The Northern Colorado Permaculture Design Course consists of 18 sessions over 3 months in 2026. Each session will be at a different site in Fort Collins, Loveland & surrounding area.
April 10-12 • April 17-19 • May 1-3 • May 29-31 • June 5-7 • June 12-14
Fridays 6-8:30 PM (online) * Saturdays 9-5 (in person) * Sundays 9-5 (in person)
Ride shares, potluck lunches and accommodations may be available. More details will be offered upon registration.
| 10-Apr | Friday; 6-8:30 pm On-line Meeting | Session 1 – Introduction to Permaculture: History and ethics (Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share); Permaculture principles overview; Course goals, structure, student projects |
| 11-Apr | Saturday; 9-5 pm In-person Gathering | Session 2 – Design Thinking & Mapping; Observation skills & “patterns in nature”; Base maps, sector analysis, zones; Introduction to permaculture design process |
| 12-Apr | Sunday; 9-5 pm In-person Gathering | Session 3 – Ecology & Systems Thinking; Energy flows, feedback loops, succession; Ecosystem principles applied to design |
| 17-Apr | Friday; 6-8:30 pm On-line Meeting | Session 4 – Soil as Foundation; Soil biology, fertility, and structure; Composting, vermiculture, sheet mulching; Soil regeneration strategies |
| 18-Apr | Saturday; 9-5 pm In-person Gathering | Session 5 – Water Wisdom; Catchment, storage, and distribution; Swales, ponds, greywater, rainwater harvesting; Drought resilience |
| 19-Apr | Sunday; 9-5 pm In-person Gathering | Session 6 – Trees, Forests & Food Forests; Agroforestry and forest gardening; Guilds and companion planting; Designing layered food systems |
| 1-May | Friday; 6-8:30 pm On-line Meeting | Session 7 – Annual & Perennial Food Systems; Garden design and management; Intensive vs. extensive growing methods; Perennial vegetables and polycultures |
| 2-May | Saturday; 9-5 pm In-person Gathering | Session 8 – Climate, Microclimates & Bioregions; Global climate patterns and local adaptations; Creating microclimates with design; Colorado / local bioregional considerations |
| 3-May | Sunday; 9-5 pm In-person Gathering | Session 9 – Animals in Permaculture; Integrating chickens, bees, goats, etc.; Managed grazing, fertility cycles; Ethical animal husbandry |
| 29-May | Friday; 6-8:30 pm | Session 10 – Natural Building & Appropriate Technology; Natural building materials (cob, straw bale, etc.); Passive solar design, renewable energy; Appropriate technology for water, cooking, heating |
| 30-May | Saturday; 9-5 pm | Session 11 – Invisible Structures; Social permaculture, group dynamics; Alternative economies, local currencies, cooperative models; Building resilient communities |
| 31-May | Sunday; 9-5 pm | Session 12 – Urban Permaculture; Designing for limited space: balconies, rooftops, neighborhoods; Community gardens, food security, urban water systems |
| 5-Jun | Friday; 6-8:30 pm | Session 13 – Design Project Work I; Forming design teams; Choosing project sites; Goals, base maps, and site analysis |
| 6-Jun | Saturday; 9-5 pm | Session 14 – Design Project Work II; Developing design concepts; Integrating systems (water, soil, food, energy, community) |
| 7-Jun | Sunday; 9-5 pm | Session 15 – Field Trip / Hands-On Practicum; Visit a working permaculture site (farm, homestead, urban project); Hands-on skills: swale digging, compost building, food forest planting |
| 12-Jun | Friday; 6-8:30 pm | Session 16 – Design Project Work III; Refinement of design plans; Preparing presentations and visuals |
| 13-Jun | Saturday; 9-5 pm | Session 17 – Final Design Presentations; Student groups present their designs; Peer and instructor feedback |
| 14-Jun | Sunday; 9-5 pm | Session 18 – Integration & Next Steps; Permaculture career pathways and opportunities; Resources for continued learning; Closing circle & certification ceremony *Open to families of graduates |