THE 9th ANNUAL PERMACULTURE ACADEMY
August 12-20, 2023
Dear Agent of Change – yes, you!
We don’t need to tell you that times are dire. We’ve all seen the warnings from too many agencies, flagging the collapse of species, ecosystems, oceans…even predicting the collapse of the biosphere.
But there’s a hidden condition: “If we keep going in the direction we’re taking…”
Here at CRMPI, we’ve chosen to take another direction. For the past 30 years we’ve been building a lush, resilient, and improbably diverse local ecosystem of food forests and tropical gardens using the principles of permaculture. And we’ve taught these principles to thousands of students – some of whom are leading permaculture instructors themselves – through the standardized Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) program and our own related courses.
Our students are creating, restoring and maintaining healthy, productive local ecosystems all across the globe!
But let’s be honest: the permaculture learning curve can be long. The PDC is a good foundation, but ongoing training and hands-on practice are needed before students have the knowledge to handle complex projects. The PDC is not a pre-requisite for any of the Academy modules.
So, for the ninth year, we are offering two immersion intensives in our unique Permaculture Academy: a 9-day, 2-course, in-depth training in key elements of permaculture practice:
- August 12-15 : Designing and Managing High-Altitude/Low Energy Use Greenhouses (4 days)
- August 16: Day of rest; no class
- August 17-20: Creating Forest Gardens (4 days)
This is one of the most in-depth Permaculture Programs currently offered anywhere. It’s designed to shorten the introductory learning curve and send you out with the working, practical knowledge you need to start putting permaculture into practice.
Whatever your level of interest – whether you want to reclaim an urban lot, turn your back 40 into a food forest, or take the first steps toward a career in design and consulting – this Academy can suit your need. You may choose to attend all of the modules, or pick and choose the modules you would like to attend.
What does the Academy offer you?
First of all, you won’t be just learning abstract theory! You’ll be fully immersed in the permaculture life at one of the finest demonstration sites in North America, experiencing the results of 30 years of organic cultivation and state of the art, low energy use greenhouses. You’ll eat delicious organic food from mature forest gardens, witness rainwater catchment, use and maintain composting toilets, enjoy light and warmth from passive and active solar technology, and participate in small animal husbandry as you camp in vigorous and healthy poly-culture systems at 7200′ elevation.
MODULES
Greenhouse Design & Management
with Jerome Osentowski
If your idea of greenhouses is limited to the seasonal garden store variety – steaming in summer, freezing in winter – you’re about to see a world of new possibilities! Imagine harvesting tropical fruits in regions with short growing seasons…growing your own food year-round wherever you are…growing a perennial poly-culture (multiple crops in the same space) to increase your yield exponentially! This course, taught by greenhouse visionary Jerome Osentowski, encapsulates years of practical experience in just five days of hands-on instruction in all aspects of high-altitude greenhouse design, installation and maintenance. We’ll talk about:
- Designing greenhouses for residential and commercial use
- Integrating the revolutionary, solar-powered Climate Battery technology
- Coordinating design, construction, and planting schedules
- Designing and installing water systems
- Setting up and maintaining your greenhouse as a contained ecosystem
- Stacking functions to make your greenhouse more efficient
- Incorporating vermiculture to fertilize the soil
- Harvesting and processing the food you’ve grown
Tuition for this module is $700. Send in a deposit of $400 to reserve a spot in the course! The remaining tuition cost after the deposit will need to be paid in full prior to the start of the class (August 16th)
Creating Forest Gardens, taught by Jerome Osentowski
Imagine designing and creating a virtual Garden of Eden – a natural, self-sustaining forest 
ecosystem of interdependent plants and animals – an environment specifically designed to support human and non-human life. That’s what we’ll be doing in this course! This is a unique opportunity to spend time in the 30-year- old, high-altitude forest garden at CRMPI during the spring season when many of the over 150 varieties of trees and shrubs will be fruiting. We’ll walk through a tour of CRMPI, then settle down to discussing topics like these:
- Designing a forest garden
- Implementing infrastructure (rock wall construction and trellising)
- Developing the forest, from vines to overstory
- Maintaining soil with vermiculture
- Integrating plant/animal guilds
- Providing water
- Harvesting food
- Processing your harvest
Tuition for this module is $700. Send in a deposit of $400 to reserve a spot in the course! The remaining tuition cost after the deposit will need to be paid in full by August 1st, 2023
Together these modules will give you hands-on experience in designing and constructing forest gardens and greenhouses…experience that will place you ahead of the curve whether you take them alone or following our PDC program in July!
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
This is a one-of-a-kind training, on a site that is unique in the world! CRMPI is celebrating 31 years on Basalt Mountain this summer and is one of the oldest permaculture demonstration sites in the United States. You’ll be learning from an all-star faculty of veteran permaculturists and local practitioners:
- As CRMPI founder, Jerome Osentowski has extended sustainable greenhouse technology and forest gardening beyond the bounds of the possible. After training thousands of permaculture practitioners – some of whom are now leaders in the field – he’s now helping a local community college to develop a full-semester permaculture course.
- Casey Piscura of Wild Mountain Seeds & Seed Peace cultivates high altitude seed varieties and grows in several hoop houses and production garden beds.
Camping & Accommodations
Of course, camping in the fresh Rocky Mountain air, and delicious, fresh-harvested, organic food are included!
**This year camping may look a little bit different than in years past as we navigate applying for a Special Use Permit. Off-site camping close to the CRMPI property will be provided, and we will send more information upon your registering for the Academy.
TUITION
Tuition for both modules costs $1400 (or $700 for one module) and includes meals, camping (bring your own gear), and all curriculum materials.
Please note: tuition must be paid in full by August 1st, 2023.
To reserve your spot in the course please fill out the registration form linked below, and send a non-refundable $400 deposit by check (mail to CRMPI; PO Box 631; Basalt, CO 81621). We also accept payment by PayPal (follow the link below). Tuition is due in full by August 1st, 2023.
Tuition paid in full before February 14th, 2022 will receive a $100 discount. Bring a friend or partner and receive $50 off each individual tuition cost.
Please plan to arrive on the afternoon of August 11th for the first module of August 16th for the second. Classes will run from 9am to 6pm daily. August 16th will be a day of rest between sessions. We encourage you to take the opportunity to explore the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley!
>>>Sign Me Up!<<<
*Please note: your registration in the course is not confirmed until you have sent in a deposit
and then send us cash or check, or pay online below!!
(for online payment, deposit and tuition prices include a 2.9% fee for the PayPal charge)
CRMPI
During the course, students will camp in our hillside pinion and juniper forest with the deer, turkeys, and milky way. All meals during the course are lovingly crafted onsite.
CRMPI is located within a privately owned homestead. The main house serves as the space for most meals and all indoor lecture. During their stay, students will have access to our classroom with Wi-Fi, showers, a fridge, and a stove. Students will be asked to contribute to keeping our common spaces tidy and clean.
On the property are 10+ campsites. Please bring all your own gear for camping and respect neighboring properties by not trespassing beyond our property lines.
Composting toilets and porta potties will be available for waste.
More details will be supplied to students before the course starts.
If you’ve been watching the headlines and wondering – What can I do? – this is your answer!
Permaculturists see it time and again: by restoring the land, you shift the dance of earth, air and water, shifting local weather patterns…and ultimately, climate. Food forests, greenhouses, and water conservation systems offer food security and safety to your family and community in uncertain times. Simple steps add up to a groundswell of change!
This is the time to embrace hope…embrace possibility…and empower yourself to help in creating a different world. Don’t wait. Dare to change your future.
Questions? Call Jerome directly at (970) 456-3480, or email Jerome@crmpi.org or admin@crmpi.org