Permaculture Design

The Permaculture Design Certificate of Achievement program is designed to train students in the principles and practices of sustainable landscape creation and management.   Students will acquire a firm foundation in the fundamentals of Permaculture including ethics, site analysis, creating sustainable garden and landscape habitats, soil and water care, and the use and processing of waste and energy.   Specific practical applications of permaculture will include mushroom cultivation, beneficial pollinators, natural building, growing edible and useful plants, and food preservation.   Students will also learn about the social, economic and ecological applications of Permaculture principles as it relates to local, regional, and global communities. 

The certificate may be completed in 2 semesters. A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the certificate requirements specified below.

Merritt College's Landscape Horticulture (LANHT) program has a positive track record of graduating students and filling labor marker needs. We anticipate that by converting the Permaculture Design certificate of proficiency to a certificate of achievement the number of completers will increase from the single digits to an average of 25 students by fall 2025.

Academic Year	Award	Award Type	Count
2018-19	LANHT PERMACULTURE DESIGN CULTURE	Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)	6
2017-18	LANHT PERMACULTURE DESIGN CULTURE	Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)	13
2016-17	LANHT PERMACULTURE DESIGN CULTURE	Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)	6
2015-16	LANHT PERMACULTURE DESIGN CULTURE	Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)	6
2014-15	LANHT PERMACULTURE DESIGN CULTURE	Certificate of Proficiency (6-<18)	6

The goal of the Permaculture Design Certificate of Achievement is career education and workforce development. Those who earn the certificate in Permaculture Design can find employment at basic or entry level jobs in sustainable landscape and grounds maintenance as a gardener or a park worker. Students will be able to perform a variety of tasks, including installation and management of gardens and communities of herbaceous and woody plants, sustainable watering and fertilizing, pruning, the safe management of pests and diseases and encouragement beneficial insects and pollinators.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Design gardens that merge landscape design, sustainable agriculture and applied ecology for people and organisms.
2. Identify individual organisms and apply biological systems including plants, fungi, microorganisms, animals, and people to local gardens.
3. Manage the infrastructure web of social/ecological gardens, including people and plant communities, animal systems, soil generation, solar, and water systems.

Career Opportunities

Permaculture Design established positions and job titles:

1. Garden or park landscape / permaculture designer
2. Garden or park  landscape / permaculture maintenance
3. City, County or Municipality permaculture / natural landscape / or regional parks gardener

The Permaculture Design Certificate of Achievement requires 4 major core courses and 3 major elective courses for a total of 17-18 units. The certificate may be completed in 2 semesters.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
LANHT 001 or LANHT 001E	Introduction to Landscape Horticulture with Lab (Day) Introduction to Landscape Horticulture (Evening)	3	S1
LANHT 023	Plant Terminology	3	S1
LANHT 026	Pruning	3	S1
LANHT 028A	Permaculture Design I	3	S1
LANHT 028B	Permaculture Design II	3	S2
LANHT 005A or LANHT 005EA or LANHT 005B or LANHT 005EB	Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) Plant Materials: Fall Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening) Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture with Lab (Day) Plant Materials: Spring Native Plant ID and Culture (Evening)	3	S2
LANHT 010 or LANHT 011 or LANHT 016 or LANHT 076 or LANHT 081 or LANHT 084 or LANHT 208A	Insect Pests Plant Diseases and Their Management Soil Management Edible Landscaping Arborist Equipment Fundamentals Applied Structural Pruning Growing and Using Herbs in the Landscape I	2-3	S2

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Consultation with Diablo Valley and Las Positas Colleges attached. Neither institution has expressed concern about Merritt's program.