Permaculture Wall of Love

I've been studying and applying Permaculture techniques for over 16 years. Due to financial and schedule constraints, I opted for the online certification course, which was far more cost-effective compared to in-person options. After completing it, I secured my first Swale installation, covering half of the course cost immediately. I'm excited to continue helping people reduce living costs, improve standards, and enhance the environment, and the certification serves as a valuable reference point and credential for employment consideration.

Since I took the PDC in 2019, my life changed completely. It gave me everything needed to get started. I was previously an engineer, and now I'm almost a full-time permaculture designer with a demonstration site of about 3000m², including a passive solar greenhouse, a chicken composting system, a big vegetable garden, a compost toilet, and a swimming pond. I wrote a book, created a permaculture-themed YouTube channel, and hold workshops about permaculture, vegetable growing, compost making and more.

As an ICU nurse, I'm also deeply into permaculture. Tackling 6 acres of tough land, I needed help. The online class was a game-changer, offering digestible segments and global insights. I've transformed small plots into productive acres, exploring beekeeping, solar power, and more. Now, I share my permaculture ethos: Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share. Thanks to the online PDC, I'm on a mission to green the planet, one yard at a time.

I have been an electrical utility engineer for 52 years and have always had interests in gardening. My grandfather was a farmer - it's in my blood. I had viewed Geoff's videos for a few years and finally took the plunge. Gardening in Florida is difficult. The online course allowed me to progress at my own pace. I found the FDE to be a big challenge, and took extra time to do a detailed presentation, and it reinforced all the material in the course. I hope to introduce permaculture to family members and neighbors to show the benefits of this way of growing food. There is no other way moving forward.

Permaculture captivated me with its focus on food independence, especially the concept of food forests. Despite a setback in 2021, I completed the PDC in summer 2022, learning perseverance and gaining confidence through challenges. The course's depth and support, both from teaching assistants and lifetime access to video materials, proved invaluable. I plan to apply this knowledge, potentially in the Dominican Republic or a tropical setting, and share it with others through teaching or practical demonstration.

We're a Greek-Romanian family splitting time between Greece and Romania. My permaculture journey began almost a decade ago while pregnant in Greece. When I heard that Geoff would be teaching an online PDC, I eagerly awaited the chance to enroll. The course's quality and organization exceeded my expectations. Despite distance, we planted over 100 fire-resistant, edible trees on our land. Financial constraints hindered moving closer, but we embraced permaculture principles daily. Relocating to Romania, continuing to be guided by PDC principles, we established a flexible design, realizing our dream despite challenges. Geoff's insights and permaculture wisdom were invaluable, teaching us that actions speak louder than words. Grateful to Geoff and the entire team — we're committed to learning, practicing, and passing on this knowledge.

Originally from Britain, I've spent 20 years abroad in South Africa, Australia, and now New Zealand. I'm a self-employed Farrier, specializing in horse trimming and shoeing. My interest in wildlife and ecology led me to permaculture after witnessing the damage caused by industrial farming. Bill Mollison's teachings resonated deeply with me. Geoff's online Permaculture Design Certification course, based on Bill's manual, was enlightening. Now, I'm eager to share my experiences and promote sustainable solutions.

After witnessing Portugal's devastating fires in 2017, I delved into permaculture, seeking solutions for better land use. The years 2019-2022 highlighted societal and environmental fragility, prompting me to prioritize passing permaculture knowledge to my children for resilience and environmental awareness. Through the course, I learned about ecosystem balance and the importance of resilient plants in soil regeneration. Inspired by what I learned in the course, I aim to replicate nature's balance through sustainable design, finding fulfillment in contributing positively to the Earth — all while enjoying the journey.

The PDC course revolutionized my life. Though I earned my Permaculture Design Certificate in 2020, retirement allowed me to fully embrace its principles. Living in urban England, I transformed my tiny garden into a vibrant oasis, maximizing every inch with the course’s insightful teachings. From aspect to composting, I implemented sustainable practices, inspired by the course's “Soil” module. Beyond gardening, I ventured into tempeh production, selling my excess at local markets. Permaculture not only enriched my garden but also transformed my lifestyle, leading to a healthier, more sustainable way of living.

I moved to the tropics upon retirement to create a tropical food forest for self-sufficiency. In 2017, I joined the PDC online while developing my new land, starting from scratch on a 1-hectare plot raised 1.5 meters above the highest water level to prevent flooding from heavy tropical rains. Initially, the soil was lifeless crushed rock, requiring extensive effort to nurture growth. With Permaculture knowledge, I transformed the soil into a thriving ecosystem with microorganisms essential for plant growth. Through the gradual establishment of legumes for shade and grass for soil protection, I created a fertile environment for fruit tree planting. Six years later, I have a flourishing food forest, all thanks to Permaculture, which taught me to rebuild soil and collaborate with nature.

Our family business revolves around selling native plant seeds and seedlings, coupled with permaculture consultations. Our foray into permaculture was serendipitous. Initially, intending to establish a nursery for cold-hardy plants, we found ourselves with surplus land. This prompted us to delve into creating a native ecosystem, recognizing the dearth of native plants in nurseries. Utilizing seeds from our land, we initiated our business, sparking my interest in ecological gardening. After my first PDC elsewhere, I was still hesitant to apply permaculture principles practically. But this online PDC altered that, equipping me with the knowledge and confidence for consultations. Unlike local PDCs, this course offers a universal and localized approach, which is vital for me. I realized there are no universal solutions in permaculture; each technique has its place. Our business bridges gardening and conservation, advocating for native plants despite criticism. Merging ecological science with permaculture, we strive for superior ecosystems.