Testimonials

What our students are saying about us & our courses:

“More than worth the price!”

Extremely valuable, inspiring, relevant, and loaded with useful information. More than worth the price!

Cameron White, Burns Lake, BC

“This course would be a great course for anyone on this planet”

“This course would be a great course for anyone on this planet. It divulges a greater understanding that we as humans need to become closer to nature, to understand how all life is dependent and that community will be our survival. It was a pleasure to learn all that I did.... To meet people of like mind and to know that community is being built.”

Jan Butts, Calgary, AB

“Permaculture offers an exciting and engaging vision for human organization and habitat”

Permaculture offers an exciting and engaging vision for human organization and habitat. The knowledge provided by this course has equipped me with positive alternative solutions to the significant problems our society faces. I hope to apply my experience to food security policy issues. Rob and Michelle have developed an organized and structured course; combined with their knowledgeable instruction, the value of the course far surpasses the course fee. Highly recommended.

Joel Laforest, Calgary, AB

“Permaculture is by far the most educationally stimulating course, I have ever taken!”

“ For the fee of the course, it was absolutely yielded within the first weekend of the course time. I intend on becoming an instructor within the permaculture community. The passion from Rob and Michelle truly inspired me to take the next step. Permaculture is by far the most educationally stimulating course, I have ever taken! Thank you!"

Joshua McWilliam, Calgary, AB

“Worth ten times the cost for this course”

"If you are into growing your own food, harvesting rainwater, composting and getting green, this is the course for you! Rob and Michelle have travelled the world learning Permaculture and Green Technology - they are so knowledgeable - I enjoyed the time I had with them greatly. Worth ten times the cost for this course”

“This class has helped me realize the potential each one of us has to create a better world.”

"This class has helped me realize the potential each one of us has to create a better world. I am filled with possibilities, and that's an exciting feeling! Now, the work....!”

Heather Zelensky, Duchess, AB

"Best Course Ever!!"

"The ideas and ethics of permaculture are important to learn because it brings a feedback loop back into our daily living. It encourages people to take responsibility for their actions. It reduces the feeling of hopelessness and provides simple solution for real change. Rob and Michelle not only do an amazing job of presenting and applying information but also bring people together and create community.
I would and highly recommend this course to others. When we all start making small adjustments to the way we live, we will create a big change. Best Course Ever!!"

Jessica Kavanaugh, Calgary, AB

"BEWARE: Once you go permaculture, you can never go back"

"Once you complete this course, you’ll realize how impactful permaculture principles are to the way you perceive your world. I was truly inspired by Rob and Michelle and am certain that permaculture will become a large part of my life in the future. I would recommend this course to anyone who is willing to learn about how to take responsibility for their impact on this planet. BEWARE: Once you go permaculture, you can never go back. The community we’ve built, skills we’ve learned and knowledge we’ve gained are invaluable - taking this course is an excellent investment.”

Julia Mitchell, Toronto, ON

"how to make real and significant changes in your community and your own life"

"Rob's course will transform you into someone ready to make the changes you want to make but are unsure are even possible. The revealing of permaculture design and knowledge at [the permaculture design course] is so powerful because it equips you with the knowledge of how to make real and significant changes in your community and your own life"

Joel Ashworth, Calgary, AB

"strongly encourage you to sign up for this positive and empowering course"

"If you think about, wonder about or yearn for sustainability yet are unsure of how people or what you yourself can do to help the world achieve it, I strongly encourage you to sign up for this positive and empowering course"

Jason Stuka, Lac La Biche, AB

"improve life for humans and nature"

"Permaculture connects ideas and processes in a new way that will improve life for humans and nature. I really appreciated this opportunity to learn about permaculture"

Joanne Havelock, Regina, SK

"Life Changing!"

"If you ever thought that there had to be a better way of looking at the world, this course will not only offer one to you, but also give you the details on how to make it work. Life Changing!"

Mark Cogswell, Calgary, AB

"Well worth the tuition fee"

"Well worth the tuition fee. Learned so many options to use my life energy in a more sustainable way. Can't wait to apply what I've learned!"

David Fournier, Edmonton, AB

"many ideas on how to make a right livelihood"

"The money I put into this course is so tiny compared to what I've spent on material possessions that have no significance to me whatsoever. This is a drastic life changer. Rob gives many ideas on how to make a right livelihood. Now, I'm going to focus all my time towards bettering my environment and I'm leaving with many ideas on how to accomplish that."

Kira Sawatzky, Calgary, AB

"will be making some major changes in my life and career"

"I am so glad I negotiated the time off work to take this course. It has really been life altering. The concepts and ethics of permaculture should be something everyone is exposed to, and Rob's teaching and enthusiasm were infectious. My mind will be spinning for months to come and I will be making some major changes in my life and career because of what I learned in [this course]."

Jessica Roder, Edmonton, AB

"this course is valuable for everyone"

"Permaculture is a key body of knowledge and ethics that is missing in our society. What I received for value goes way beyond what I paid. Thank-you. I think that this course is valuable for everyone; in particular, generalists and people searching for something that is missing in their lives."

Anaya Lea, Calgary, AB

"a vocal, sincere, passionate advocate"

"Thank-you for being such a vocal, sincere, passionate advocate for the ability of ethics to restore the possibility of trust in family and community relationships"

Connie Barritt, Alix, AB

"The course was life changing for me"

"The course was life changing for me, I learned so many positive solutions in an uncertain world, I was also able to network with an incredible group of people that are interested in sustainability in the same way that I am. I can unreservedly recommend this course - if you want to live in a permanent culture, please consider taking the time to do the Design Certificate course"

Maurice Samm, Camrose, Alberta

“We walked out the [course] with so many entrepreneurial & sustainable ideas”

"The Verge Permaculture [Design Course] is a comprehensive course with hands-on applications. It is fantastic! Rob Avis provides functional information that goes way beyond the garden to - building, growing & creating a good life. We walked out of the [course] with so many entrepreneurial & sustainable ideas & opportunities there is no way this functional system (permaculture) cannot grow exponentially to make a better future. I am so excited!"
 

Julie Budgen, Environmental Planner, Canmore, AB

“an inspired, organized and informed two week adventure into a refreshingly positive view of sustainability”

"Rob and Michelle Avis lead an inspired, organized and informed two week adventure into a refreshingly positive view of sustainability. Rob shines as an instructor, delivering easily understood and detailed explanations of permaculture design principles and it's practical tools. We left with an excellent understanding of subjects and ideas that were new to us. The hands on components of composting, swale building and mapping/surveying were fun and inspirational. This course is a must for everyone interested in living in harmony with the earth. Thank you very much for awakening our hearts and minds and teaching us the tools to actively integrate permaculture into our daily lives."
 

Valerie Andrews, Caterer & Peter Piasecki, Electronics Engineer, Calgary AB

“I am thrilled at the volume of information I have digested over these 72 hours”

"Taking this [Permaculture Design Course] with Rob [...] has been perfectly timed for my new transition from urban to rural life! Rob is a wealth of information and has a genuine passion for the subject matter. I am thrilled at the volume of information I have digested over these 72 hours. I can't express enough the value for all people to learn permaculture principles and Verge made this learning fun, factual and provided a nurturing environment to do it in. I am leaving this [course] feeling overwhelmingly hopeful for the future of this messy world. And I am eager to get to work in my new rural community implementing permaculture ethics and techniques! Thanks so much for inspiring our class!"

“The course is broken down in a simple, easy to understand format”

"Rob and Michelle's experience as mechanical engineers is an asset to their permaculture design course. The course is broken down in a simple, easy to understand format, but what is more is that natural processes are explained and demystified piece by piece so that people taking the course can integrate the new knowledge into their lives. Before taking the course I thought compost was something that holds up a building. Now I know that it is a way to improve soil and save the world."