OSU PDC Student

The course presented its fair share of challenges, but the rewards were immeasurable. It gave me a deep understanding of the core principles of permaculture, which serve as a blueprint for crafting sustainable and resilient systems.

I dedicated substantial time and effort to mastering these principles through hands-on assignments. These assignments were not just tasks but opportunities for growth and learning. They allowed me to explore and apply the intricate nuances of permaculture in practical scenarios.

One of the highlights of this course was the chance to review my peers’ permaculture projects. This collaborative learning process was nothing short of fantastic. It broadened my perspective and instilled a sense of community and shared purpose.

Coming from a background in Electronics, this course was a paradigm shift for me. It broadened my horizons and deepened my appreciation for sustainable living and design. It provided me with a new lens through which to view the world.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Andrew Millison and the dedicated staff at Oregon State University for curating this life-altering experience. Additionally, I want to offer a special thanks to Javan K. Bernakevitch for his invaluable assignment reviews, constructive feedback, and unwavering support throughout the course.

In retrospect, I can confidently say that this Permaculture Design Course was nothing short of life-changing. I consider myself fortunate to have embarked on this journey, and I’m deeply appreciative of the profound impact it has had on me. I wholeheartedly endorse the Permaculture Design Course at Oregon State University to anyone seeking to explore permaculture or to build a more sustainable and resilient life. It’s an opportunity not to be missed.

Thanking you,

Overall it was a great experience.  The template provided was new and very helpful. It pointed out the essential learning objectives and acted as a guide. When starting the course I thought this course would turn myself into a professional. However, after deep diving into the world of permaculture for the first time, I realize that each aspect of permaculture such as water management, soil, vegetation & ect requires additional study time. I wasn’t able to thoroughly look at all the reading material provided. Looking forward to doing that one by one. All in all the course left me with a great guide to work from and a study guide to follow through with.

I enrolled in this course one week late, making the decision hastily just hours before the enrollment deadline. I knew that if I considered the time commitment and the potential impact on my family and myself, I would find numerous reasons not to proceed. Yet, I chose to quiet my rational mind and listen to a deeper, non-rational awareness. I had an inner “knowledge” that this course was exactly what I needed at that precise moment. I obeyed this voiceless wisdom, often ridiculed or belittled as irrational or irresponsible by our Western mindset.

I am utterly happy I took this class. From the moment I decided to enroll, to this juncture of completing the course, I have been excitedly and humbly accepting the fascinating glimpse this course has given me into the permaculture world. I approached all the materials with childlike curiosity, diving into research and rabbit holes that sometimes took me away from the assignments. However, I allowed myself this freedom, understanding it as part of a beautiful web of interconnected information.

I commend you, Javan, and the rest of the OSU and permaculture community for building and sustaining a top-notch course with knowledgeable, meaningful, and comprehensive materials.

In my humble opinion, permaculture principles are applicable to our sites, our jobs, our interpersonal relationships, and especially in our relationship with ourselves. Thank you for gifting me a new set of tools!

Taking this class has been a truly rewarding experience. You’ve been an exceptional [lecturer/mentor/advisor], and I can honestly say I haven’t encountered a more inspiring teacher. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I chose to do the PDC course through Oregon State University because of the level of professionalism, expertise, and guidance that was offered. It’s an established program that has an abundance of resources to cover everything you need and more. I gained so much knowledge going through it because of how the course was set up; with the online material, office hours, and applicable design project. Having Javan as my course instructor was the best part of this course. The energy he brings to office hours, constructive feedback, and any engagement with students is one of a kind. His use of technology and depth of experience and knowledge really elevates the course and I couldn’t imagine anyone better to learn from. This course was a great mix of being welcoming and challenging you to further your growth in this field. The projects were exactly what you need to learn and well thought out to use moving forward for any other designs. I’m so grateful, thank you Javan and OSU PDC! I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in Permaculture — we need you. Know that what you put into it will be fruitfully returned!

Thanks to Javan for guiding through the course. It was excellent learning experience, reviewing portfolios of other student it gave me an opportunity to learn other world ecosystems, climate, plants and other public policies. 

Concept map designing was a piece of cake! It’s all because of kind of research the course made me to do in earlier assignments. Doing that, everything fell in its place without any hassles. Enjoyed the course as well as felt very challenging with most of assignments asking for ecological data, indigenous people in my country it’s not document properly and had to rely on primary data. Overall it turned out to be good. With this it does not stop i have further many other question which i need to dig into and learning is a never ending process. Finally i am doing this to serve for mother earth and children who are the future. Hopefully one day i will also have  farm.

Wow! I can’t believe that it’s over! I’m extremely grateful that I decided to take the leap toward this course because it taught me so many different things, as well as re-framed my thoughts when it came to landscape design. It has been refreshing to learn about permaculture and really challenge myself in terms of design. This is something that I will constantly learn about and grow with and evolve from, so I am very excited to start working on other projects and actually implement this design on our own property.

Thank you for the well thought out coursework and assistance throughout the last twenty weeks! It’s been amazing to hear your perspective and learn from you and I’ve extremely grateful for that.

The gratitude I feel now is bigger than any word! I am happy that I took this course (even though English really troubled me)! I love all the insights I have had and knowledge I have gain during this year I have spent with this course. I am happy that I had a second chance to complete this with full focus!

I am pretty satisfied with my first design. I know that it is a first attempt and with this little knowledge and experience, I probably already would do things differently. You gave a good tip in last office hour: ask for help! This is a learning journey and by doing, observing nature, talking with the trees and people and asking help we get better.

Thank you Javan for your patience. kindness, helpful feedback and your wisdom! Thank you! I have loved this Journey so much and it has taught me in so many areas of life!

I’m an agriculture consultant with a passion for sustainable and organic farming, I’ve had the privilege of learning from various platforms and experts. However, taking the Permaculture Pro course at Oregon State University under the guidance of Javan Bernakevitch was nothing short of a transformative experience.

Javan’s teaching style is both comprehensive and engaging, bridging theory and practice seamlessly. He doesn’t just teach permaculture; he lives it, and that authenticity shines through every lesson. His depth of understanding is unparalleled, and he has an innate ability to make even complex topics accessible. Whether it was soil health, water systems, or designing a regenerative landscape, Javan offered practical insights I could immediately implement in my consultancy work and toward my goal of making Nepal an organic nation.

The course material is meticulously curated, keeping in mind not just the ecological but also the economic aspects of farming—something that resonates well with real-world applications. I came into the course with a solid background and high expectations, and I can confidently say that this course exceeded them all. The lessons I’ve learned and the skills I’ve acquired are directly contributing to my efforts to develop a model farm and are indispensable in my consultancy.

If you’re serious about permaculture, sustainable agriculture, or even if you’re a beginner eager to learn, this course is worth every minute and every penny.

Thank you, Javan and Oregon State University, for an unparalleled learning journey. I am excited to apply these permaculture principles in my pursuit of a more sustainable future for all.