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Permaculture Water Management

This advanced permaculture program teaches you the principles of water harvesting that you can use to create functional site designs for water retention and greywater reuse landscapes. 
 
Note: We encourage you to take the Permaculture Design Certificate Pro program before enrolling in this class so that you have a foundation in Permaculture Design that you can overlay this course content onto.
 

About the Permaculture Water Management Courses

You will learn about the considerations for creating a Permaculture water retention and reuse landscape in your specific climate. Videos, articles, and exercises will help you understand the diverse applications of Permaculture water management and opportunities to integrate them into home-scale and broad-acre landscapes. 

This program is offered in two sections: You can choose to take only the first Self-Paced section of the course or join us for both sections with the Practicum offered in Winter. You must complete the Self-Paced option to enroll in the Practicum.

Permaculture Water Management Self-Paced Course Description

This program teaches you about assessment, mapping and site designs for installing water retention landscapes using integrated water management strategies. It also introduces assessment and analysis of rainwater runoff patterns and calculation of runoff quantities and water usage amounts.

You will also cover rainwater harvesting cisterns, water harvesting earthworks, and their integration with greywater treatment, passive solar design, and planning for vegetation.

What You'll Learn

After completing this self-paced course, you'll be able to:

  • Define key rainwater harvesting concepts, terms and principles.
  • Understand the process of assessing and analyzing a site for rainwater harvesting.
  • Consider passive and active options for storing rainwater and recycling water in the landscape including earthworks, cisterns, and greywater systems.
  • Reflect on key considerations for hydrating landscapes in climates throughout the world.

Learning Formats

Designed by Oregon State University, this expert-led course features the following learning formats:

  • Video lectures
  • Multimedia resources
  • Readings
  • Exercises

Permaculture Water Management Practicum Course Description

In the Permaculture Water Management Practicum, you will gather what you learned in the Self- Paced course to practice integrated permaculture site design based on design principles, water flow and quantity analysis, and overall site condition assessment. The assignments focus on honing the technical skills necessary to design water systems. 

You will investigate maps of different sites and complete design tasks on each map related to the course content. The assignments allow you to apply learned skills like reading contour lines and landscape formations, rainwater math and calculating water runoff volumes, estimating water use and wastewater generation, and conceptualizing wastewater treatment systems.

What You'll Learn

After completing the practicum, you'll be able to:

  • Assess a site for water retention potential and water uses.
  • Make strategic decisions about what features and systems to use for a site.
  • Design a conceptual integrated plan for a water retention landscape.

Learning Formats

Designed by Oregon State University, this expert-led course features the following learning formats:

  • Video lectures
  • Multimedia resources
  • Readings
  • Exercises
  • Interactive guidance and feedback from an instructor
calendar
Self paced:
On demand. Access any time.
Practicum:
New dates coming late 2023!
location
Online
price (2)
Self paced:$295
Practicum: $595 (+$60, registration fee)
295

Additional Permaculture Trainings

Advanced Permaculture Design for Climate Resilience

February 12-March 24, 2024

Permaculture: Rainwater Harvesting Online Course

June 3 - July 14, 2019

Permaculture Food Forests

Self paced:
On demand. Access any time.
Practicum:
New Dates Coming Soon

Instructors

Andrew Millison
Permaculture Design Certificate

Andrew Millison has been studying, designing, building, and teaching about Permaculture systems since 1996 and is an instructor in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University. He instructs Advanced Permaculture Courses in Teaching, and has guest instructed for many Permaculture courses throughout the Western US.

Neil Bertrando

Neil has a passion for enriching bioregions and cultivating ecologies. He holds degrees in Biology and Environmental Science. He is the owner of RT Permaculture, an ecological design and education firm specializing in effective and regenerative landscapes. He has been part of the OSU Permaculture Teaching Team since 2014 and has over a decade of experience in ecological design and watershed restoration, Neil brings a range of skills to his projects including horticulture, irrigation, water harvesting, erosion control, and small scale farm development. Neil’s projects commonly include integrated water harvesting agroforestry systems, homestead production gardens with season extension, medicinal pollinator habitats, and ecological restoration.

Past Students' Work

Take a look at some recent projects our students have created.