Words cannot fully convey what transgressed during two simple weeks in a nature preserve. I took a Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) course located at Hidden Villa, a beautiful wilderness preserve and teaching farm nestled in the Los Altos Hills in the Bay Area.
Despite the shortfalls of words, I want to give you a taste of what my experience was like. You can be sure my future posts will be influenced and informed by my experience at this course.
Maybe you will want to take a Permaculture Design Course in the near future as well – it is an invaluable experience for anyone, whether you are interested in gardening or not (though it would certainly help). A PDC can help you with anything from inner awareness to landscape architecture. Permaculture is designed to be applicable to just about anything – from social and community structures to government and business. The permaculture design certification grants you the privilege to be a design consultant or educator. These were the original requirements for certification set by Bill Mollison.
What is Permaculture?
In brief, it’s nature connection. How should you farm and garden? Observe and learn from nature. How should you live and thrive in a human community? Observe and learn from nature. How should you set up and run your business? How should you lead? There are technical details, but that’s not for this post.
The most basic foundation of Permaculture is a simple set of ethics:
- care for the earth
- care for people
- share the excess abundance
Beyond that are principles rooted in natural patterns, ones you can attain by simply observing nature for a long period of time.
Fourteen brave souls stayed to experience a heightened sensitivity to nature and community, to learn about the techniques nature might use in farming, and ultimately, to experience living in community.
We stayed at the beautifully protected wilderness preserve and teaching farm, Hidden Villa. Those of you in the Bay Area should definitely go visit this beautiful oasis!
Our meals were cooked together and shared together. Before each meal, we linked up in a circle to express our gratitude for the sun, soil, wind, biology, farmers, distributors, and cooks. After two weeks of this, I now feel a much deeper understanding and sensitivity to the enormous amount of energy put into one single meal.
Daily, I enjoyed a short hike or meditation in nature. I learned that this was incredibly revitalizing.
We learned about the inputs and outputs of a chicken.
We learned from highly esteemed teachers: Larry Korn and Joanna Macy to name a few.
We danced with no thought to what it looked like. We just moved with the flow of the music.
We visited the local farm and learned about the trials and rewards of organic farming.
We hung out with chickens in the demonstration garden.
We created our own design projects.
In the end, my absolute greatest lesson was that of heightened awareness.
Spending time in nature, practicing my awareness by simply seeing all that was around me – the leaf litter, the winding arms of trees, the yawning ferns, the glittering leaves, magnificently arching tree trunks, smooth and ridged bark patterns, fractals and fibonacci spirals.
Observing the behavior of my classmates, noticing the energy shifts of collective expressions of gratitude, noticing the point at which we transform from strangers to family.
The falling of walls.
The healing gift of collective meditation.
The love of song and harmony.
The powerful synergy of shared beliefs.
Hands helping hearts helping hands.
Hugs.
Creativity in food and spirit.
Setting of intention.
A depth of sensitivity through invocations of gratitude.
The beautiful, loving energy of native wilderness.
Wild squirrels defending their territory.
Gentle deer peering at me with cautious, exquisite eyes.
The value of student input and discussion.
The value of humor – hydration for the soul.
Trust and surrender in the divinity of nature.
Learning
Growing
Sharing
Loving
Deeply
I’m so glad you decided to blog about your trip. You are right – the photos speak for themselves. But I’m sure you’ve gained much more profound meanings than you are unable to express in words or images.
Still, I’m transported to a place that I want to explore one day. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Karen! I would highly recommend it!
Sounds wonderful, Lynn! Glad that you got so much out of the experience. So many people go through the paces lacking the awareness that offers balance and provides meaning to our lives.
When we are awake and aware . . . we exhibit an alert curiosity to this moment . . . and the next.
Thanks, Nancy! It was definitely an exercise in being present and being curious about how each new moment would unfold.
Oh, hey. I know someone who works at Hidden Villa (Nathalie Arch). Did you happen to meet her? I guess I should ask her to give me a tour sometime! Sounds like it was a great two weeks. Thanks for sharing your photos and experience.
Nope, I did not get a chance to meet her. But we did meet other Hidden Villa staff that were super super friendly and informative. You should definitely check it out, they have some really great hiking trails too.
Again, a beautiful and inspiring post. In order for us all to protect nature, we have to be connected with it, to see her value, to know how her health leads to our very existence. This begins with awareness. I would love to do what you have done, it sounds amazing!
Thanks, Sherry! You should definitely do it. I’m sure there are similar programs near you. If not, check out Common Circle Education. They have the most comprehensive curriculum, with a particular focus on regenerative leadership and eco-psychology. They host their programs in the Western USA.
Beautiful photos and beautiful words. I’m glad you gained so much from this experience and I look forward to reading more about what you learned.
Thanks, Andrea! <3
So great to hear not only about the external elements of the experience, but more importantly, how the external was a catalyst for internal transformation. Nature is perfect. We need only mirror what is all around (and in) us already.
I’m looking forward to hearing how this proverbial seed will bear fruit. Be well!
I love how you phrased that – the external was definitely a catalyst for internal transformation. There’s no boundary between my inner world and outer world. Thanks for your comment!
Wow Lynn-the photos are gorgeous. And your story is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. There is nothing like dancing to the music and not caring what anyone thinks.
Thanks so much, Lori! I agree – I have taken up freeform dancing now in my regular life =P
What a special experience, Lynn! It seems like this experience of being in nature was exactly what you were seeking when you took your year off. I’m glad you discovered the sense of “heightened awareness” and the feelings of community, connection, and joy.
Thanks so much, Sandra! Yes, this was definitely the experience I was looking for. Best wishes to you.
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Hi Lynn, Thanks for sharing your experience. I must admit, I’m a tad jealous! This should help other people become inspired to live and learn about permaculture.
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