About this Event
A 9-Month Permaculture Design Certification Program
Exploring Permaculture • Indigenous Ways of Knowing • Eco-Spirituality • Ecology • Community
Overview
Exploring through an Indigenous way of being and knowing, intertwining eco-spirituality and an ecological approach, and deepening our connection to Mother Earth, we invite you to join us for More Than a PDC, a nine-month Permaculture Design Certification Program.
With approximately 90 hours of learning over one weekend per month, this program goes beyond the traditional Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC). Participants will learn, practice, and connect through hands-on experiences, site visits, guest facilitators, and applied learning rooted in relationships with the land and our communities.
Facilitated by Dr. Riue Brown, alongside an incredible group of guest facilitators and practitioners, this program offers opportunities to deepen your knowledge, develop practical skills, and explore more regenerative ways of living and working together.
Guest Facilitators
We are excited to bring together an inspiring group of educators, practitioners, farmers, herbalists, foragers, and community builders who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this program.
- C. Dale Hendricks – Plantsman, Permaculturist, Soils/Trees/Biochar Specialist, and Educator. Green Light Plants LLC / Hendricks Homestead
- Charlie Kane – Farmer, Natural Builder, and Wildcrafter
- Nick Letts – Forager, Mycologist, Herbalist, Farmer, and Social Permaculturist
- Ruth Tyson – Urban Farmer, Market Manager, Educator, Community Builder, Social Entrepreneur, and Land Steward
- Marc Williams – Ethnobiologist/Ethnobotanist, Herbalist Educator, Forager, Permaculturist, and Professional Chef. Botany Everyday
- Bodhi Vasilopoulos – Forager, Mycologist, Herbalist, Farmer, Agroecologist, Permaculturist, Social Activist, and Educator. Nature's Love and Wisdom
- Eric Joseph – Forager, Mycologist, Herbalist, Farmer, Agroecologist, Permaculturist, Social Activist, and Educator. The Plant Path
- Marissa McClenton – Environmental Justice Organizer and Community Advocate. Earth Stewards / Sierra Club
- Riue Brown, PhD – Educator, Agroecologist, Eco-Spiritualist, Alchemist, Ethnobotanist, Herbalist, Social Activist, and Angelic Shaman. InnerSource Wellness Center and Urban Regenerative Sustainability
- Trevor Pruitt – Herbalist, Bioregional Ethnobotanist, and Permaculturist
- Jamilia Davey, PhD – Urban Gardener, Social and Environmental Placemaking Advocate, and Community Builder. Rodney Reservoir / Green for the Greater Good
What You'll Explore
This program brings together a diverse range of topics and practices, exploring the interconnectedness of people, plants, food, ecology, and community.
Permaculture & Regenerative Practices
- Permaculture and Social Permaculture
- Place-making and community-centered design
- Eco-spirituality
- Food forests
- Soils, nutrient cycles, trees, and biochar
- Recycling, composting, and vermicomposting
- Seed-to-table practices
Plants, Food & Medicine
- Ethnobotany
- Foraging
- Mycology (the study of fungi)
- Beekeeping
- Herbalism and wildcrafting
- The food-to-medicine connection
Ecology, Environment & Place-Based Practices
- Natural building
- Ecological approaches to land stewardship
- Environmental awareness and regenerative practices
Culture, Community & Relationships
- Indigenous ways of being and knowing
- Eco-spirituality and our relationship with Mother Earth
- Community building and environmental justice
- And so much more!
Learn by Doing
This is a hands-on, experiential program designed to take learning beyond the classroom. Participants can look forward to:
- Site visits and field experiences
- Learning directly from guest facilitators and experienced practitioners
- Visits with local farms, gardens, and ecological organizations
- Applied learning that connects ideas with real-world practice
Throughout the program, we'll explore how ecological principles, cultural knowledge, and community relationships can inform the ways we grow food, care for the land, and create more resilient communities.
Final Project & Certification
As part of the certification process, each cohort member will develop and present a final project at the end of the program. This culminating project provides an opportunity to apply the knowledge, skills, and principles gained throughout the nine months and share your learning with the cohort.
Program Details
- Program Begins: April 1, 2027
- Duration: Nine months
- Learning Hours: Approximately 90 hours
- Schedule: One weekend per month, with select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Exact dates will be announced.
- Primary Location: InnerSource Wellness Center, Wilmington, Delaware
- Lead Facilitator: Dr. Riue Brown, with supporting guest facilitators
What to Bring: Participants should bring a bagged lunch for program days. Light refreshments will be provided.
Tuition & Payment Options
We offer three payment options to accommodate different budgets and make participation more accessible.
- Pay in Full — $750: The lowest-cost option, offering the greatest savings.
- Quarterly Payments — $840 total: Three payments of $280.
- Monthly Payments — $945 total: Nine monthly payments of $105. This option offers the greatest payment flexibility.
Partial scholarships will also be offered.
Accepted Payment Methods: Venmo, PayPal, and cash.
Deposit to Reserve Your Spot
A $150 nonrefundable deposit is due by March 15, 2027, to secure your place in the cohort.
The deposit will be applied toward your total program tuition, not charged in addition to it.
Your remaining balance will depend on the payment plan you select. Additional payment instructions will be provided upon registration.
Information Sessions
Curious to learn more before enrolling? Join us for free online information sessions beginning in November 2026, held biweekly via Zoom.
These sessions are an opportunity to learn more about the program, meet the facilitators, ask questions, and explore whether More Than a PDC is the right fit for you.
Zoom Link: To be announced.
We Look Forward to Learning & Growing Together!
Come ready to explore, get your hands dirty, deepen your relationship with the natural world, and imagine new possibilities for regenerative communities.
This is more than a certification. It's an opportunity to cultivate knowledge, reconnect with the Earth, build meaningful relationships, and become part of a community committed to more regenerative ways of living.
Event venue & nearby stays
InnerSource Wellness Center, Skyline Drive, Wilmington, DE, USA, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.