Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Family Friendly Permaculture Immersion Course
July 18-20, 2025
Join Us for a 3-Day Permaculture & Agroforestry Workshop in Beautiful Cidra, Puerto Rico!
Hosted by Lago Cidra in collaboration with the Caribbean Agroforestry Institute
Step into the lush green hills of Cidra for an immersive, family-friendly workshop exploring the principles and practices of permaculture and agroforestry. Over three inspiring days, you'll connect with nature, gain hands-on skills, and learn how to design and manage resilient, regenerative systems for both home gardens and farms.
Dates: July 18-20, 2025
Cost: - $750 single, $1200 Couple, children under 12 free
Location: Lago Cidra – https://www.lagocidra.com/
Whether you're new to regenerative agriculture or looking to deepen your knowledge, this course is designed for all levels and ages. Taught by experienced educators from the Caribbean Agroforestry Institute, participants will engage in practical, on-the-ground learning while enjoying the peaceful beauty of a working agroecological farm.
Workshop Highlights:
- Soil Building – Learn techniques to improve fertility and structure naturally
- Plant Propagation – Hands-on practice with seeds, cuttings, and nursery methods
- Permaculture Design – Discover how to map and plan sustainable systems
- Whole Farm Management – Strategies for long-term resilience and productivity
- Pest & Disease Control – Organic and integrative approaches to crop protection
- Water Systems – Explore rainwater harvesting, irrigation, and watershed management
- …and much more!
What’s Included:
- All-organic, farm-fresh meals made with love and local ingredients
- Designated camping areas for those wishing to stay onsite and fully immerse themselves in the farm lifestyle
- Family-friendly environment – kids welcome! Opportunities for nature-based play and learning for all ages
This is more than just a course — it’s a chance to be part of a growing movement for food sovereignty, ecological restoration, and community resilience in the Caribbean.
Spaces are limited – reserve your spot today
Course Outline
Day 1: Foundations of Permaculture & Agroforestry
Theme: Observation, Connection, and Soil
Morning
- 8:30–9:00 AM – Welcome & Opening Circle
Introductions, overview of the weekend, setting intentions - 9:00–10:30 AM – Principles of Permaculture & Agroforestry
Ethics, zones, sectors, layers, and system thinking - 10:30–11:00 AM – Break (local fruits, herbal tea)
- 11:00–12:30 PM – Site Tour & Landscape Observation
Guided walk of Lago Cidra: climate, slope, water flow, soil, and plant systems
Lunch (12:30–2:00 PM)
Organic farm-to-table meal with communal seating
Afternoon
- 2:00–3:30 PM – Soil Health & Composting
Hands-on: Building a compost pile, soil testing, mulching, and cover crops - 3:30–4:30 PM – Intro to Design Mapping
Reading the land: contours, sun path, water flow (basic sketching + group activity) - 4:30–5:00 PM – Reflection Circle & Q&A
Evening (Optional)
- 7:30–9:00 PM – Campfire Talk: Food Sovereignty & Ecological Resilience in the Caribbean
Day 2: Plant Systems, Propagation & Water Wisdom
Theme: Growing Resilience from the Ground Up
Morning
- 8:30–9:00 AM – Morning Circle & Movement
Gentle stretching, intention setting - 9:00–10:30 AM – Plant Propagation Techniques
Hands-on: seeds, cuttings, air layering, nursery care - 10:30–11:00 AM – Break
- 11:00–12:30 PM – Water in the Landscape
Swales, rainwater harvesting, irrigation, greywater systems
Lunch (12:30–2:00 PM)
Featuring local chefs and ingredients from the farm
Afternoon
- 2:00–3:30 PM – Agroforestry in Practice
Polycultures, forest layers, tree-crop integration
Hands-on: installing a guild or mini food forest - 3:30–4:30 PM – Natural Pest & Disease Management
Organic sprays, beneficial insects, ecosystem balance - 4:30–5:00 PM – Reflection Circle & Sharing
Evening (Optional)
- 7:00–9:00 PM – Film Screening or Guest Talk (TBD): Regeneration & Community in Action
Day 3: Design Integration & Whole Systems Thinking
Theme: From Vision to Action
Morning
- 8:30–9:00 AM – Morning Circle: Gratitude & Check-In
- 9:00–10:30 AM – Permaculture Design Workshop
Small group design challenges based on real areas of the farm - 10:30–11:00 AM – Break
- 11:00–12:30 PM – Whole Farm Management
Cycles, succession planning, business models, and community connection
Lunch (12:30–2:00 PM)
Farewell feast featuring celebratory dishes and local harvest
Afternoon
- 2:00–3:30 PM – Design Presentations & Peer Feedback
Share and reflect on group projects - 3:30–4:00 PM – Closing Circle: Integration, Commitments, and Seeds for the Future
Your Instructors
Stephanie Syson
Caribbean Agroforestry Institute
Stephanie, co-founder and Director of Caribbean Agroforestry Institute, spends the days with her hands in the soil and her heart with the plants. She started down her Permaculture path in 2001 with an internship at Punta Mona in Costa Rica. After visiting and living at multiple Permaculture communities in Latin America she was hooked! Stephanie lived within and managed the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute for 4 years. In that time she started the Basalt Seed Library and the Basalt Community Food Park as well as opening an herbal Product line called Dynamic Roots. After many years of farming and running her herbal product business, she decided to devote herself fully to farming medicinal herbs. Stephanie partnered with Sustainable Settings Ranch in Carbondale Colorado and opened Biodynamic Botanicals in 2015. She is a full-time farmer and educator. She has recently started 35 acre farm in Puerto Rico that combines her love of medicinal herbs, agroforestry, subsistence farming, tropical climates and ocean life with teaching and rural, large scale Permaculture Design. Stephanie is a Certified Permaculture Designer, an educator in the fields of Greenhouse Management, Seed Saving, Food Forests, Biodynamics, Herbalism and more. She has presented at conferences such as the Boulder Bioneers, the North American Permaculture Convergence, the American Herbalists Guild and the Biodynamic Association. She works with groups of all ages to further their knowledge of these topics through regular public workshops such as CRMPI, Colorado Mountain College, The Grow Network, and the Denver Permaculture Guild as well as co-hosting the Living Permaculture Show, a monthly radio show on public radio KDNK. Stephanie is committed to community service through education and demonstration of herbal self-care and sustainable farming practices.
Christopher Shanks
Agro-Forester and Researcher
Chris has been working with regenerative agriculture for over 25 years and specializes in agro-forestry and permaculture design for land planning and project execution. Chris is developing a collection of native and introduced fruits trees and nuts adapted to the wet tropical climate of Cidra. His directive is to research and select successful varieties of fruitful species that adapt well to Cidra’s climate and to share that research with the local community in an effort to reignite local agriculture. The plantings throughout the site are both orchards and landscaping. Allowing guests and visitors to both learn about and sample our research.