Edinburgh PDC: James Chapman, St Mary's (Jan 31 - May 17, 2026)

The Edinburgh Permaculture Design Course is an accredited Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) program led by James Chapman, taking place at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh from January 31 to May 17, 2026. This comprehensive 72-hour course spans six weekends, blending classroom sessions, practical activities, site visits, and hands-on learning to develop skills in permaculture ethics, principles, design processes, and implementation techniques. Participants will earn international recognition as permaculture designers upon completion, suitable for all levels from beginners to experienced practitioners. The course is based primarily at the A+E space at St Mary’s Cathedral but includes visits to diverse sites such as woodlands, forest gardens, urban gardens, community projects, and James Chapman's own site, Willowburn Lea at Leadburn. Travel to external sites is coordinated where possible via public transport, though costs are not included in fees. The curriculum is structured into six modules, each covering core topics. Module 1 introduces permaculture fundamentals, including ethics, principles, learning from nature, design processes, zones, sectors, and input-output analysis, with daily plant features. Module 2 focuses on observation tools, mapping, patterns in nature, climate and microclimates, and trees. Module 3 delves into soil science, organic gardening, forest gardening, and practical exercises. Module 4 explores design tools, examples, social systems, built environments, resource choices, money, and ecological footprints. Module 5 features site visits to established permaculture projects, with an optional camping opportunity at Willowburn Lea, covering water management and more practicals. Module 6 culminates in a final design project, presentations, discussions on next steps in the permaculture journey, and an end-of-course celebration. The teaching team is led by James Chapman and Nenya, supplemented by guest teachers, practitioners, designers, and specialists. Pricing options range from £525 to £865, with early bird discounts available until January 2026 in some listings. Bookings are essential through the official site, emphasizing interactive and experiential learning to foster sustainable design capabilities for personal, community, and professional applications[1][2][3][7][8].