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Learn to design thriving ecosystems, nourish pathways to food sovereignty, and engage in regenerative land practices through hands-on immersion and real-world collaborative projects.
Apply NowDesign the World You Want to Live In
Imagine a world where soil and story meet...
Join us this January in the heart of Guatemala for a transformative 2-week Permaculture Design Course (PDC) fusing hands-on land regeneration, community co-creation, and mythic storytelling.
What You'll LearnÂ
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Core Curriculum
A grounded foundation in regenerative design, taught through an embodied and story-centered approach.
You’ll explore:
• Permaculture ethics, principles & design process
• Water systems & earthworks
• Soil building & composting with animals
• Biointensive gardening & foundational food forest design
• Syntropic agroforestry
• Community building & governance
• Fermentation & gut health
• Storytelling for regenerative culture
What You'll Complete
Through immersive, real-world projects, you’ll build confidence and apply your learning directly on the land.
• A full permaculture design project using our layered, story-first methodology
• A hands-on fermentation practicum (from sourdough to turmeric beer)
• A collaborative land transformation project supporting a local Indigenous landowner
Our Teaching Model
• 🧠One-third foundational theory
• 👣 One-third tours, site walks & observation practices
• 🛠One-third hands-on application & practical skills
đź‘Ł Walk Away With  Â
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- A deeper story of who you are — and your role in regenerating the Earth
- The skills, inspiration, and guidance to design your own eco-village, farm, or healing center
- A Level 10 Fermentation Certificate from Love Probiotics
- And a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) from CreaSol Permaculture
Limited to 30 seats • January 7–22 • Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
🌱 What Makes This Course Different?
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This is an immersive collaboration between four unique forces of regenerative culture, rooted in the real-world eco-community of Tzununa, Guatemala — and open to all who are ready to reimagine their future.
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You’ll learn alongside:
• 🌾 Granja Tz’ikin — a farm-to-table restaurant and biointensive food forest project
• 🔥 CreaSol Permaculture — a design school fusing community, storytelling, and ecological principles
• 🧪 Love Probiotics — a fermentation lab pioneering gut health, ancestral foods, and soil regeneration
• 🎠Candlelit Tales — Irish storytelling collective bringing myth and meaning to life    Â
Together, we’ll explore what it truly means to design from the inside out — land, story, and community as one.
Meet Your Instructors
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Neal Hegarty
Neal Hegarty is a permaculture designer, educator, and founder of CreaSol Permaculture, a global community dedicated to practical ecological design. Originally from Ireland with a background in dairy farming, he specializes in holistic land management, soil fertility, and animal systems. Neal is also co-founder of Granja Tz’ikin, a regenerative farm and farm-to-table project in Tzununá, Guatemala, and collaborates with Atitlán Organics on diversified food-production systems. His work centers on food sovereignty and creating resilient, regenerative land-based models.
Jeremy Fellows
eremy Fellows is a landscape designer, horticulturist, and permaculture facilitator with expertise in ecological water systems and highland agroecology. With over 15 years of experience in botany, land stewardship, and applied design, he co-founded Granja Tz’ikin alongside Neal Hegarty, shaping its productive landscapes and supporting watershed-focused projects around Lake Atitlán. Jeremy currently contributes to ecological initiatives including a watershed restoration effort in collaboration with the San Pedro municipality.
Michelle Tufts
Michelle Tufts is the founder of Love Probiotics and a fermentation educator passionate about nourishing people through living foods. After studying permaculture and herbology in Australia, she moved to Lake Atitlán, where she served as farm director at the Mystical Yoga Farm and taught classes on gardening, nutrition, body care, and fermentation. Through Love Probiotics, she handcrafts kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut, vinegars, hot sauces, sourdough, and more—bringing creativity, curiosity, and nourishment into every workshop and community gathering.
Guest Lectures & Collaborators
We are thrilled to feature special guest speakers from Fungi Academy, Wu Wei Village, Casa Curativa, and Candelit Tales, bringing their specialized knowledge and hands-on experience to enrich the course.
Testimonials
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“The course changed my life. The storytelling, the food, the people — I finally saw what’s possible.” Andrew Ashbacher– PDC Participant, Kintsugi Ranch
“This is not just a permaculture course. It’s a new story of who we can be.” Justin Cromartie – Course Collaborator
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“I immediately felt like one of the gang when I got to Granja, each of us with completely different life stories but very easy to connect and share. It's impossible not to fall in love with the stunning place, views, with creativity and caring etched into everyone corner of the place. All the managers are so kind, authentic, and welcoming, and patient to teach ready learners permaculture techniques. They're so healthily generous with their exchange, with plenty of opportunities to leave a meaningful and personal mark on their project.
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Logistics & What's Included
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Location, Dates & Group Size
Location: Granja Tz’ikin — Tzununá, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Dates: January 7–22, 2026
Group Size: 30 students max — an intimate cohort for personalized support
Schedule Overview
Here’s the general daily flow you can expect throughout the program.
7:00 am — Optional sunrise yoga
8:30 am — Morning lecture
10:00 am — Breakfast
10:45 am — Practicum (gardens / hands-on)
1:00 pm — Lunch
2:00 pm — Afternoon class / field trip
4:30 pm — Class ends for the day
6:00 pm — Dinner
6:30 pm — Fire circle / community time
Sunday — Rest + integration day
(Schedule may shift slightly based on weather and group needs.)
What's Included:Â
• 15 days of immersive education & hands-on training
• Three farm-to-table organic meals a day (including weekends)
• Accommodation (private rooms & dorm-style options)
• Daily yoga & wellness offerings
• All course materials + access to our online PDC platform
• Guided hikes, lake swims, and evening storytelling around the fire
• One 1:1 design mentorship session
• Guidance from our teaching team throughout your stay
What's Not Included:
• Flights to/from Guatemala
• Airport shuttle (available upon request)
• Personal travel insurance
• Optional excursions or personal purchases
Payments and Registration
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Course Tuition
Choose the accommodation option that fits your needs:
• Private Room — $2,500 USD
• Dorm Accommodation — $1,950 USD
• Off-Site — $1,700–$1,750 USD
Off-site tuition includes all meals and full course participation.
✨ Early Bird: 20% off until December 7
Deposits & Payment Schedule
~ 50% deposit required to secure your spot ~
Remaining balance due December 20
Payment plans available upon request.
How to Register
1. Click Apply Now
2. Complete your application form
3. We'll reach out to schedule a registration call
4. Pay your deposit to confirm your space
Only 30 spaces available — early enrollment encouraged.
Frequently Asked Questions
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