Overview & Format
Welcome to Permaculture 1: Fundamentals of Ecological Design!
This 6-week course (7 weeks including the introduction) is your entry point into Cornell’s 3-part Permaculture Design series. Together, we will explore the fundamentals of ecological design while building towards your own site design project.
What to Expect
Your Design Project
You will work toward a site design of your choice (as small as a backyard or as large as a multi-acre farm). By the end of the course, you will also have the beginnings of a portfolio that you can continue to develop throughout the 3-course series.
Certificates
This is not a Cornell University degree course; it is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension. Upon request, participants may receive Continuing Education Credits (CECs) or CTLE certificates. At the end of all three courses, you will receive a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC).
Time Commitment
Plan to spend 10–15 hours per week on readings, lectures, assignments, and forums.
Design Tools
We use a Google Slides template to guide you through a simple but effective design process. You are welcome to use other digital tools if you prefer. Assignments may also be completed by hand, and we recommend keeping some basic drawing supplies since a few exercises are more comfortable / better suited for hand-drawn work.
Zoom Sessions
These are completely optional, but highly recommended. Online learning can feel isolating, and Zoom sessions provide an opportunity to connect in real time with your instructors and peers. Many permaculture cohorts stay in contact for years, and these sessions often spark valuable networking and collaboration.
This course is beginner-friendly. No prior design experience is required — just curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to learn by doing.
We're excited to have you! Reach out to your instructor, Monica Ibacache, directly, either through the Moodle chat or by email: mji33@cornell.edu