2011 Courses, Workshops & Events

Following is a listing of our previous and featured courses, workshops, and events both produced by Living Mandala and by our affiliated partners and friends. If you are interested in working with Living Mandala to produce or promote a course, workshop, or event contact us.

For Upcoming Courses, Workshops, & Events Click in Permaculture, Ecovillage Design, Sustainable Living Skills, & More Click Here.

For 2014 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2013 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2012 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2010 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2009 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2008 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

10 Day Intensive in Eco-Paradise

December 4 – 14, 2011

Finca las Nubes, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

This bilingual Aquaponics and Permaculture 10-day intensive December includes 10 days of outdoor classroom instruction, and hands-on experience at the Aquaponics mini-farm located at the beautiful Ecovillage Resort of Finca Las Nubes. Students will learn about Aquaponics, Permaculture, experience luxurious eco-village living, and much more from experienced trainers & professionals sharing their knowledge and experience in Aquaponics, Permaculture, land restoration, tropical food forest, social justice and self sufficiency. You will learn the skills needed to design and create sustainable Aquaponics systems and Aquaculture farms that integrate Permaculture principals through out. All this while, we will be staying in an amazing Eco-village Resort with gorgeous luxury accommodations, permaculture gardens, views of the ocean, amazing wildlife, monkeys, nearby beaches, horseback riding, hiking and much more. Read More.

SUNDOOR School of Transpersonal Education

Twain Harte, California, U.S.

Dec 4 - 10, 2011

Since the beginning of humankind, people have revered fire and have used it in ceremonies of purification, healing, initiation, and transformation. In many countries the ancients firewalked in powerful rituals of renewal. FIREWALKING has been practiced for thousands of years by indigenous peoples across the globe in a variety of manners to utilize the immense power of fire. In the Firewalk Instructor Certification Training you are taught all the intricate details that make the firewalk such a powerful tool for transformation. This training is the world's longest consecutive running and most comprehensive Firewalk Instructor Certification Training available, and will qualify you as a SUNDOOR Firewalk Instructor. This course will give you all the information, skill, tools, support and the network you need to successfully incorporate the firewalk into your own workshops and events, as well as be a very powerfully transformative experience on a personal level. Read More.

Foundational Training for Spiritual Joy and Life Mastery

Nov 26 - Dec 3, 2011

Twain Harte, California, U.S.

As a participant in this extraordinary experience you will be guided through a process of spiritual awakening and personal empowerment which has changed the lives of thousands in countless countries. Initiation reaches far beyond everyday structures and experiences, as it is based on the tradition of spiritual initiations still found among indigenous populations. Throughout the week, as ancient ritual teachings are combined with contemporary therapeutic methods, Peggy Dylan and the SUNDOOR Trainers create a spiritual environment that brings you to the purpose and focus of your life and allows that which heals, empowers and guides you to emerge. Eliminate past negative patterns which keep you stuck in inadequacy and fear. Gain scientific understanding of the process of personal development and achievement. Crystallize a sense of purpose and learn the tools necessary to fulfill it. Align with boundless, universal energy to guide and propel you to personal mastery. Join Initiation and gain the understanding, the tools, the vision and the inner magic to make your life what you desire it to be! Read More.

With Kirk Gadzia

September 9,10, &11, 2011

M.A. Center ~ Castro Valley, CA

Holisitic Management first defines a "whole" to be managed (people, resources and money), and creates what is known as an holistic goal that mirrors these three aspect of the whole. Before implementing projects, any effects on these three aspects must be considered, and the project must simultaneously meet economic standards concerning the viability of the operations. At present, agriculture and many other businesses are struggling to maintain viabilty. Decreased income often leads to a focus on increased production and harder work. But, if the fundamental decision making process that led to the present situation is not changed, no real progress is likely to be made. Presently, many people involved in agriculture do not realize they are working against "nature's rules" and that their efforts are likely to be unsuccessful until they learn to work with this process. In the end, nature always wins and our production systems must change to be sustainable. Read More.

Creating Resilient Mentors, Village & Community

August 14-19, 2011

Santa Cruz Mountains, California

The Art of Mentoring is a week-long, experiential, nature based program designed to help us remember these old ways and learn to apply them to our modern communities. Guided by a team of experienced leaders and facilitators from around the world, Art of Mentoring participants come together to experience, learn from and co-create a joyful, engaged learning community. You will walk away with tools and embodied practices of regenerative community design, mentoring techniques, deep nature connection, and an amplified passion for learning. Our hope is to activate and inspire you to create healthy communities right in your own back yard! The course is taught through group experiential activities, lectures, storytelling, and music. We will be both indoors and outside exploring in the field. Deep in all of our roots, there are stories of our ancestors living in healthy, regenerative communities—villages where people of all ages were in deep relationship with the land, each other, and themselves. Read More.

An Ancient & Contemporary Soul Quest

August 1-8, 2011

Mount Shasta, California

We invite you to join us in Mount Shasta to co-create this most personal, powerful, integral and gentle of soul-ceremonies integrating dance, sweat-lodge, Peruvian medicine sacrament, pipe ceremony, community circle and soul-dialogue with solo-questing in nature. Come to the land in humility and beauty to open, to listen and to receive.  The "Quest" is a universal expression of the human longing – and need – to come face to face with the Truth, to align our lives with Purpose, to heal suffering and fear, and to step forward in our lives from a point of initiated clarity and self-trust. When you pray in this way, you receive the True Voice of soul and spirit that is awakens when you whole-heartedly give thanks, when you deeply own what you most want, and when you ask for help -  surrendering to that which is greater than yourself. Read More.

RDI - Commonweal Garden

July 2-4, 2011

Come gather with past and present, green and veteran permaculture students, teachers, and designers for this epic convergence that brings together “permies” from Northern California, the west coast, and beyond. This gathering is designed specifically for Permaculture Designers and Professionals in the Northern California bioregions and the greater Pacific Northwest to come together to network share, strategize, and synergize about our various projects and initiatives within the greater permaculture movement. Read More.

Appropriate Technology Series

May 21-22, 2011

Ukiah, California

Would you like to know how to generate biogas? What produces it and how to use it? The attend this workshop! You will get complete information about how to understand, successfully make and properly use biogas (first day), and how to make simple, effective, low–cost digesters (second day: hands-on!). You will learn a good deal about the tools and techniques required to build fairly large digesters. For example, a 3,000 gal— 10m3— digester will accept all the food wastes from a local fast food outlet, using the tools and techniques taught in this class. Everyone who attends the first day of class will get a copy of The Complete Biogas Handbook (which offers a much-praised view of everything concerning biogas). Those who attend the second day will get a CD with a heap of wonderful information, including more than 2 megabytes of information about how to build all kinds of biogas digesters. And, the first twenty who attend both days will leave with a small (~200 gal, ~0.75 m3) digester. Read More.

With Applied Permaculture Design

Launching Thriving Green Careers!

Ukiah, California

May 16-20, 2011

May 21-22 - Optional Extension for Biogas Intensive

Aquaponics is one of the most sustainable and productive farming systems in the world. It combines Aquaculture and Hydroponics to create a truly self-sufficient closed loop system that uses only a fraction of the water, labor, energy, etc. that other methods use. Combining Permaculture Design with Aquaponics creates an even more sustainable, dynamic, productive & regenerative system. In this intensive training you will learn some of the most cutting edge pioneering aquaponics systems and gain a solid foundation from which to create your own Aquaponics System, Farm & thriving Green Business. Read More.

May 14 -15 2011

Sonoma County, California & Across the United States

On May 14th & 15th, 2011 thousands of people across the country will rise to the challenge to create more sustainable, resilient communities by participating in the 350 Home & Garden Challenge! The 350 Garden Challenge was inspired in part by the 350.org's international campaign to find and implement solutions to climate change. Coming off the incredible success of 628 garden actions in Sonoma County, California in a single weekend in the spring of 2010, this year the 350 Home & Garden Challenge is going national seeking to engage citizens, organizations, local businesses, media and civic leaders to grow food, save water & conserve energy to strengthen the resliliency of local communities across the country. Being lead nationally by Tranition U.S., this exciting initiative has quickly brought on partners such as 350.org, Post-Carbon institute, Chelsea Green Publishing, Evolver, BALLE, and a growing number of transition initiatives, inspired citizens, and community activists from east to west. Read More.

March 26 - May 8, 2011

Saturdays & Sundays

M.A. Center  - Castro Valley, California

Sign up for select weekends or the whole course

The beautiful 180 acre grounds of the M.A. Center are becoming a demonstration & educational hub of leading permaculture, holistic management, and regenerative design practices. Learn the art and science of Permaculture over 7 weekends from March 26 - May 8th, taught and facilitated by a diversity of exceptional instructors from the Bay Area Permaculture Teachers Guild. Sign up for the entire design course or select days. Read More.

Weekend 1: March 26- 27:

Day 1 – March 26: Permaculture Overview, Ethics & Principles

Day 2 – March 27: Observation, Nature Connection, & Patterns, Zones & Sectors

Weekend 2: April 2-3:

Day 3 –  April 2: Reading the Landscape from Earth to Sky, Site Analysis, Maps

Day 4 – April 3: Ecology, Plants, Trees, Forests, & Agroforestry

Weekend 3: April 9-10:

Day 5 - April 9: Design Process, Group Facilitation, Health, Nutrition, & Permaculture in the Kitchen

Day 6 –  April 10: Water on the Landscape, Rainwater Catchment, Earthworks, Ponds, & Aquaculture

Weekend 4: April 16-17

Day 7 –  April 16: Soil, Soil Food Web, Holistic Management, & Animals

Day 8 - April 17: Climate, Microclimate, Sacred Geometry, Built Structures, & Natural Building

Weekend 5: April 23-24

Day 9 - April 23: Earth Day - Day-Off, Hands-On & Open Workshops TBA

Day 10 - April 24: Social Permaculture & Community Design

Weekend 6: April 30 - May 1

Day 11 – April 30: Bioremediation, Appropriate Technology, Renewable Energy, Mushrooms & Mycoremediation

Day 12 – May 1: Invisible Structures, Financial Permaculture, & Urban Strategies

Weekend 7: May 8th:

Day 13 – May 8 - Design Presentations, Certificates, & Celebration!

Read More.

Free Event!

April 23rd, 2011  10am - 6pm

GSF Civic Center Plaza

Earth Day San Francisco™ (EDSF) is a FREE COMMUNITY EVENT designed to educate and activate the public on environmental issues and sustainable practices.  Green communities have come together to bring you an event of non stop  entertainment and inspiration with three stages that will feature a combination of internationally recognized musicians, multicultural performances, keynote speakers and workshops, civic leaders, holistic area, youth empowerment, green entrepreneurship and much much more. Join in the fun with over 80 earth friendly and fair trade exhibitors, an alternative vehicle and clean energy zone, interactive classes and demos focusing on permaculture, organic cooking, recycling, renewable energy, social justice, green building, green jobs and more.  There will be cutting edge Eco fashion show, Eco art gallery, Green Films Dome, a full on Eco circus and bike driven carnival, a huge kid zone and much more to explore! Earth Day S.F 2011, Together, We Are Solutions in Action! For more information visit: www.earthdaysf.com

M.A. Center

Castro Valley, California

March 26 - 27, 2011

Price Reduction! Only $75!

Permaculture is a holistic design philosophy described as the art and science of creating community ecosystems in which plants, animals, human beings, and all forms of ecological diversity interact to produce a prolific, ecologically-sound, and regenerative system that can support itself and life indefinitely. Join us for this weekend workshop intensive as we dive into the art and science of permaculture for two long days at the beautiful site of the M.A. Center in the East San Francisco Bay Area. Topics & Activities include a general overview of permaculture; ethics, design principles & applications, nature connection, observation, patterns in nature, biomimicry & pattern design, core routines, bird language, site analysis, & more. This workshop will include and engage a variety of learning styles including lecture, small group discussion, experiential activities, slideshows, & video. Participants will gain a solid understanding of the history, philosophy and foundations of permaculture; experience a deeper and renewed connection to Nature, and learn practical skills, principles, and practices to take home & apply in their lives. Read More.

March 19 - June, 2011

1 Weekend per month

Ojai, CA

Many of us are searching for ways to make a difference, to transform our families, communities and the world we live in. And each of us can make a difference – we all have the seeds of leadership and service within us. We can nurture these seeds, learning the skills and tools we need to transform ourselves and embody our highest potential. Whether you have prior experience and training, or you have recently felt called to step onto a path of leadership for the first time, this program is a unique opportunity to deeply explore who you are, who you wish to be, and what your specific offering is to others. Through the Ecology of Leadership courses, you can learn to articulate your vision, get in deeper touch with your gifts, and develop new tools, routines, mindsets and skills to be more effective in manifesting what you see for yourself and the world. Read More.

A Six Week Course on the Teachings of Our Ancestors to Light Our Way Forward

Featuring The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers

Feb 10 - March 17, 2011 - Thursday Evenings, 5-7 pm PST

This is the first virtual course ever offerred by these revered elders who are offerring essential wisdom to help heal ourselves and our world at this time. The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers offers a remarkable chorus of insight, stories, and guidance. They are the fulfillment of many, many prophecies and a remarkable example for our world. Together, they have created a worldwide alliance that shares a common vision. As they travel the world together, the 13 Grandmothers have become a source of great inspiration and healing, reminding us of deep spiritual truths and calling our attention to what is most important.  You now have the opportunity to participate in an unprecedented online course with the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers: a 6-week journey that shares The Teachings of our Ancestors to Light Our Way Forward.  Over the course of six weeks, you will be immersed in the ancient wisdom that the 13 Grandmothers bring at this critical time. They will share their visions, dreams, sacred rituals and ceremony and give you keys for the most pivotal role you can play in healing Mother Earth, including all her inhabitants, children and the next seven generations to come. The Grandmothers are here to help us usher in a new era that calls for unity, reconciliation and compassion. Their engaged activism on pressing social and environmental concerns as well as their ancestral connection with the Earth will help guide our way. Read more.

MASTERY ~ Core Training Module

February 25 - March 6, 2011

Mount Shasta Ranch B & B, Mount Shasta, California

Become a part of our global team spreading Dancing Freedom for awakening, health, intimacy, community and integral leadership around the planet. The Dancing Freedom Facilitator training is designed to a.) support those who want to facilitate conscious dance with a facilitation tool-box that changes lives and b.) to change the lives of all who do the training through the practice of dance as a path of integration and transformation. You do not need to know you want to be a facilitator to join us. You simply need to know that DANCE is YOUR PATH. It's also super fun, a great way to get fit and an amazing way to participate in community! There are three modules to the complete training structure: Mastery, Embodiment and Vision.  Mastery explores the Big Picutre of living in oneness and offers a life-long learning template for soul expression.  Embodiement gives the nuts and bolts of the practice and the foundational tools needed to teach.  Vision is a soul soujourne, inviting each trainee to take the next step of initiation into full self-expression and participation in the family of being. Read more.

Jan 8-22, 2011, N. California

This unique permaculture design certificate course has an additional focus on earth-based spirituality, organizing, activism, and social permaculture. Learn how to heal soil and cleanse water, how to design human systems that mimic natural systems,  how to use a minimum of energy and resources to create real abundance and social justice.  Explore the strategies and organizing tools we need to make our visions real, and the daily practice, magic and rituals that can sustain our spirits.  This course is participatory, hands-on teaching with lots of ritual, games, projects, songs, and laughs along with an intensive curriculum in ecological design. The course is facilitated by facilitated by Starhawk, Charles Williams, Sage Mata, Jay Ma, Erik Ohlsen, and a host of special guests. Read More.

For Upcoming Courses, Workshops, & Events Click in Permaculture, Ecovillage Design, Sustainable Living Skills, & More Click Here.

For 2012 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2010 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2009 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.

For 2008 Courses, Workshops, & Events Click Here.