2027 Permaculture Design Course- Plymouth

A full Permaculture Design Course delivered across 8 immersive days on the beautiful Gateway Farm in Plymouth, MI, USA and 5 online day sessions from wherever you are. Led by practicing designers, farmers and educators, Dr Charlie Brennan and Bridget O’Brien, together with decades of applied experience across four continents.

May 29 Gateway Farm, Plymouth, MI, USA.
72-hr PDC Certificate 8 days in-person + 5 online sessions.

More than a course. An inspiring regenerative framework for living.

Permaculture Design is a set of techniques and more. It is a way of seeing, it’s a disciplined approach to understanding how natural systems work, and applying those principles to every scale of (human) life: your home, your food, your livelihood, your community, your planet. 

This PDC gives you the internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate and something rarer: the practical experience, the peer network, and the design confidence to actually use it.

"Revolution disguised as gardening." We think this quote from Graham Bell still holds up but this course goes further. Edible forest gardening, syntropics, ecopsychology and regenerative market gardening are woven through every module, taught by people who do this work every day.

What you'll study

The full 72-hour curriculum covers the internationally recognized PDC standards and extends into specialist knowledge areas taught directly by practitioners.

• Permaculture design principles, ethics and Radical Redesign

• Regenerative Agriculture

• Conservation and Rewilding of the Land

• Making a Living with Permaculture

• Preparing for Extremes

• Healing Places

• Walkabout Permaculture

• Soil & Plant health

• Edible forest gardening

• Market gardening

• Water, landform & earthworks
  Natural building 

• Social permaculture & community design

• Ecopsychology & nature connection

• Holistic decision-making

• Wellness & regenerative living

• Applied design project
  
  And more...
  

How it's structured

The course runs across thirteen sessions total: eight consecutive in-person days on Gateway Farm (May, 2027), supported by five online sessions scheduled after the residential component.

The hybrid model is deliberate. Onsite sessions we explore and study frameworks, dig deep into skill building and techniques, all while building our community and relationships. Post-residential sessions support your design project, consolidate what you've absorbed on-site and keep our connections growing.

What sets this PDC apart

A genuinely hybrid format. Eight days on-farm, in place and in-person, in Plymouth, MI, USA working directly with soil, plants, water systems and animals combined with five structured online sessions that extend your learning and keep you connected after you leave. Not every PDC offers both.

You'll learn design principles amongst both small-scale intensive growing and medium-scale regenerative crop systems, giving you a breadth of applied context most PDCs simply can't offer.

Our lead facilitation team Charlie Brennan PhD & Bridget O’Brien of Garden Juju Collective & Gateway Farm design and manage systems at every scale from balcony gardens to small holdings, community farms and broad-acre properties in Australia, North America, Europe and beyond. Their teaching draws on direct experience, visited case studies, research and real decisions, failures, and outcomes.

An integrated curriculum. Rather than treating permaculture in isolation, this course is interdisciplinary - Just like Charlie & Bridget. It weaves holistic decision-making, syntropics, edible forest gardening, social permaculture, ecopsychology, wellness practices and more. The result is an education in grounded design and putting it all into real life practice.

Led by practitioners.

Dr Charlie Brennan
Lead Facilitator - Garden Juju Collective & Gateway Farm Hub

With over 35 years of applied experience spanning applied permaculture, gardening, farming, landscape design, conservation, horticulture, bush regeneration, ethics and ecopsychology, Charlie brings rare depth to both the ecological and human dimensions of permaculture. His work restoring rivers, planting forests, and building community food systems is the lived foundation of his teaching.

Bridget O'Brien
Lead Facilitator - Garden Juju Collective & Gateway Farm Hub

Educator, designer, farmer and gardener, Bridget brings together applied permaculture, ecological, regenerative, social and community design skills to her facilitation. Co-creator of the Adapt design game and toolkit, she brings exceptional skill in making complex systems thinking accessible and actionable.

Plus guest presenters across specialist topics throughout the course. More announcements about our guest presenters will come over the following months.

Plymouth Farm, Michigan, USA

Gateway Farm was established as a certified organic farm in 2016 by Mary Emmett and her family, owners of Plymouth Orchards. The farm has diversified a great deal in the last five years, going from offering organically grown annual vegetables, to showcasing diversified food systems by offering perennial foods, dried herbal teas, and other value added products. We’ve re-imagined our farmscape using a permaculture-inspired vision that weaves together market gardening, food forests, land regeneration and rewilding.

This course is for you if...

• You are seeking a rigorous, intentionally designed and thoughtfully facilitated in depth course in permaculture design and you want it delivered by facilitators who actively farm, design and teach across the full range of ecological and social systems.

• You may be a home gardener ready to go further. A farmer looking to integrate regenerative principles. An educator, planner, community organizer or land manager. Or someone at a turning point, looking for a framework that can genuinely guide and design what comes next.

• This PDC is relevant at every scale whether you are working with a balcony, a backyard, a small holding or a broad-acre property. The design principles apply wherever you are.

• You are tired of seeing the many broken systems all around us and want to be a part of the movement that is regenerating land and creating sustainable solutions.

• You feel a pull to work with nature rather than against it.

• You would like to start living by design rather than by default.

• You are curious about how to incorporate ecological design into your garden, farm, home, relationships, work and/or life.

• You are craving a holistic approach to sharing resources, minimizing waste and advocating for human needs, earth needs and the needs of future generations.

• You’ve heard about permaculture and want to learn more!

Invest in your skills. Invest in your place.

Applications open for the May 2027 course. Places are limited to maintain the integrity of the teaching environment.

Apply now. 

Please ask us questions!

Course Inclusions

• Camping accommodation - limited places 

• Access to amenities

• Access to a camp kitchen

• All meals included

• Permaculture handbook

• Adapt Game deck of cards

• Two weeks of dynamic facilitation

• Access to industry experts

• Permaculture Design Certificate

All levels of experience are welcome.

Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs and we will accommodate you.

We warmly invite you to join us for these two weeks where together we can learn, grow and thrive.

Full Fee: $1695

*Earlybird: $1495

**Deposit: $425 (Refundable until April 29, 2027- then the deposit is non-refundable)

Payment Plans are available, please reach out.

* Earlybird discount available until January, 31st 2027.

**Refundable deposit only before April 29, 2027, as outlined under the terms of agreement within the Memorandum of Understanding (available upon registration.)

Frequently Asked Questions

THE COURSE

What is a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)?

A PDC is an internationally recognized course in permaculture design. It covers the core principles, ethics, skills, techniques, theory and design methods developed by Bill Mollison, David Holmgren and many others. It applies this across land, water, energy, food systems, community and livelihood. To receive the certificate you complete a minimum of 72 hours of structured learning. This course meets that standard in full.

A PDC is recognized globally within the permaculture network and by many regenerative agriculture, land management and sustainability organizations.

What makes this PDC different from others?

Several things set this course apart. First, the teaching team: our lead facilitators have decades of applied experience across four continents and trained directly with some of the most respected figures in permaculture - Bill Mollison, Robyn Clayfield, Peter Bane, Dave Jacke, Dan Palmer and others.

Second, the site: is a dynamic, working, community farm hub and business - practicing certified organic, no till, polycultural, permaculture-inspired methods as well weaving in diverse heritage foods, and community education and engagement.

Third, the curriculum: alongside the standard PDC content, we weave in edible forest gardening, ecopsychology, social permaculture and wellness practices - disciplines that are rarely integrated at this depth in a single course.

And finally, the format: 8 in-person days plus 5 structured online sessions, designed so you grow your skills and leave supported.

What will I be able to do after completing this PDC?

You'll leave with a PDC certificate, a completed design project, and a practical toolkit for applying permaculture in your life across a range of scales and contexts - from self, home, work or in community.

More practically: you'll better understand how to read a landscape, design productive systems, make holistic decisions under uncertainty, and understand the ecological principles behind regenerative food production and ways of living . You'll also leave with a peer network and ongoing connections to the Garden Juju Collective and Gateway Farm communities.

However you won't be: a landscape designer, an expert, or full of empty promises and hope. We can guarantee, though, that you will be inspired and ready to start integrating these new practices, skills and theories into your, hopefully, rejuvenated life. 

What topics does the curriculum cover?

The curriculum covers the full internationally recognized PDC standard, plus integrated specialist content. Core areas include: permaculture design principles and ethics, pattern and observation, water and landform, soils and composting, plants and food systems, animal systems, energy and built environment, social permaculture and community design, and applied design methodology.

Specialist content woven through the course includes: successional planting, edible forest gardening, regenerative market gardening, animal management, ecopsychology and nature connection, holistic decision-making, fermentation, and wellness practices.

Do I need any prior experience or qualifications?

No prior permaculture experience is required. The course is designed to be accessible to beginners while offering genuine depth for those who already have some background in gardening, farming, design or ecology.

What helps most is curiosity, a willingness to be hands-on, and some sense of what you'd like to apply your learning to - whether that's a home garden, a community project, a career change or a farming operation.

FORMAT & DATES

How does the hybrid format work?

The course combines 8 consecutive in-person days at Gateway Farm May 29th to May 5th 2027 with 5 online sessions. The online sessions are scheduled after the residential component. They will be completed by the end of June 2027.

The online sessions are live and interactive, not prerecorded. Exact scheduling will be confirmed at our in-person sessions

What are the exact dates?

The in-person residential runs May 29th to May 5th, 2027 at Gateway Farm, Plymouth, MI, USA. Online sessions will be held on the 5 consecutive weeks after the course. Specific dates and times will be confirmed during our in person course. 

What does a typical day look like?

Days on the farm are a mix of morning presentations, practical sessions in the garden and on the land, design workshops, group discussions and site observations. The pace is active but unhurried we build in time for reflection, conversation and genuine engagement with the place. We will have guest presenters throughout the course,  and aim to have a few field trips in the local area.

Many evenings are typically unstructured, allowing space for peer connection, journaling or simply resting. We will have a few optional movie nights, movement classes and activities.

How does the hybrid format work?

The course combines 8 consecutive in-person days at Gateway Farm May 29th to May 5th 2027 with 5 online sessions. The online sessions are scheduled after the residential component. They will be completed by the end of June 2027.

The online sessions are live and interactive, not prerecorded. Exact scheduling will be confirmed at our in-person sessions

What are the exact dates?

The in-person residential runs May 29th to May 5th, 2027 at Gateway Farm, Plymouth, MI, USA. Online sessions will be held on the 5 consecutive weeks after the course. Specific dates and times will be confirmed during our in person course. 

What does a typical day look like?

Days on the farm are a mix of morning presentations, practical sessions in the garden and on the land, design workshops, group discussions and site observations. The pace is active but unhurried we build in time for reflection, conversation and genuine engagement with the place. We will have guest presenters throughout the course,  and aim to have a few field trips in the local area.

Many evenings are typically unstructured, allowing space for peer connection, journaling or simply resting. We will have a few optional movie nights, movement classes and activities.

What is the design project?

Every PDC participant completes a personal design project as part of their certification. This is a real design applied to a site or project that matters to you, whether that's your own property, a community project, a friend's garden, a business or a hypothetical site you're working with.

You'll develop your project throughout the course and receive guidance from facilitators. The post-residential online sessions are partly structured around supporting your project to completion.

Every PDC participant completes a personal design project as part of their certification. This is a real design applied to a site or project that matters to you, whether that's your own property, a community project, a friend's garden, a business or a hypothetical site you're working with.

You'll develop your project throughout the course and receive guidance from facilitators. The post-residential online sessions are partly structured around supporting your project to completion.

LOCATION & LOGISTICS

Where is Gateway Farm?

Gateway Farm is located at the intersection of Joy and Ann Arbor Road, of the Gotfredson exit on M14. Just 10 minutes away from beautiful Downtown Plymouth, 15 from Ypsilanti, 20 from Ann Arbor, and 30 from Detroit. 

Is accommodation provided on-site?

On-site camping accommodation is available at Gateway farm. Limited places. Please call or email to discuss the accommodation fee. 

Other accommodation options are available in the local area. 

Is food provided during the residential?

We provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and some snacks during our in-person course. We will work to accommodate food allergies and sensitivities. Please let us know your needs at registration. 

Plymouth, Canton, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti have excellent options for eating as well from the Plymouth Farmers Market to several cafes and restaurants committed to local produce.

What should I bring?

We'll send a full packing list on enrollment, but in general: sturdy outdoor footwear, clothes you're happy to get dirty, sun protection, a notebook and something to draw with. May and June in Michigan are always unpredictable. Prepare for alternating cool & rainy conditions with warm, as well as sunny weather.

Bring your curiosity. Leave the rest to us.

Are there concessions, scholarships or payment plans available?

We believe this education should be accessible to all. We hold a couple of spaces for work or trade opportunities each session to mitigate some of the costs. We also offer very flexible payment plans. 

If cost is a barrier, please reach out to us directly to discuss what options may be available.

How do I apply?

Registration are open now. Places are limited to maintain the integrity of the learning environment, and we expect this cohort to fill ahead of the course date.

If you have questions before applying, you're welcome to reach out to us at director@gatewayfarmplymouth.

IS THIS COURSE RIGHT FOR ME?

I only have a small garden / balcony / rental. Is this still relevant?

Absolutely. Our facilitators have applied permaculture at every scale from apartments and balconies to van conversions to broad-acre farms. The design principles are scale-independent. You'll leave with tools and approaches you can use immediately, whatever your current situation.

Many of our most engaged past participants came in with nothing more than a backyard. Several left with plans for something much larger.

I'm a farmer / land manager with years of experience. Will I still get value from this?

Yes, and we'd argue especially so. The PDC provides a design framework that often makes explicit what experienced practitioners already know intuitively, while adding new tools: holistic decision-making, syntropics, biodynamics, social and community design dimensions that rarely feature in agricultural training.

The diversity of participants in the cohort from beginners to experienced practitioners is also part of the value. The conversations and collaborations that happen between people at different stages are genuinely generative.

Can I attend just the online sessions if I can't make the in-person days?

The in-person residential is a core part of the PDC both for the depth of learning it provides and for the certification requirements (72 hours). The online sessions are designed to complement the residential, not replace it. If travel is a genuine barrier, please get in touch and we can discuss your situation.

I don't garden or farm, is there any point in taking this course? 

Yes! Permaculture Design, skills, practices and techniques can be woven into all aspects of our lives. We will explore the social and practical application of Permaculture Design to many parts of our lives from self care, to our homes, family, landscape, community and our work in the world. This course is great for those that want to apply Permaculture to the landscape and beyond.

I'm traveling from interstate or overseas. Is that feasible?

Many of our participants travel for this course interstate or even internationally. Plymouth is 30 minutes from Detroit airport and is close to major highways.