Cornell University’s Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) is one of the most respected PDCs in the nation. Since stepping in as lead instructor in 2023, my team and I have made dramatic updates to the course to enhance the participant experience. Each year, we refine the program to make it more engaging, accessible, and personalized—so that every student feels supported in their learning journey.

Designed with working adults in mind, this PDC is structured to fit busy schedules while still offering a rich, in-depth learning experience. We’ve introduced beginner-friendly design tools, one-on-one coaching, and flexible pacing that help participants of all levels succeed. Students also benefit from inspiring lectures by respected professionals and opportunities to practice with both digital and traditional design methods.

By the end of the program, each participant creates a personalized site design portfolio, presented to a panel of experienced permaculture designers for meaningful feedback.

Highlights of the program include:
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  • A three-part structure with breaks, designed for working adults

  • Dramatic updates that enhance accessibility and student experience

  • Beginner-friendly design tools for all skill levels

  • One-on-one coaching for a more individualized learning journey

  • Inspiring lectures from leading voices in the field

  • Hands-on practice with both digital and traditional design methods

  • A personalized design portfolio reviewed by professional designers

  • Certificates of completion for each course and a full PDC upon completion
Sign up & be part of the next cohort!

Permaculture 1  -  Permaculture 2

Hear our students' take

Student 1
"The culmination of information. I enjoyed seeing how the two courses gave me all sorts of amazing information to guide the process of designing my site. I also really enjoyed the engagement with the other students and the teacher.

Monica was awesome! She was always so responsive, gave great feedback, was super supportive, and gave great critique and thought provoking ideas. Really enjoyed having Monica!"
"I’m proud of the outcome and grateful for what I learned. This project helped me shift how I look at land—not just as a backdrop for activity, but as an active participant in the design itself. The experience has deepened my sense of observation and expanded my ideas of what “productive” space can be, especially in an urban context. I see this influencing not only future garden or community projects I take on, but also the way I engage with spaces I live in every day."
Mira
Student 2
"The best thing about the course was that there was more engagement this time around, I loved seeing what everyone was working on in more depth and the range of experience that my classmates had within their own sites. I also loved doing more polycultures and taking a stab at the initial site design, but it made me realize how much more work I had to do as well!

Monica was a great inspiration and very understanding of any obstacles I ran into with timing and scheduling, and always made sure I was on track."
"I really enjoyed the information of each week.  Learning from videos and articles.  When we had our group zooms(at least the ones I could attend) it was fun to hear everyone and their different perspectives.  It brought the realization of just how many of us there are who are using permaculture.  It also made me feel like I wasn’t alone doing this course.  The assignments where I had to draw or create and put the ideas into action where by far the most challenging for me.  Starting anything from scratch, like the development of a site, is extremely overwhelming due to there being so many directions it can go with each decision that has to be made.

I love Monica!  Her love of permaculture and her enthusiasm for the topic shows brilliantly.  Her commenting on my assignments helped encourage me.  She has been such a joy to help me through."
Student 3
Megan
"I love doing design. Since I can remember, I have thought of things in shapes and segments. Being dyslexic, even reading is about seeing a shape vs an individual word. So the design process of permaculture thinking has come extremely easily to me. Thinking through every single connection and motion of the plants, animals, humans, water, and soil in one ebb and flow is a beautiful and natural place for my brain to exist. 

Closing out the coursework in the certificate program, I am simply sitting back in amazement at what has been learned, or rather, inhaled. I feel there is much now to slowly exhale into the world around me in so many ways, from how I interact with other humans, the earth, any resource I come across, and most importantly, our greater communities. Applying these principles isn't just about design, but rather a way of living more justly and holistically in the world."
"Participating in the forums was great as well. It was really helpful to not only be able to connect with the others taking the course, but to be able to see their projects was really inspiring. I also got some great suggestions to a few issues that I had put forth on the forum. It’s definitely a valuable component to the course.

Monica was an engaged and available instructor and gave valuable feedback and suggestions. She is passionate about permaculture and it shows! She suggested many resources and connections within the permaculture community. I have also bought many of the books that were suggested throughout the course as further reading and education."
Erin

Interested in our courses? Sign up!

Permaculture 1: Fundamentals of Ecological Design

  • From October 6th to November 16th, 2025
  • Enrollment limited
  • Questions about the course? Email Monica: [email protected]

Sign up here

Permaculture Design 2: Ecosystem Mimicry

  • From October 6th to November 16th, 2025
  • Enrollment limited
  • Questions about the course? Email Monica: [email protected]

Sign up here
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