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EnglishWhat Is the permaculture.org Website?
Updated
permaculture.org is the website of the Permaculture Institute, Inc., an organization that frames its work as "Growing Ecological Culture"—helping people build lives in "vital relationship with all life." The site is primarily an information and community hub rather than an online course catalog: its visible content centers on a blog called The Permaculture Signal, a monthly newsletter, and a professional-pathways survey for people who hold a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC). One critical fact for anyone planning to engage: the Institute has announced it will close at the end of 2026.
Who runs the site and what it covers
The site belongs to the Permaculture Institute, Inc. Its stated purpose is ecological culture—applying permaculture thinking to how people live, grow food, and relate to their surroundings. The content is published in English (en-GB), and the site presents itself as a place to read and stay informed rather than a storefront or learning platform.
Main sections you'll find
- The Permaculture Signal (blog): The Institute's blog, described as covering "All Posts." This is where announcements and articles are published.
- Newsletter signup: Visitors can subscribe to receive updates, including research updates. The site states emails are sent no more than once per month and that data handling is covered by its Terms of Service.
- Global Professional Permaculture Pathways Survey: A research project aimed at PDC holders, with newsletter signup as the way to receive updates about it.
The PDC connection
The site addresses people who have completed a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)—the standard foundational credential in permaculture education. The Institute describes the PDC as "a life changing experience" and is conducting research into what professional pathways exist for certificate holders. If you already hold a PDC, the survey and its updates are the most directly relevant part of the site. If you are looking for a PDC course itself, note that the visible content does not present the Institute as enrolling students; it points to the certificate as a shared reference point for its audience.
The closure announcement matters
A post titled "Permaculture Institute: 30 Years" states that, after "thorough consideration and grateful hearts," the Institute has decided to close at the end of 2026. For a reader deciding whether to rely on this site, that changes the calculus:
| If you want to… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Read permaculture essays and Institute news | Browse The Permaculture Signal now; expect the archive to stop growing after 2026 |
| Follow the professional pathways research | Sign up for the newsletter, but treat it as time-limited |
| Find a PDC course or a long-term certifying body | Look beyond this site—the Institute is winding down |
| Cite the Institute as an active organization | Note the end-of-2026 closure |
How to use the site
- Read the blog. Open The Permaculture Signal to see all posts, including the closure announcement and the survey call-out.
- Decide on the newsletter. If the survey or Institute updates matter to you, subscribe using the form; the site commits to at most one email per month. Review the Terms of Service link if data use matters to you.
- Verify before relying. Because the organization is closing, confirm any program, credential, or contact detail directly through the site's current posts rather than assuming continuity.
The site does not display pricing, membership fees, or login requirements in the available material, so don't assume free access to anything beyond the public pages—and don't assume paid offerings exist either. Treat permaculture.org as a readable, soon-to-close institutional archive and research outlet, not as a place to enroll or transact.