Origins and purpose
Understand where permaculture came from, what it is for, and how its scope extends beyond food growing.
Free online foundation course
Introduction to Permaculture
begin with the foundations.
A free, self-paced online course in ethics, principles, observation, systems thinking, and regenerative practice—designed for curious beginners and as the natural first step towards the paid Online PDC.
Onlineflexible study
Freeno payment required
Nextprogress to the PDC
Free foundation course
Begin through your Academy account.
The course is available through an Academy account as a focused 6–8-hour self-paced pathway with structured lessons, automated checks, a practical design taster, reflection, and a retained completion record.
Sign in to start freeWhat you will learn
Build the foundations for responsible design.
The course introduces permaculture as a way of observing, thinking, and designing—not as a checklist of gardening techniques.
Ethics and responsibility
Use Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Shares to ask better questions about needs, consequences, and limits.
Principles and patterns
Distinguish broad design principles from techniques, products, recipes, and context-specific interventions.
Systems and regeneration
Recognise relationships, flows, feedback, resilience, and the difference between sustaining and renewing capacity.
Online PDC-style learning
Learn, observe, apply, and reflect.
Structured lessons
Move through a purposeful sequence rather than an unconnected library of content.
A familiar context
Use a home, garden, neighbourhood, workplace, community activity, or supplied case.
Checks and activities
Test your understanding through knowledge checks, observation prompts, and a practical foundations activity.
A clear next step
Finish with a learning record and an informed choice about progressing to the complete Online PDC.
Who it is for
Begin without needing to know everything.
This introduction is suitable for people who are new to permaculture, exploring a home or land project, working in a community or organisation, or deciding whether the full PDC is the right commitment.
- No previous permaculture study required
- No requirement to own land
- Flexible online participation
- Accessible preparation for the full Online PDC
- A learning record retained in your Academy account
Your online pathway
Start small, then deepen your design practice.
The Introduction establishes shared foundations. The Online PDC then develops those ideas into a complete 72-hour design education.
Step 1
Introduction to Permaculture
Explore the foundations through free, self-paced online learning before making a larger commitment.
Step 2
Online PDC
Continue through applied activities, tutor feedback, assessment, and a final design presentation.
Explore the Online PDC →Introduction questions
Before you join the list.
Is this a Permaculture Design Certificate?
No. It is a foundation course and does not award a PDC. It helps you decide whether to continue to the complete Online PDC.
Will it count towards the Online PDC?
It establishes shared foundations and leads directly into the paid Online PDC, but it does not replace the assessed 72 guided hours.
Do I need a garden or land?
No. You can use a home, neighbourhood, workplace, community activity, or a supplied Academy case.
What will it cost?
Nothing. The Foundation course is free and no card details will be required.
Begin for free
Open the Foundation in Mă-Kè Learning.
Sign in with your Academy account to enrol immediately. No payment or card details are required.