Permaculture
Turn Problems Into Solutions and Constraints Into Resources
The Heartwood permaculture vision is to ethically create a productive, regenerative community that advocates for education, healing, and the sacredness of all life and place.
The Heartwood permaculture vision is to ethically create a productive, regenerative community that advocates for education, healing, and the sacredness of all life and place.
Permaculture was developed by two scientists, Bill Mollison and David Holmgren between 1972 and 1974 culminating in the incredible system of human habitation that mimics the most sustainable societies on earth.
From the first course of 26 students in 1981, thousands of people have learned the interdisciplinary earth science called Permaculture (permanent culture). Through observation and cooperation with natural landscapes and patterns, we arrange systems that self manage to create abundant productivity and long-term resiliance.
Our 200-acre site at Heartwood Mountain Sanctuary is home to one of the finest Permaculture living classrooms in the US with numerous functioning Biosystems,: Greywater marsh, swales gabions, and water catchment. The first completed Cobb House in California (13th in the US), a beautiful Straw bale Meditation Temple, Strawbale Dormitory, large outdoor oven and other natural structures adorn the property.
The farms, gardens, Permaculture landscaping, orchards, and wild corridors are teeming with life after 40 years of careful observation and biomimicry to create truly regenerative agriculture. Our Research and Learning Farm provides Bioregional, waste-free, nutrient-dense, delicious food and herbal remedies for our residents and guests while providing learning opportunities in natural farming techniques like Korean Natural Farming, JADAM, Living Soils, No-Till, and Syntropic Agroforestry.
Learn with us how to turn problems into solutions and constraints into resources. How to promote the carrying capacity, complexity and symbiosis of your own home, farm, business, urban dwelling, and community. By conserving resources, both renewable and non-renewable, and applying appropriate technologies, we can create stable, harmonious, cooperative and beautiful systems in which we live, work and play.
Upcoming Permaculture Programs
Stay at Heartwood
(707) 923-5000
Welcome Center Open
Mon-Sat 12-5pm