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This is a super-ecological, multi-residential house for up to 12 people at Sirius. Some of its features include: passive solar
construction, super insulation, radiant in-floor heating, composting toilets, local lumber, non-toxic stains, steel roof which
collects rainwater for the gardens, photovoltaic array (1.8kW), and three types of soundproofing.
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Planting a new Permaculture garden at Sirius Ecovillage
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Examining urban permaculture in Holyoke Massachusetts
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Engage with Dave Jacke, renowned Permaculture designer and author of Edible Forest Gardens.
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"Living Routes gave me the design experience and confidence to pursue my master's in environmental science. I will be working
on my dream project: building a house called the Winnipeg Urban Permaculture Initiative."
– Anna Weir, summer 2003
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Learn how to create sustainable, productive, and beautiful human environments
using natural ecosystems as models. Permaculture is an evolving and expanding
design system for ecological living, integrating plants, animals, buildings,
people, and communities.
Through experiential, participatory, field-based, and classroom learning,
participants will explore the relationships between personal, social, and
ecological sustainability in the rich context of life at the Sirius Community -
an educational and spiritual ecovillage in scenic western Massachusetts.
This intensive three-week course balances rigorous and engaged academic
learning with hands-on fieldwork, site visits and design practice. The
academic curriculum focuses on design as an ecological process, assessing
natural systems, and weaving integrated solutions to local and global problems.
Faculty guide students through the design of projects beginning with interviews
of clients, needs assessment, development of real solutions, and culminates in a
formal permaculture design and presentation. Class and research time will be in
Sirius' beautiful Octagon meeting room as well as in the gardens, forest, homes
and orchards which surround it.
Check out the student weblogs »
Browse the photo gallery »
Sirius is an...
- Intentional Community of 25 adults and children, based on respect for the individual, cooperation with nature, and spiritual growth.
- Ecovillage, practicing sustainable techniques including organic tilth and co-creative gardens, passive and active solar architecture, composting toilets, rain and waste water cycling, off-grid energy, water catchment, greenhouse bioshelter and season extending techniques.
- Educational Center, seasonally offering a wide array of workshops, internships, and short courses on sustainable living and design.
Read more about Sirius and its location »
The official UMASS-Amherst course title for this 4 credit program is: Natural Resources Conservation (NRC) 398P Section 2
Reading and Designing the Landscape
Essence of Ecological Design principles and skills; Site Mapping; Land assessment for optimal, multi-functional use; Patterns and cycles of nature; Basic plants engineering skills
Water in the Landscape
Water storage and restoration keyline management, swales, dams, and water catchment; Aquaculture, streams, ponds, tanks, & plants; Grey and black water treatment and use
Building Healthy Living Soil
Soil structure, texture and pH; Sheet mulching & composting; Green manures, living mulches, and intercrops; Remineralization
The Cultivated Ecosystem: Human Habitiat
Human habitat: Integrated gardens and orchards with small livestock and wildlife; Species selection and designed management; Ecological pest management; Rotational poultry systems; agroforestry systems
Shelter
Patterning for energy efficiency; Alternative and least toxic building materials; Appropriate technologies
Community Strategies
Regional economics; Urban-suburban restoration; Village and community design; Design report writing and presentation
Earn 4 transferable credits (NRC 398P) through the University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Review our curriculum for this program »
Find out about transferring credits to your home school »
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Creating an Edible Forest Garden at Sirius Community.
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| 66 hours |
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Classroom (outdoor/indoor) - includes lecture, discussion, exercises, small group work, etc. |
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Design Projects |
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Educational Field Excursions |
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Hands on Permaculture Projects |
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The course contains assignments in reading, writing, design work, portfolio and assessment.
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Get contact information for an alum of this program »
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Students learn by doing with instruction in outdoor classrooms nearby the fields, gardens and eco-systems where students put theory into practice.
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Students get hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and ecological design as they earn transferable college credit.
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This innovative greenhouse design at Sirius provides warmth and seating areas as well as fresh veggies year round.
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Kay Cafasso
B.S., Environmental Geosciences, Boston College
Natural Building and Solar Home Design Certification, Solar Energy International
Permaculture Design Certification, Naropa University
Permaculture Instruction Certification, Dynamics Ecological Design
Kay Cafasso is a natural builder, a certified
permaculture design course instructor, and a designer of ecological
landscapes. Kay holds certificates in Solar Home Design and Natural Building
Construction and has many years of experience specializing in earth plasters
and natural finishes for straw bale and other natural buildings. After
documenting ecological design applications in homes and landscapes in arid,
temperate and tropical climates worldwide, Kay founded Sowing Solutions,
offering education and ecological design and consultation services for
homeowners and land stewards. Kay practices what she teaches: thoughtful and
holistic design of landscapes, agriculture, dwellings, and communities.
Mark Krawczyk
B.S., Environmental Studies, University of Vermont
Diploma of Applied Permaculture - British Permaculture Association
Mark is a permaculture designer,
traditional woodworker, natural builder and community organizer who resides
in Burlington, VT. After studying Integral Sustainability with Living
Routes in Auroville, India
and earning his degree in Environmental Studies, he compiled A Directory of
Useful Plants of New England - a comprehensive resource detailing the uses
and ecological characteristics of over 115 useful plants hardy to Zone 5.
Today, he directs Keyline Vermont, RivenWoodCrafts, and Burlington
Permaculture and is an active member of Seven Generations Natural Builders,
and EcoSystems Design Inc. Mark's teaching credits include Edible Forest
Gardening, Coppice Forestry the Re-vitalization of Urban Landscapes, Lawn
to Garden Conversions, Farm Scale Agroforestry, and Keyline Design and Soil
Building. At RivenWoodCrafts, he produces chairs, agricultural implements
and other useful objects from raw logs and also works as both a natural
building educator and contractor, specializing in cob, adobe, wattle and
daub, light clay, natural plasters and dry stone construction.
Jono Neiger
M.A., Landscape Design, Conway School of Landscape Design, MA
B.S., Forest Biology, SUNY Syracuse College of Environmental Science and Forestry, NY
Jono has a diverse background in ecology,
environmental research, conservation, restoration, land stewardship, and
landscape design. A permaculture teacher and designer since 1996, he was the
Land Steward and Permaculture Apprenticeship Program Director at Lost Valley
Educational Center in Oregon for 5 years. Jono is a Conservation Biologist with
17 years experience, is founder of Regenerative Design GROUP, a permaculture
design and consultation firm in Leverett, Massachusetts and is a faculty member
at the Conway School of Landscape Design. A sought after speaker at events,
businesses and workshops, Jono's recent presentations include: Moving Towards Sustainability, Questioning the
Invasive Species Paradigm, Urban Permaculture, Northeast Permaculture, and
Natural Building Alternatives: Strawbale, Cob and Living Roofs.
John Gerber, UMass Faculty Sponsor
Ph.D., Vegetable Physiology/Agricultural Education/Soil Science, Cornell University
M.S., Vegetable Physiology, Cornell University
B.S., Botany, University of Rhode Island
John is aUMass Amherst professor of plant and
soil sciences and former dean of the College of Food and Natural Resources,
Executive Director, Consortium for Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education, and former VP of the American Society of Horticultural Science.
John teaches courses in Sustainable Agriculture, Plants and the Environment,
Dialogue on Agricultural Issues, Agricultural Systems Thinking, and Sustainable
Living. He has published numerous books, articles, reviews and texts, including
Agriculture and the Environment: Bridging Food Production and Environmental
Protection in Developing Countries. Presenter at dozens of conferences and
workshops including Agricultural sustainability: a global perspective - a 1994
USAID Workshop on Agricultural Sustainability, John has conducted research in
vegetable cropping systems, plant nutrition, seed emergence and seedling vigor
of new sweet corn genotypes, and pepper flowering and fruit set.
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