Permaculture is more than just gardening. It is an integrated system of ecological design that helps humans create sustainable and regenerative systems, cultures, and ways of living. Permaculture teaches us to optimize our footprint and then maximize our handprint. After meeting our needs in healthy ways, we can maximize impact in our communities by applying the permaculture design principles to both the ecological and social realms. This short course explores the essence of Permaculture, the design principles, and the importance of personal and communal resilience during these rapidly changing times.

Kalamazoo Valley is partnering with Transformational Connections to offer the Spring 2021 series of International Life Enrichment courses. Transformational Connections of Southwest Michigan is a Michigan 501c3 whose mission is "To provide volunteer opportunities in the developing world and foster life-changing experiences within ourselves, our community and those we are serving."  They have developed over 12 trips to the Lake Atitlan, Guatemala region, including study abroad courses through local universities.  Transformational Connections looks forward to travel to and with our partners in Guatemala in 2022.