Made in Broward: 12-Week Permaculture Design Cert.

The Permaculture Design Certificate Course is a comprehensive 72-hour hands-on program offered by Made in Broward, spanning 12 weeks with 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of practicum each week. Held in-person at 2711 NW 11th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, it equips participants with practical skills for sustainable living and regenerative design. Key topics include foundations of permaculture, regional uniqueness and adaptation, permaculture design principles, food forests, soil building and management, water systems and harvesting, site analysis using zones and sectors, social permaculture focusing on community and ethics, new pathways for regenerative careers, the harvest including food production strategies, and a final project where participants design a private or community garden. This structure ensures a balance of theoretical knowledge and real-world application, culminating in an internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) upon completion. The course emphasizes ethical design processes rooted in permaculture's three core ethics: care for the earth, care for people, and fair share. Participants learn to observe and interact with natural patterns, apply self-regulation and accept feedback, use renewable resources and produce no waste, and design from patterns to details. Practical sessions cover soil regeneration techniques like composting and mulching, water management through swales and keyline design, and establishing perennial food systems like fruit trees and guilds. Social aspects address community building, economic resilience, and inclusive design frameworks. This program stands out for its extended format, allowing deeper integration of concepts over time compared to intensive two-week courses. It fosters a supportive learning environment ideal for beginners and those seeking certification to teach, consult, or implement permaculture projects. The Fort Lauderdale location leverages subtropical climate advantages for demonstrating tropical permaculture elements such as hurricane-resilient plantings and year-round food production. Graduates gain skills applicable to urban homesteading, farm planning, or ecological restoration, contributing to broader goals of climate resilience and biodiversity. With its focus on local adaptation, the course prepares designers to create site-specific solutions that enhance ecosystem services while meeting human needs sustainably.