Local permaculture resources
We are fortunate to be located in Western Massachusetts, a vibrant permaculture hub, surrounded by amazing teachers and resources. We are especially grateful for the support of Regenerative Design Group in designing our gardens.
UMass Courses
Intro to Permaculture (STOCKSCH 186)
Foundation in permaculture history, ethics, principles, design process, and practical applications, rooted in the observation of natural systems. Students with little or no experience in gardening are welcomed.
3 credits/Fall Semester
Permaculture Design and Practice (STOCKSCH 286)
This course offers students a deepened practice in permaculture design process and techniques; includes in-class lectures, field trips, design studio and a hands-on field component. The course culminates with students completing their own permaculture design for a site in the Pioneer Valley.
Open to Sustainable Food and Farming Majors Only
Prerequisite: STOCKSCH 186 (previously STOCKSCH 197G) or consent of instructor
3 credits/Spring Semester
Permaculture Gardening at UMass (STOCKSCH 198P)
In this course students will work under the guidance of the UMass Permaculture Garden Manager to upkeep the UMass Permaculture gardens and educate visitors. Members of the Garden Crew will learn about permaculture through hands-on experience maintaining our on-campus garden sites.
Mandatory Pass/Fail
1 credit/Fall & Spring Semester
Gardenshare Practicum (STOCKSCH 298G)
This is a student-led practicum experience that utilizes a plot of land on campus to grow edible and ornamental crops. Although offered every semester, specific garden activities depend on the season of the year. Mandatory pass/fail grading. Students may enroll more than once for credit.
1 credit/Fall & Spring Semester
Forest Gardens: Perennial Agriculture for Ecological Regeneration (STOCKSCH 297B)
This course offers students a deepened understanding of forest gardens, with a focus on northeast temperate climates. This course will use readings, field trips, hands on learning at the Agriculture Learning Center and in class exercises to explore the
resilience and benefits of forest systems and how we would tweak them for the creation of forest gardens.
Open to Sustainable Food and Farming Majors Only
3 credits/Fall Semester
Social Permaculture: Building Resilient Communities and Organizations (STOCKSCH 397R)
Permaculture mimics ecological systems to design gardens, farms and homesteads which have the resilience and benefits of natural systems. Human designed systems however cannot function without social systems such as decision making, communications, organizational structure, and policy. This course will use case studies, guest speakers and in class exercises to explore how to apply permaculture ethics and principles to a variety of social systems. Students will engage with methods and strategies that build capacity and resilience while leading to long term systemic change.
3 credits/Spring Semester
Online Courses:
Backyard Homesteading - (STOCKSCH 197A) (Summer)
Intro to Permaculture - (STOCKSCH 186) (Spring)
Sustainable Site Design & Planning - (STOCKSCH 386) (Summer)
Social Permaculture for Food Justice - (STOCKSCH 397SP) (Spring)
Foundation in permaculture history, ethics, principles, design process, and practical applications, rooted in the observation of natural systems. Students with little or no experience in gardening are welcomed.
3 credits/Fall Semester
Permaculture Design and Practice (STOCKSCH 286)
This course offers students a deepened practice in permaculture design process and techniques; includes in-class lectures, field trips, design studio and a hands-on field component. The course culminates with students completing their own permaculture design for a site in the Pioneer Valley.
Open to Sustainable Food and Farming Majors Only
Prerequisite: STOCKSCH 186 (previously STOCKSCH 197G) or consent of instructor
3 credits/Spring Semester
Permaculture Gardening at UMass (STOCKSCH 198P)
In this course students will work under the guidance of the UMass Permaculture Garden Manager to upkeep the UMass Permaculture gardens and educate visitors. Members of the Garden Crew will learn about permaculture through hands-on experience maintaining our on-campus garden sites.
Mandatory Pass/Fail
1 credit/Fall & Spring Semester
Gardenshare Practicum (STOCKSCH 298G)
This is a student-led practicum experience that utilizes a plot of land on campus to grow edible and ornamental crops. Although offered every semester, specific garden activities depend on the season of the year. Mandatory pass/fail grading. Students may enroll more than once for credit.
1 credit/Fall & Spring Semester
Forest Gardens: Perennial Agriculture for Ecological Regeneration (STOCKSCH 297B)
This course offers students a deepened understanding of forest gardens, with a focus on northeast temperate climates. This course will use readings, field trips, hands on learning at the Agriculture Learning Center and in class exercises to explore the
resilience and benefits of forest systems and how we would tweak them for the creation of forest gardens.
Open to Sustainable Food and Farming Majors Only
3 credits/Fall Semester
Social Permaculture: Building Resilient Communities and Organizations (STOCKSCH 397R)
Permaculture mimics ecological systems to design gardens, farms and homesteads which have the resilience and benefits of natural systems. Human designed systems however cannot function without social systems such as decision making, communications, organizational structure, and policy. This course will use case studies, guest speakers and in class exercises to explore how to apply permaculture ethics and principles to a variety of social systems. Students will engage with methods and strategies that build capacity and resilience while leading to long term systemic change.
3 credits/Spring Semester
Online Courses:
Backyard Homesteading - (STOCKSCH 197A) (Summer)
Intro to Permaculture - (STOCKSCH 186) (Spring)
Sustainable Site Design & Planning - (STOCKSCH 386) (Summer)
Social Permaculture for Food Justice - (STOCKSCH 397SP) (Spring)
Permaculture Design Courses
build your own campus permaculture program
These documents were created and utilized by UMass Permaculture to kick start our initiative. These were previously shared at our Permaculture Your Campus Conference and are now available for you to view and download.
plants
Consulting
Regenerative Design Group- Permaculture design
Ryan Harb Consulting- Campus permaculture program development
Broadfork Permaculture- Permaculture design
Mobile Design Lab- Permaculture design
Ryan Harb Consulting- Campus permaculture program development
Broadfork Permaculture- Permaculture design
Mobile Design Lab- Permaculture design
workshops & other
Online resources
Books
Edible Forest Gardens Volumes 1 & 2 -Dave Jacke & Eric Toensmeier
Perennial Vegetables -Eric Toensmeier
Permaculture: A Designer's Manual -Bill Mollison
Creating a Forest Garden -Martin Crawford
Gaia's Garden -Toby Hemenway
The Permaculture Handbook -Peter Bane
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability -David Holmgren
Paradise Lot - Eric Toensmeier & Jonathan Bates
Permaculture Pioneers: Stories from the New Frontier -edited by Kerry Dawborn & Caroline Smith
Earth User's Guide to Permaculture - Rosemary Morrow and Rob Allsop
Biomimicry Janine M. Benyus
Perennial Vegetables -Eric Toensmeier
Permaculture: A Designer's Manual -Bill Mollison
Creating a Forest Garden -Martin Crawford
Gaia's Garden -Toby Hemenway
The Permaculture Handbook -Peter Bane
Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability -David Holmgren
Paradise Lot - Eric Toensmeier & Jonathan Bates
Permaculture Pioneers: Stories from the New Frontier -edited by Kerry Dawborn & Caroline Smith
Earth User's Guide to Permaculture - Rosemary Morrow and Rob Allsop
Biomimicry Janine M. Benyus