ECOLOGICAL DESIGN AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: An Advanced Permaculture Design Course
with DAVE JACKE & MICHAEL JUDD
at Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch, Woodbourne, NY
in collaboration with Green Phoenix Permaculture

October 16-25, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS

• 10 Days of intensive ecological design and yoga practice
  
• Learn and apply a professional design process start-to-finish, on small mentored teams
  
• Focused design application on food production/storage/distribution; water/wastewater; buildings and energy; and/or economic-social systems
  
• World-recognized instruction in classical yoga and meditation in a unique ashram setting
  
• Beautiful 77-acre site and community dedicated to wholistic design and implementation
  

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The belief that humans are separate from nature prevents people from designing whole systems that simultaneously meet human needs and regenerate healthy ecosystems. Both permaculture design and Yoga and Vedanta philosophy posit that humanity and nature are one. In this eight-day advanced permaculture design course, students will explore and experience first-hand the connection and unity between humans and nature through intensive ecological design training, immersion in ashram life and yoga practice, and personal and group reflection.

Along with course staff, participants will form a large-scale paraprofessional design team “hired” by Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch to resolve key design challenges and create a Schematic Master Plan for the ranch’s 77-acre campus and resident community. Depending on student interests, backgrounds and experience, each participant will focus on one of four key “design streams” relating to the whole design: water supply and waste water treatment systems; food production, processing, storage, and distribution systems; buildings and energy systems; or social and economic structures. Each stream will take on design problems of moderate to high complexity in a mentored group-learning environment and all teams will present and dialogue with each other throughout the course as work progresses. As a collective, we will synthesize these streams into a unified Master Plan and present to a larger public audience by course end.

Immersion in the regular ashram program forms an integral part of the course, including morning (6 AM) and evening meditations, daily yoga, kirtan (chanting), and community service. Participation in the daily schedule, which is fundamental to the ashram mission, is not only an opportunity to develop or strengthen a personal spiritual practice, but also a direct approach to understanding the unique client and setting. You are invited to actively participate in the yoga and meditation at a level comfortable to you, but at the very least as an observer and an engaged and curious designer. Throughout the course, the design team (all of us) will relate our experiences with meditation and yoga and/or other personal spiritual practices to our work as designers, students, and teachers – and vice versa.

OPEN TO graduates of permaculture design certificate courses, or people with 1-2 years of practical design experience of some kind, and others after a preliminary interview. New and non-permaculture course graduates are encouraged to apply/inquire. Experience is useful, but enthusiasm, commitment, and integrity contribute a ton! No prior experience with yoga is necessary.

COURSE FEES / REGISTRATION DATES: $1160 including 10-day intensive, 9 nights accommodations; light breakfast, organic vegetarian Brunch and Dinner daily, yoga (asana) classes and meditation daily; weekend sauna.

• $50 OFF if you register before September 30
  
• Additional $50 OFF per referral (call or email for group registration and deeper discounts.)
  

Final registration deadline: October 9, 2009. Spaces limited.


**Contact Alice Lo (Green Phoenix Permaculture) at permaculture(at)sivananda.org or 631-365-4135.
See the website for more course details and to learn more about yoga, Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch and how permaculture is taking root there!