Printable Flyer for PDC Course
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| hands-on_design_certificate_course_outline.pdf |
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Wayne Weiseman's
Course Outline
Fundraising For Your Permaculture Course
Many people have expressed interest in the PDC course, but are challenged with the course fee.
I wanted to share this article written by Jenny Pell from --
http://www.permaculturenow.com/sch_fundraising.html
She writes about creative ways to raise funds for the tuition. We are still pursuing corporate sponsorship as well as continuing education credits. There will also be a donation page added on the website for those who are able to contribute a little extra to offset the cost of tuition for others.
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Fundraising For Your Permaculture Course
The permaculture design course (PDC) is an inspiring and mind-opening experience. We repeatedly get feedback from students of all ages, professions, nationalities, both humble and wealthy, on how the course material and hands-on projects utterly changed the way they think, design, and problem-solve. Basic knowledge and skillsets are critical, but perhaps more important is how people become empowered when they enter into this vibrant, vital, visionary, and enthusiastic network of people from all over the world. People see solutions, hope, and promise, and it is a joy to watch us all actively engage with this extensive web of peers, and how this is then brought back to our communities and workplaces.
Grounded in clear and strong ethics, permaculturalists are helping forge this emerging culture of sustainability with logical and practical approaches to viable, thriving, human-centered ecosystems. No matter what your work permaculture is relevant. We need sustainable designs in banking, factories, architecture, farming, childcare, eldercare, textiles, water management, animal husbandry, schools, medicine, carpentry, and communications. Permaculture is a design methodology to help you find solutions that increase biodiversity, and supports and encourages local economies. It is often community based, and readily acknowledges that wherever humans live we are the keystone species, so we should design with that concept in mind!!
But many people have a hard enough time getting two to three weeks off work let alone have the extra cash to take a permaculture design intensive. Asking your community to support you can be challenging, fun, and ultimately expands the awareness of permaculture far beyond your individual course experience as everyone who invests in you is interested in the outcome.
Remember, you get a 5% discount for joining Bioneers and additional money off if you pay in full by the earlier deadline. And sending in your $250 deposit helps you make the commitment, and helps us out too.
Good luck!
Jenny Pell
jennyeverywhere@yahoo.com
Guidelines and ideas to help you set your fundraising plan in motion.
Determine Amount Needed
1. Figure out how much time you have to earn money and fundraise until the course starts
Example:
Course starts Dec. 3, it's now Aug. 15, you have 15 weeks available. Make a calendar for fundraising and get it up on the wall.
2. Determine the amount you need
You will need the course fee, airfare and some spending money. You might also have expenses while you are gone (rent, bills, etc.)
Example: Course fee $1,400 Airfare 650 Spending 500 Expenses 500 TOTAL $3,050
3. Determine how much you can earn or have saved to put towards the total.
Example: You have $1,500 in earnings and/or savings by the deadline.
4. You now have your fundraising GOAL!
Example: Total costs: $3,050 - Total available: $1,500 Fundraising Goal: $1,550 in 15 weeks For some people it will be easier to work an extra job than to fundraise. Fundraising takes a lot of organization and plenty of work too, plus you have to really put yourself out there and be convincing. ($1,500 translates to 10 hours/wk at $10/hr for the 15 weeks.)
But if your dollar amount is higher, job prospects minimal, get psyched and go for the fundraising!
Strategies
When an individual in my community stands up with conviction about any sustainability issue, whether here or abroad, I pay attention. Simply stating "This is what I want to do, this is why, this is who I am going to study with, and this is what I will bring back to share" will yield results.
1. Organize your thoughts
Think about why this course is important to you, what you hope to learn, why you like these teachers, the location, and why are you doing it now. Will this enhance what you are already doing, or is it an entirely new direction for you? If you are a student can you apply the course towards your studies, if you're a professional does the course dovetail somehow with your work, can you get the company to subsidize part of your expenses? How did you get involved with permaculture - through friends, colleagues, learning on your own? How did the design course impact other people you know, and what is it about permaculture design that has impressed you enough to take a design course? Take some time to answer all these questions, in writing, and draft a letter. Then ask someone to edit it for you!!
2. Contact Family, Friends, and Colleagues
People will want to know some details:
Why are you pursuing this
How much do you need and for what
How much are you asking me for - $20, $50, $100
How much are you paying for yourself - people like to know you're working for it
Who has already donated and how much - you get a lot of mileage if you are part way towards your goal.
Where, with who, etc. - talk up the professors, place, etc.
What is permaculture - lots of great definitions out there
What will you do with the money if you exceed your fundraising goal - roll it into scholarships for other people who otherwise would never get to take a permaculture course, put it towards a workshop when you return..
What will you bring back to share - slideshow, lecture, workshops etc. when you return, for schools, community, etc.
Consider putting together a packet, with a great permaculture picture on the front, your letter on the inside, a copy of the course flyer, and a stamped, addressed envelope for them to send a check. Be professional whenever possible, and always contact people who donate to say thanks. Be available to answer questions! Follow through.
3. Write an article for local paper or newsletter
Interview people (and their friends and family) who have taken a course, find out what they learned, got out of it, etc. Be sure to include how much you're fundraising, how to contact you, and where they can send money.
4. Throw a fundraising party or house concert
Ask musician friends if they'll play a gig for you, or a DJ to spin a great dance party, ask to get food donated, put together a small permaculture presentation of sorts, have a silent auction at the party, or even a live auction. Get friends to donate things for the silent auction like an hour massage, oil change, babysitting, yard work, photography, art, home baked pie, etc. Get creative.
Make sure everyone knows it's a fundraiser for your permaculture design course!! Have a couple big jars to put cash in, have the band plug it in between songs, get an emcee to do the talking if you're not good in front of a crowd.
5. Ask a local permaculture person to give a slideshow or lecture.
6. Ask a local permaculture person to give a day-long workshop.
Either give them a percentage of what you earn, or pay them a flat fee, and you keep the rest.
7. Ask to give a lecture/slideshow at local community clubs, especially where people already know you.
Rotary club
Lions club
Local chapter of environmental groups
For women - try the Soroptimists and AAUW (American Association of Univ Women)
Master Gardeners!! These folks will be pretty interested in permaculture, and they tend to be older, and will very likely support you.
SAMPLE LETTER - Please take what you want, throw away the rest. Dear family, friends, and colleagues, As many of you already know, I am passionate about working to bring about a more sustainable future. I've been studying natural building / working on an organic farm / and went to Costa Rica last year to work as an intern through the Willing Workers on Organic Farms program. / After several years working as an architect I know how much better my designs would be if I had a more solid grounding in sustainable design. / I completed my undergraduate degree a couple years ago, and recently realized that while I have "book" skills, and have no practical skills. / My landscaping business is just starting to take off, but I want to learn more about landscape design and biodiversity from a stronger sustainable ethic. / After raising two kids I'm ready to make a life change and want to network with people doing sustainable design internationally.
I have realized I need to dig in deeper, and am yearning to connect with other people like myself to learn more skills, find out what other projects are happening, and become part of the network of people working on sustainable solutions. And I want to bring what I learn back to my community here.
After much thought and research I have decided the best course of action is to study permaculture, and will be attending the 14-day certificated Permaculture Design Course in Hawai'i this winter with some of the world's best permaculture teachers. Permaculture (permanent agriculture, or permanent culture), is an international movement - every country in the world now has permaculture farms, projects, and education. It has many definitions, and I've copied a few on the next page to help give an overview of what I will be studying.
I have met a number of people who have studied permaculture, and been to visit a few farms. It is clear that the vision, commitment, ethics, and design sensibility these folks have are creating thriving biodiverse gardens, farms, and communities, both rural and urban, and that their solutions are practical and logical. I'm very excited to study with Douglas Bullock / Jenny Pell / Lonnie Gamble / Chris Shanks, internationally well-known designers and educators. I have put a list of web resources also on the next page if you would like to learn more.
The total cost for all my expenses related to the course is $3,050. I have $1,500 in savings, and will be fundraising in the community for the next three months to cover the other $1,550. I already have one donation of $150, which is 10% of my goal. Please consider contributing to my course fees, every $20 helps!! If 20 people each contribute $75 I will reach my goal. Any additional money above the $1,550 will go directly to other scholarships for local farmers in Central America for Bullocks bilingual permaculture courses / will go directly into local permaculture workshops / will go to the middle school for permaculture classes when I return this spring.
On October 23rd I will be throwing a party to fundraise as well, with live music, a silent auction, and a raffle. I have also invited Joe Designer from Sustainable Homes to give a slideshow Nov. 3rd. I am available to work odd jobs such as yard work, carpentry, light hauling, childcare, accounting, office help, etc. until I leave.
Thank you so much for your help. I'm truly excited about studying permaculture, I know I'm going to learn so much. I'm available to talk with you in more detail - please call me if you want to hear more!
Sincerely,
.