.
• Design practicums