This document will help you understand what is expected from you with each unit and gives instructions for submission of course assignments.

PDFs of Presentations

Since some of you have not taken the "Fundamentals" class yet I have included two very similar videos. The second video was made for Fundamentals, the first for Mimicry.  Pease watch the edition you did not view previously. Much of this week is an introduction to core ideas of permaculture, similar to the first week of the Fundamentals class.

Reading: Essence of Permaculture

Download this for an example of the assignment.

The principles and approaches of the work William McDonough has done parallel closely with permaculture. This TED talk gives a shortcut version of the ideas outlined in the highly recommended book he wrote Cradle to Cradle. 

The Biomimicry movement is quickly moving through many facets of science and technology development. This is specifically drawing lessons from nature to solve problems. See http://biomimicry.net/ for more.

Presentation: Reading the Landscape (Narrated Lecture 38 minutes).

Some of the basic content may be review if you took Permaculture Fundamentals, however this presentation expands on the basics covered in Pattern #1.

Donald Normal, author of The Design of Everyday Things (a highly recommended book) offers a TED talk on the ways good design can make us happy.

His website is: http://www.jnd.org

Reading: Selections from Cornell Garden Based Learning 

Four videos:

This very short video helps demonstrate the potential of swales.

Water – Simple, Yet Complex with Watershed Artisan Craig Sponholtz

Earthworks to Capture Rainwater Runoff and Prevent Erosion

Water Harvesting with Brad Lancaster

Brad's Rainwater Harvesting website

This is optional. Listen to some additional commentary on agroforestry.

Paul Stamets has been at the forefront of advocating for the role mushrooms play in natural cycles, and healing them. This is one of his most famous presentations.

More: http://www.fungi.com/about-paul-stamets.html

Full text: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnac.unl.edu%2Fdocuments%2Fmorepublications%2Fprofitable_farms.pdf&ei=fHwaUav1H4jX0QH27oD4Cw&usg=AFQjCNFQNGAgEW7BY-ThlXGm0N9y9jCtTQ&sig2=5ZILOs8GlQx7L3gkcqLc-Q&bvm=bv.42261806,d.dmQ&cad=rja

with Steve Gabriel

Hazelnuts. A Viable Broadacre Crop for the Midwest? Almost. with Phil Rutter