Holistic Sustainability Semester Permaculture Design Course & Ecovillage Immersion

MORE THAN A PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE IN AN INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY

Over these 10 weeks, students will integrate into our community, Meadowsong Ecovillage, and develop an understanding of the systems of governance and decision making (sociocracy) that we use.  Students will learn communication skills in a safe and nurturing environment that allow for new growth, expression, and deeper relationships. 

Working with the land in our ongoing restoration projects, informed by indigenous practices and guidance, students will develop an understanding of how one can integrate into the ecosystem and the more-than-human world.  Permaculture-based food production, preservation, animal husbandry and integration provide a basis for students’ future work in the world as rewilders, community builders, farmers, and changemakers.

Students have the opportunity to earn two internationally recognized certificates:  the Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC), the global standard in permaculture education; the Ecovillage Design Education (EDE), a holistic sustainability standard anchored by Gaia Education and recognized by UNESCO; and Lost Valley’s unique Intentional Community Immersion (ICI) certificate, rooted in our 33 year reputation as pioneers in all three fields.

Discover viable ways to live in greater social and ecological harmony.  Cultivate more resilient relationships.  Join a growing community of passionate, caring human beings, living in service to a regenerative Earth.

 THE EXPERIENCE

Step into the HSS experience by viewing the class schedule and offerings of community immersion. From garden parties and sociocracy to fieldtrips to ancient forests and neighboring ecovillages, the HSS offers countless ways to find gratitude in each moment! Take a cool dip in our woodland creek, or soak in the hotsprings just up the road. We have the Cascades Mountains to the East and the glorious Oregon Coast to the West. Our land and the surrounding areas offer experiences like no other course in the country!

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
YOU’RE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN AS MANY CLASSES AS YOU’D LIKE.

MONDAY
7:00-8:45 am Breakfast
7:45 – 8:45 am Yoga/Meditation
9:00 – 12:15 pm Interdependent Social Dynamics
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 pm Rest & Digest
2:00 – 3:30 pm Design Projects
3:45 – 5:15 pm Ancestral/Resilience Skills
5:15-5:45 Course Overview (Q&A)
6:00-7:00 Dinner

TUESDAY
7:00-8:45 am Breakfast
7:45 – 8:45 am Qi Gong/Tai Chi
9:00 – 12:15 pm Land Projects
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 pm Rest & Digest
2:00 – 3:30 pm Alternative Economies
3:45 – 5:15 pm Nature Immersion/ Wilderness Skills
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-9:00 Film Showings

WEDNESDAY
7:00-8:45 am Breakfast
7:45 – 8:45 am Yoga/Meditation
9:00 – 12:15 pm Permaculture Design Course
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 pm Rest & Digest
2:00 – 3:30 pm PDC
3:45 – 5:15 pm PDC
6:00-7:00 Dinner

THURSDAY
7:00-8:45 am Breakfast
7:45 – 8:45 am Qi Gong/Tai Chi
9:00 – 12:15 pm Garden Projects
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 pm Rest & Digest
2:00 – 3:30 pm Alternative Economies
3:45 – 5:15 pm Nature Immersion/ Wilderness Skills
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-9:00 Book Club / Discussion Groups

FRIDAY
7:00-8:45 am Breakfast
7:45 – 8:45 am Breathwork
9:00 – 12:15 pm Worldviews & Lifeways
12:15 – 1:15 pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:00 pm Rest & Digest
2:00 – 3:30 pm Design Projects
3:45 – 5:15 pm Creative Arts/Wellbeing
5:15-5:45 pm Council (Week’s Review)
6:00-7:00 Dinner

SATURDAY
7:45am – 5:15 pm Fieldtrip (select days)
7:00 – 10pm Fire Circle, Storytelling, Song Circles, Stargazing, Jam Sessions, Poetry, Dance, etc.

OUR TEACHERS

HSS Teachers carry decades of expertise. Each semester features over a dozen of the nation’s top names in Permaculture Design, Environmental / Ecological Restoration, Interpersonal Communication / Dynamics, and Ecovillage Design who offer an expansive range of teaching styles. This year features David Holmgren, Orland Bishop, Diana Leafe Christian, Andrew Millison, Dan Wahpepah, and many others ready to lead you. From organic building and farming practices to yoga and natural childbirth, from indigenous land stewardship, community governance and alternative economies to ancestral skills, wildcrafting, herbal medicine, animal care and husbandry. Whatever your passion, you will find elders, teachers, and guides here to support you on your journey!

Curious to hear what former HSS students had to say about their journey at Lost Valley?

COST

Our regularly priced course is $6,497*. Registering by April 18th secures a Spring Break discounted rate of $5,997. This package covers camping, dorm lodging, facilities access (indoor and outdoor showers, restrooms, kitchens, classrooms, libraries), full vegetarian meal plan (meat options may be available at an added cost TBD), site fees, laundry, all instruction and certification including Permaculture Design Course, Ecovillage Design Education, and Intentional Community Immersion, as well as full access to our nature sanctuary trails, creek, and meadow. If you are in need of financial aid, see the Financial Aid page for options.

*This price is good through May 10, 2022

APPLICATION PROCESS 

We are now accepting Applications for the Holistic Sustainability Semester Summer 2022 course. Start by filling out our APPLICATION FORM, or contact [email protected] with any questions you might have. Once your application has been processed, we will schedule a video call to ensure you and the course are a good mutual fit.  You are not fully enrolled until you’ve both had your live call, completed a background check, and submitted your course deposit.

Join us in our collaborations with a Regenerative Earth!