2017 Smoky Mountain Permaculture Design Course

Explore innovative strategies for harmonious land use, combining traditional wisdom with cutting edge techniques to build thriving communities.

This PDC will be focused on the harmonious transition of this picturesque hollow from a private residence to a thriving hub for holistic health, earth care, and community building.  Strategies for increasing food production and promoting native species and medicinal herbs will be combined with non-invasive and ecological construction techniques to build a solid foundation and the capacity to host a variety of transformational experiences.

Co-facilitated by international and local permaculturalists with decades of experience, this course will provide participants with a unique experience of how to build communities that are truly harmonious.  Together we will design innovative solutions using experiential tools for creative visioning and strategic planning.

Seven Springs is a holistic retreat center, nestled in the bio-diverse foothills of the smoky mountains on 126 acres of mostly forested hills.  With seven natural springs and an abundance of native species, this space is a vibrant system that allows for a wide array of explorations that will suit your individual interests.

Near Maryville, Tennessee, Seven Springs is located within 500 miles of 50% of the U.S. population. The land is also some of the most ecologically diverse in the country. The Smoky Mountains are considered a temperate rain forest with over 17,000 species of plants and animals. The incredible biodiversity of the region adds to the abundant richness of Seven Springs.