Permaculture Design Certificate Course DVD Collection
Courses/Workshops, DVDs/Books, For Sale, News — by Tagari April 28, 2010
with Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton
Join Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton for an entire PDC lecture series in the comfort of your own home.
Refresh your experiences from the course or use this collection as an exceptional resource tool for any future projects you may have.
Be one of the first to own this incredible power house of information.
The DVD collection is suitable for use with NTSC systems and is region free. Some MacIntosh computers may have trouble playing these discs but suitable software upgrades may assist with this issue.
“Can you imagine a Design Course in every home?” Lisa Mollison, 2010
Click here for more info and to purchase.
Comments (32)
Finally!
Comment by JBob — April 29, 2010 @ 12:35 am
For $345, no, I can’t imagine a Design Course in every home. While I understand the incredible value of this information, I’m disappointed that a simple collection of DVDs couldn’t be made more affordable…
Comment by Brad — April 29, 2010 @ 5:36 am
Fantastic!
Comment by Craig — April 29, 2010 @ 6:41 am
13 DVD’s for $345 for the set works out $26.55 each which is pretty cheap, especially in high definition filmed with 3 camera angles and hundreds of editing hours, all in a nice boxed package.
Comment by Geoff Lawton — April 29, 2010 @ 1:46 pm
This is great! It would be good to have more information about the set eg which PDCs this was filmed at, and what year etc. Also what the problems are for Macs (the Tagari page is a bit vague).
It’s strange that it’s using NTSC and not having a PAL option. Some people still watch DVDs on a TV
Comment by pebble — April 29, 2010 @ 6:21 pm
If somebody cannot afford to buy the course alone, put together a group of friends. After all, its 13 DVDs and if you are a group of 13 its no problem to let the DVDs circulate. The best is of course if you can gather a group of friends who knows nothing about Permaculture, so they can learn about the TRUE LIFE of Permaculture.
Comment by Øyvind Holmstad — April 30, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
What about a down-loadable option at a reduced price? I don’t need a box/packaging
Comment by Ashton Sheppard — May 1, 2010 @ 7:06 am
Payment plan option? lol…
Downside to spending your $345 on DVDs is you don’t get a certificate at the end.
No, I’m serious, I’d buy this if there were a payment plan option!!!
Comment by Joshua — May 4, 2010 @ 1:18 am
Hi Pebble – the info you requested is now here:
http://www.tagari.com/store/
Comment by Craig Mackintosh — May 5, 2010 @ 10:11 am
I like Ashton’s suggestion… make this information available to people who can’t (or would choose not to) afford it by stripping away the bells and whistles. Is it more effective to change the world by funding projects, or by empowering individuals?
Comment by Brad — May 5, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
I don’t know about you, but if I had the funds (i.e. if I was wealthy) I’d pay a lump sum to the people who have rights over these DVDs, buying the copyright, then I’d let it loose on the world. I’d love to do something like that. But, alas, I’m not wealthy. As it stands, I do my best for the world through my work. If my work doesn’t keep me alive, then I can’t do that work, and would have to do something else that does keep me alive.
Most of us are in this situation. I know the people who worked on these DVDs, who spent countless hours of editing, and I know they’re not swimming in money. As such, they need to find a way to make their positive contribution to the world also keep them fed, or, they won’t be able to make that positive contribution to the world, as they’ll be too busy doing something else that does keep them fed.
My suggestion for all those in this thread who’d like to see these DVDs given away, is to find someone with money to burn, and invite him/her to, instead of burning it, do something worthwhile – like buying the copyright for these DVDs, and then set it loose on the world. But, failing that, if you can’t find such a rich person, please don’t make the people who’ve worked very hard to create this production feel guilty for spending significant amounts of energy on something positive, when they are really just trying to do the best they can.
As much as we hate it, we’re still working within the constraints of a capitalist system.
Most of us are forced to do work we don’t want to do. For most of us, our work is directly destructive. For the few of us who can do something positive through our work, we often do so by making a sacrifice in income so as to follow our vision. Often its risky. Often it fails. Sometimes we have to go back to what we were doing before, or worse.
In the end, we do the best we can.
Yes, I’d like to see this information given out by the truckload on street corners (although if it was given so freely, it could well be regarded as worthless and tossed by many not appreciating what they’re getting). But do spare a thought for the people behind this who are trying to do the right thing, who have given up higher incomes to do this work, and who are finding a way forward where their work keeps them sane and their conscience guilt-free.
We don’t live in a perfect world.
Comment by Craig Mackintosh — May 5, 2010 @ 12:50 pm
From a purely marketing standpoint, I would guess that a much lower price would make more money for the creators of this DVD. Don’t we have enough permaculture enthusiasts around the world to get some economy of scale benefits? Every additional DVD made costs pennies. Just my hunch.
Comment by JBob — May 5, 2010 @ 2:36 pm
“And the fundamental answer is, that there is a fundamental law about the creation of complexity, which is visible and obvious to everyone – yet this law is, to all intents and purposes, ignored in 99 % of the daily fabrication process of society. The law states simply as this: ALL the well-ordered complex systems we know in the world, all those anyway that we review as highly successful, are GENERATED structures, not fabricated structures.”
From “The Process of Creating Life” by Christopher Alexander, page 180.
Yes, it’s really true, 99 % of us have jobs which do not generate living, healthy, generated structures. It is VERY depressing knowing your job is creating dead, fabricated structures, but you have no other choice to get food on the table and pay your debths. Because we are, all around us, surrounded by these fabricated structures, and to make ourself free of them is very difficult.
Creating these DVDs is part of the one percent of the contribution of creating generated structure, or living structure, in our communities. And we should be highly greateful for these people contributing to this one percent of living structure, because this one percent represent our one percent of hope still to be found in this world!
Comment by Øyvind Holmstad — May 5, 2010 @ 4:52 pm
The good news are that if we can implement the elements of Permaculture, shown in these DVDs, we can all have meaningful lives and jobs, living in meaningful communities. It has nothing to do with capitalism, it has nothing to do with communism, it has nothing to do with ideologies, it has ALL to do with design, generated design, Permaculture design. It’s a design-intensive community, a community full of living patterns and pattern languages. The richer the languages, the richer our lives. Just like with poetry!
Comment by Øyvind Holmstad — May 5, 2010 @ 6:15 pm
Hi folks,
My husband and I were the editors for this project. It is an absolutely amazing resource. We did not set the price, we do not own the copyright and we do not get any kickbacks from sales or royalties. We took on this project because we saw the value in contributing. Bill will not be able to teach forever (he’s in his 80s now) and to have this on DVD is a real treasure that will last forever.
We moved to Tasmania, Australia, (from Canada) and brought all our equipment with us since electronics are VERY expensive in Australia (8 suitcases of editing suites, monitors, hard drives, etc). We had to rent a house, set up and worked approx 60 hours a week for 6 months. This was a HUGE project, not without it’s technical difficulties. It was filmed in 2005, with 3 camera angles (over 300 raw footage tapes). We had to buy additional specialized equipment to accommodate a project of this size. We struggled daily not to give up when we ran into problem after problem. The only thing that kept us going was that we knew this would help many many people in the long run.
While editing the course and previewing the disks over and over, we practically did the full course 6 times (We spent hundreds of hours reviewing master disks). While this was a daunting task, it makes us confident that we can teach the course. We then took the course in person, under Bill and Geoff, in Melbourne and got certified before moving to Panama to start our own Permaculture projects.
This is an invaluable resource for groups, for people who can’t fly somewhere to take a course or don’t have courses taught in their local areas, for teachers who would like to review concepts and for anyone who has taken the course and needs a refresher. If you’ve sat through a Permaculture Design Course, you know it’s 72 hours of fully loaded information. To be able to review that in the comfort of your own home is spectacular.
We realize that this disk set may be out of the budget of some individuals and I’m sure everyone involved in the production of it would love to toss it around for free. However, the truth is, it took a LOT of people, time, energy and money. It took almost 5 years to complete. This was definitely a labor of love for all those involved. The price of $345 per box set will not cover the costs. We have worked in the television industry for years and anyone else who has worked in this industry understands what is involved to create such a project.
For those who would prefer a PDC course without all of the bells and whistles, there are many amateur recordings that are available on the internet, without copyright (check out stuff by Darren Doherty) but be prepared that audio and video qualities can vary dramatically.
One of the goals of Permaculture Designers is to create teachers. Teachers teach others, who then become teachers. This is how Permaculture spreads across the globe. Many people who take the course do not feel confident to go on and teach. Now, they can have the pleasure of taking Bill and Geoff into their own living rooms and continue the education cycle. We hope this project breeds more teachers who can spread the word and change the world.
Comment by Julia B — May 6, 2010 @ 3:42 am
Julia, I’m very grateful to you and your husband for all of your hard and truly meaningful work. I had no idea how much effort it took to bring this project to fruition. And thank you Craig for managing this blog and creating the space for this conversation.
Comment by Brad — May 6, 2010 @ 5:07 am
Hi,
it would be great to have some previews for non english-folks, to see (hear) if speeches can be well understood
Thanks for all the great works !
Comment by Nicollas — May 6, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
THE NETWORK EVOLVES:
“Let us try to imagine such a passionate new process in which all we members of society together generate a vessel for our lives. Let us try to imagine a widely available, worldwide process for the repair, construction, reconstruction (even including the necessary destruction) of the world, in all its breadth, put together in such a way that it allows each of the buildings of society to become a living structure, at every place, and at all the time.
What might this new world be like? What, in practice, would the system of society be like as the paradigm shifts, and living process give us the right to experience and consolidate our feelings and our passions? I believe four general features of the overall system of society will turn out to be fundamental:
1. All process having impact on the environment (any impact) will slowly need to be re-thought and reconstituted as morphogenetic sequences. We thus move away from the inchoate conglomeration of individual rules and process described in chapter 17-18, and start replacing them with processes that are explicitly morphogenetic. We begin to envisage a world in which every process – every rule, every human interaction, every purpose-filled act which touches the environment – has among it tasks the major task of creating coherent living form. And, slowly, this needs to be understood by everyone: By administrators, inventors, actors, users, builders, children. We begin living in a world in which the ongoing, continuous creation of living structure through processes aimed at shape becomes our conscious aim, in every part of daily life.
This means, concretely, that all the processes in common use will contain the fifteen structure-preserving transformations, will resemble, more nearly, the fundamental process defined in chapter 7, and will be composed of chains of application and iteration of the fundamental process defined in chapter 6-17. Over time, that will have the effect that among the billions of living wholes, worldwide, more and more are created daily, are everywhere being shaped, nourished, and healed.
2. The morphogenetic sequences at large in society slowly coalesce to form a more coherent system. Thousands of morphogenetic sequences will exist in people’s minds: Although these sequences may exist freely, and independently of one another, they will slowly become linked to one another, forming a continuous net of sequences, mutually calling on each other. In the future, the members of society – all of us together – will begin more and more to see, feel, think, and conceive these “shaping”-sequences as linked. This will have the result that a fluid over-arching process, created piecemeal by actions of thousands of millions of people, slowly begins taking care of the whole, and we understand how it does so. Within that whole, smaller processes will take care of some of the smaller centers, and we understand how they do so. And then, once again, still smaller processes will take care of the still smaller centers, which are needed to fill out and complete the positive space and the space between things. The system as a whole, although widely distributed and based on actions performed by millions of independent individuals will slowly take care of the whole Earth. Every part is touched. Every part is nourished by some person. Every person has some part to nourish.
3. Our shared focus shifts towards the task of improving these world-wide sequences through evolution. Continuous and deliberate action, improvement, and evolution of the generative sequences, becomes a widespread feature of discussion in many segments of society. At present, since sequences are largely hidden from view, or unconscious, there is little opportunity – little point, too – in discussion or debate about the relative merits of different sequences. But as morphogenetic sequences come more and more into view, and are used by more people, it becomes natural for people to consider making or modifying their own sequences, sharing and exchanging ideas, trying consciously to improve the sequences they know – and then, finally, people begin to see that it is part of their obligation to share the material they have, to deposit improved sequences in the common gene pool, so that others may gain benefit, also. Even the large-scale process embodied, for instance, in the concept of “development” can be summarized, in its essence, as a sequence of operations (a sequence that is, in this case, not a living one), and efforts made to improve it. Profound morphogenetic processes are also based in one way or another on sequences. Such sequences ALL have the important character that deeper aspects of structure are laid down first and that subsequent steps always follow smoothly. This, too, merits discussion, and will slowly become a matter of common awareness.
4. More generally, I believe, we shall all gradually come to feel a concrete and realistic obligation to make sure that every action taken, by anyone, in any place, always, heals the land. A widespread ethical change begins to appear. Healing the land is understood by more and more people: Throughout society, slowly, each person comes to recognize his or her fundamental obligation to make sure that in every act and every kind, each person does what he or she can to heal the land and to regenerate, shape, form, decorate, and improve the living Earth of which we are part.”
“The Process of Creating Life” by Christopher Alexander, page 547-548.
I’m sure that Permaculture is the network and the tool through which this network seen by Alexander can evolve and become widespread; in fact I think the Permaculture movement is this network itself. And surely, the making of these DVDs is a major step in the right direction!
My opinion is that the teaching of morphogenetic sequences and morphogenetic processes should be included as an explicit teaching of Permaculture, if it not already is so. Please consider this suggestion!
I also suggest that that Alexander’s vision of “A New Kind of World” should be made the official vision of the Permaculture movement:
http://www.natureoforder.com/library/a-new-kind-of-world.htm
Comment by Øyvind Holmstad — May 8, 2010 @ 6:26 pm
For me I’m not sure about the exactly differences between Generative Codes, Generative Sequences, Morphogenetic Sequences and Morphogenetic Processes, but I’m sure that Permaculture together with CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STRUCTURE can make systems and pedagogic to make this clearly understood for everybody. And I’m also sure that these new tools from Alexander can be used in a wide range of situations and systems, just like with “A Pattern Language”. And I feel confident that the Permaculture movement here has an oasis of new tools waiting for being used!
Comment by Øyvind Holmstad — May 9, 2010 @ 1:58 am
Is there a trailer or a 3-minute preview available?
Comment by Marcin Gerwin — May 11, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
I think there should be a link for to purchase for these DVDs at the front page.
Comment by Øyvind Holmstad — May 16, 2010 @ 4:33 am
We would love to buy the set but want to make sure it will play on our Mac. Anybody know which Macs are affected? Ours is a Macbook 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and runs 10.5.8.
Comment by Jean-Pierre Thoné — July 8, 2010 @ 8:42 pm
This is a magnificent product. I’d love to get my hands on it, unfortunately I can’t afford it right at this minute.
I will have to see if members of the local community gardens would like to chip in for this.
Or perhaps the city library. It would be a great resource.
Comment by Fredd — July 28, 2010 @ 12:08 pm
Tagari needs to fix the region 0 warning information on their web site.
The Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic manufactured drives are used in Macs as well as PCs.
Some PCs will have troubles with some Matshita drives playing region 0 DVDs as will the Macs. On other Matshita drives the PCs can read the discs when the Macs are not.
It has to do with the manufacturers wanting to enforce region lock in controls on the marketplace.
You could look for workarounds and firmware upgrades made by individuals.
For PC users:
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=34750
For Mac users:
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=46116
However, if you own a PC or Mac with one of these drives that are enforcing region lock out it will be a lot easier in my opinion to not stuff around with potentially stuffing up your computer drive and buying an external case with USB 2.0 interface and buying another brand of inexpensive DVD drive and putting it in that case.
I did this years ago with a Pioneer drive.
With any drive you buy you have to ask or look online to see if it is region free or plays all regions or will end up being a drive that enforces region lockouts.
You could also just buy a cheap chinese dvd player for even less and just watch it on the TV.
Cheers,
Peter
Comment by Peter Dilley — July 28, 2010 @ 6:38 pm
Would love to see that this dvd course would substitute for the actual course to get a diploma. I have been developing my own project for the past 3 years using permaculture techniques and permaculture techniques alone. Reading studying all winter long every winter…and even giving some intro to permaculture lectures at a local adult education center.
But someone pays several thousand dollars and get the diploma?!
Is this in the spirit of native philosophy?
Not Lakota philosophy!
This is what they cant stand…white man goes to school for a weekend and comes home an expert….
Comment by Kevin Jarvis — August 25, 2010 @ 1:19 am
VERY new to permaculture … Just bought the dvds … if anyone is interested in watching it in London, England that can be arranged.
Requesting local libraries to purchase it for loan is a great idea and I’m sure they would be receptive!
My thanks to all the filmmakers involved in this project!
Comment by Charisse Baker — November 29, 2010 @ 4:14 am
I’ve been eyeing these dvds for a bit now, but I have a couple of questions/concerns that haunt me. Feedback would be appreciated.
1. I own the Soils dvd, it plays on one of our laptops but not our dvd. Is this course set up in similar format as the Soils one? (PC playable wise)
2. I love Geoff Lawton’s personality and teaching methods. However this set is filmed in a classroom only, right? So there isn’t any viewing of hands on activity nor of processes in effect? Is there any kind of visual stuff happening for visual learners? Or is it restricted to lecture only? (note: an example of things I liked is when Lawton talked about the types of common weeds and the purposes of their roots and what the roots do for the soil..I just can’t find that kind of info elsewhere) (also: does it provide more detail in things like figuring out the sun’s pathway, shadows, wind, and other sector energy flows? or will I still have to research that stuff elsewhere? Basically, telling me to do it doesn’t tell me how to do it, I need more how’s.)
3. Does this course provide more than the typical books do? Does it go into more detail? or is it more like a verbalized form of the books? Books I have are:
Intro to Permaculture by Bill Mollison;
The Earth Care Manual by Patrick Whitefield;
Permaculture Principles and Pathways by David Holmgren;
Earth User’s Guide to Permaculture by Rosemary Morrow;
and Gaia’s Garden by Hemenway
4. I recognize that it could be more of a plant oriented or horticulture course that I need to help me actually make use of the info in the books. So if the dvds offer nothing more than the books I have, my limited funds might be better spent finding a local horticulture course.
Again, feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Comment by anndelise — April 16, 2011 @ 4:32 am
“My suggestion for all those in this thread who’d like to see these DVDs given away, is to find someone with money to burn, and invite him/her to, instead of burning it, do something worthwhile – like buying the copyright for these DVDs, and then set it loose on the world.”
How much is it? Like, can’t we start a fund? Everyone who agrees this should be open source, and I believe there are A LOT of people think this way, could hold fundraisers etc. etc.
I already know someone rich who tried to do this with the course you attended Craig, but for one reason or another was prevented.
Can’t we make this happen?
Comment by Pete — April 16, 2011 @ 4:55 pm
Nevermind on answering those questions I asked. I finally got the answers, but from someone who’s got the dvds.
Comment by anndelise — April 27, 2011 @ 12:37 am
You are getting more than a dozen DVD’s of information here that would required more than a hefty load of books to transcribe. Would you have the time to read all those books?
Another thing is businesses are around to make a profit, if they didn’t make a profit, they wouldn’t be around for very long, and you wouldn’t be able to buy this DVD set in the first place.
For those of you who have studied past high school, you will know exactly how expensive a tertiary eduction can get. (The commodification of knowledge disgusts me by the way).
Last point:
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance”. ~ Derek Bok
Comment by Adrian — September 26, 2011 @ 4:59 pm
OK! I’m all in. This rhetoric has been going on too long now – started with Comment by Brad — April 29, 2010.
I would like to participate in an effort to raise funds to purchase the copyrights for the DVD’s and distribute them Open source.
Someone pleas contact me with any information available on the price – people to contact, and etc, This is not an insurmountable dilemma. It is only a money thing I’m sure.
I will also ask anyone who is willing to participate in the purchase of these right to contact me and we will hammer-out the details on how we can and must do this.
Even you, the guy who said he didn’t have any money, you too I bet you can contribute a dollar or two, get in touch – I’ll tell you how else you can help.
it is important to the survival of many people in the soon to come ending or beginning however you want to characterize it. Don’t take my word for it research Mayan calendar and American Indian predictions. The point is there is going to be devastation dwelt upon us sooner then everyone thinks.
I know we can come up with a donation program to purchase those rights from the Greed motivated holders of the copyrights.
Also If anyone knows anyone near Clearwater FL, that has a copy of those DVD’s, that may want to joint venture with me and join an already started community supported permaculture garden I’d appreciate hearing from you soon as possible.
In the meantime Propel the Idea into motion – forward. We, collectively could own those right within one month if everyone was willing to contact others and network this idea. the program needed to help accomplish the task is out there – I know I have a $69 canned program maybe we can use – but I’m sure there is a better one out there one of us has…
Our corporation Ideas Into Motion is a not for profit corporation in the state of FL and we stand ready to do this for free and for fun – for the people (survivors)of the country and the world…
Remember this is the humanitarian thing to do.
Don’t forget anyone with, or with knowledge of anyone in FL, with those DVD’s Please contact me Asap. ideas into motion dot org
Comment by Dennis S. D'Ettore — December 8, 2011 @ 10:15 am
kickstarter.com might be a great way to raise funds to make this DVD collection openly available. i’d be more than happy to make a donation.
Comment by Brad — December 13, 2011 @ 3:58 am
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