Together we can regenerate our communities, our landscapes, and our world.
Your time for regenerative leadership is now.
This program is designed to help you align your passion for a better world with the development of a career path that actively creates the world you envision.
The step-by-step online program to start and grow your ecological design business or organization.
An online school designed to fully equip and support you as a professional ecological designer, practitioner, community organizer, and consultant.
“If you wish to make an impact in the world, a permaculture-minded business is a proven way to do just that. Save yourself the frustration, time and high risk of failure that comes with trying to learn it all yourself, and make use of the wisdom others have gained. [ELM] has equipped me with valuable tools, and planted thought-provoking seeds in my mind that will literally bear fruit into the future.”
The Eco-Landscape Mastery School Includes:
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Case Studies with Erik Ohlsen
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40+ Expert Webinars
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16 Core Modules: A complete system for setting up a regenerative business or organization. Each module complete with downloadable guides, templates, and cheat sheets to help you implement.
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Private Facebook Mastermind Community
The Core Training Modules
(CLICK ON EACH MODULE FOR MORE DETAILS)
MODULE 1: Landscape Foundations
Learning Objectives
- Thinking like a watershed and its application in design
- Implementing functional patterns found in nature
- Using the principles of Permaculture
- How to identify your personal context
- The importance of understanding the community context
- Community organizing models and actions
- What makes a career regenerative
- Building coalitions and social capitol
- Finding your niche and more
MODULE 2: Portfolio & Credibility Plan
Learning Objectives
- Why you need a portfolio
- Different kinds of portfolios
- Creating Your portfolio
- Creating a demonstration project
- Positioning yourself as a professional
- Creating a social engagement marketing plan
- Educating your community
- Building a network
- How to work with a variety of different communities
- Finding purpose in your business and more
Video Sessions:
Building Your Portfolio
Social Engagement Plan
Virtual Tour of Permaculture Artisans Portfolio
Erik’s Ecological Demonstration Gardens
MODULE 3: Step-by-Step Assessment Process
Learning Objectives
- What to do to prepare for a first project site visit
- Gathering data on projects remotely
- Printing out the pre site visit check list
- How to be a “Land Detective”
- Awareness and observation skills
- In field soil test options
- Reading the patterns of water
- Reading the indicators of plants
- Site inventory
- Reading the social landscape and more
Video Sessions:
Site Assessment Pre-Site Visit
Site Assessment in The Field
Reading the Landscape Best Practices
MODULE 4: Base Map Strategy & Creation
Learning Objectives
- What is a base map
- What kind of maps might you need for a project
- Introduction to triangulation
- Working with mappers and surveyors
- How to choose the right kind of map
- How to use Google Earth in mapping and project management and more
Video Sessions:
Base Maps
Google Earth Pro Mapping How to
MODULE 5: Consultation Strategy & Application
Learning Objectives
- How to give a powerful consultation
- Getting paid for consultations
- The high converting consultation follow up plan
- Best practices for ecological design consultations and more
Video Sessions:
Professional Consultations
MODULE 6: Professional Ecological Design Process
Learning Objectives
- What to include in a design proposal
- Setting expectations
- Billable vs non billable hours
- Presenting the proposal
- Communication follow up plan
- Vision/Goal setting
- Using ecological principles in design
- Conceptual planning
- Master planning
- Monitoring
- Designing to a management plan
- Placing elements in design by management needs
- Elements appropriate for zones 1-4 and more
Video Sessions:
Design Proposal Process
Design Process
Permaculture Zone Planning
Design Proposal Walk Through
MODULE 7: Water Harvesting & Management
Learning Objectives
- Assessing landscapes for water harvesting potential
- The Water Harvesting in the Landscape Toolkit (Rain gardens, Swales, Terraces, Grading and more)
- Integrating water harvesting strategies
- Assessing projects for drainage
- When to drain and when not to drain
- Basic drainage materials
- Back flood systems
- Collecting water off of roofs
- Wet line vs dry line conveyance
- Transfer tank systems
- Choosing a good storage site
- Designing system overflows and more
Video Sessions:
Water Harvesting in The Landscape
Water and Drainage
Roof Water Harvesting
MODULE 8: Landscape Drip Irrigation Planning
Learning Objectives
- Water conservation based irrigation
- Automated irrigation systems
- Planning a Drip Irrigation system
- Best practices for designing and installing drip irrigation systems
Video Sessions:
Drip Irrigation Systems Design and Installation
MODULE 9: Erosion Control Best Practices
Learning Objectives
- Assessing erosion issues
- The Erosion Control Toolkit
- Water management for erosion control
- Biological stabilization
- Check dams
- Zuni bowls
- Willow mats and more
Video Sessions:
Erosion Control Toolkit and Best Practices
MODULE 10: Landscape Fertility Plans
Learning Objectives
- What is a Landscape Fertility Plan
- Reading soil reports
- Amending the soil
- Building organic matter
- Activating the life of the soil
- Planting strategy for soil building and more
Video Sessions:
Landscape Fertility Plan: Development and Practices
MODULE 11: Planting Strategies
Learning Objectives
- The magic of plants
- Choosing plants based on usefulness, function, need, and condition
- Choosing Plants by bloom time, harvest time, pest resistance
- Cross referencing your plant palettes
- Creating a planting plan and more
Video Sessions:
Ecological Planting Systems
Planting Palettes
MODULE 12: Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
Learning Objectives
- An ecologically integrated pest management plan
- The wildlife superstars
- Habitat strategies for birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and more
Video Sessions:
Best Practices to Attracting Beneficial Wildlife in the Landscape
MODULE 13: Pathways & Outdoor Destinations
Learning Objectives
- How to design for space and flow
- Pathway design and layout
- Designing outdoor rooms and patios
- Pathways materials options
Video Sessions:
Pathways and Patios: Layout and Implementation
MODULE 14: Rock Wall Systems
Learning Objectives
- Rock walls in the landscape why and when
- Dry stacking, veneer, and boulder walls
- Planning wall projects
Video Sessions:
Rock Wall Systems
MODULE 15: Project Management
Learning Objectives
- The importance of good project management
- Setting up projects
- Scheduling projects
- Organizing materials/ equipment/labor
- Tracking projects
- Handling changes on projects
- Why hire sub-contractors
- Partnering with other professionals
- Employees versus Subcontractors
- Hiring/Learning from mentors and more
Video Sessions:
Project Management
Managing Sub Contractors
Project Planning
Invoicing Plan and Bookkeeping Walk Through
MODULE 16: Running an Ecological Landscape Company
Learning Objectives
- When to know you need staff
- Employees versus Subcontractors
- Making your first hire
- Billable versus Non Billable hours
- Going legit
- Designing your company culture
- Why you need to be serious about making good hires
- What to include in job posts
- Erik’s magical ingredient to the hiring process
- Conducting interviews
- On-boarding and review period
Video Sessions:
Managing a Growing Business
Hiring Plan Blueprint
“I love how Erik presents the material! I knew the material would be great but the biggest gamble as I invested in the course was whether the presentation would be engaging. I am pleasantly surprised that it’s an engaging course and the audio/visuals are great.”
Bonus Module: Landscaper Estimate Budget Template/Workbook
Bonus Module: Landscaper Estimate Budget Template/WorkbookThis is a complete estimation software and spreadsheet system provided to you as part of the ELM School. Use this system right away to start budgeting, costing, and tracking your ecological design projects.
Video Sessions:
Project Estimate Tutorial and Workbook
Case Studies with Erik Ohlsen
Erik Ohlsen shares in-depth case studies of ecological design-build projects. Erik has 20-plus years of experience as a professional designer, community organizer, permaculture teacher, and landscape contractor. Students are encouraged to pose questions about case studies and share their own case studies in the private Facebook Mastermind Community.
Click below for a sample case study!
Expert Webinars
Discover global leaders' innovate solutions, and gain needed inspiration while learning from these designers, community organizers, professional contractors, engineers, regenerative farmers, scientists and thought-leaders. All of the following sessions are available right now when you sign up!
The Eco-Landscape Mastermind Community
Developing regenerative projects, businesses, and growing organizations is a long-term endeavor. No single course, coaching call, or inspiring webinar can help you through all of the ups and down that comes with scaling your work in the world. That is why we have created a private Facebook mastermind community where you can ask ongoing questions, receive peer-to-peer feedback, access new content, test new ideas, and build your professional network with a powerful community of change makers from around the world.
“I found the course very engaging, interesting, and fluid. It is a convenient, user-friendly platform, and the material is well presented.
I definitely recommend the ELM school!”
- A Recipe for Your Long-Term Impact
There are great online courses on regenerative design out there that have a start and end date. These are can be great experiences and can instigate momentum in your life and work.
We created our program to be very flexible; it was designed to be your advocate, coach, and ecological trainer for life. Once you join the program, you have the option to remain in the community with access to the materials for a year and beyond. This gives you access to the vast programming already developed and available now, but to all future opportunities we provide to students.
The reason we have create this system is because we understand what it realistically takes to professionalize your work and make a long-term impact on our world and communities. It takes a commitment to keep going year after year. To be able to try and fail and grow from that experience. To integrate feedback and adapt to change.
To regenerate our world take patience, long-term planning, and determination. That is why we have structured the ELM School this way. It’s the long game that will make the biggest difference and we want to be there to support you along the way.
Are you ready?
YOUR PAYMENT OPTIONS
Either option gets you the same access to all Eco-Landscape Mastery School course materials
Take advantage of our 2021 discount to automatically receive 30% off!
Pay in Full
Save about $300!- The complete course to gain mastery in building you eco-landscaping business, including more than 50 hours of video instruction.
- Case Studies with Erik Ohlsen and Expert Webinars with guests from across the regenerative design space (including Penny Livingston, Darren Doherty, Eric Toensmeier!
- Done-for-you “Business-in-a-Box“ resources, including a Landscaper Estimate Budget Template/Workbook
- Private Facebook Mastermind Community full of like-minded folks working to build a regenerative future; receive mentorship from experts in the group.
Monthly Payment Plan
Auto-deducted once a month for 12 months- The complete course to gain mastery in building you eco-landscaping business, including more than 50 hours of video instruction.
- Case Studies with Erik Ohlsen and Expert Webinars with guests from across the regenerative design space (including Penny Livingston, Darren Doherty, Eric Toensmeier!
- Done-for-you “Business-in-a-Box“ resources, including a Landscaper Estimate Budget Template/Workbook
- Private Facebook Mastermind Community full of like-minded folks working to build a regenerative future; receive mentorship from experts in the group.
Build your regenerative career by integrating what you love, who you are, and your vision for our planet.
The ELM School provides you with real-world business tools and systems, foundational ecological design training, and a valuable opportunity to build your network of like-minded colleagues.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Select your payment option to get started TODAY:
Have a question?
Click the “Leave a Message” box and we will get back to you in 24 to 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I’m on the edge. I feel like I have a pretty solid foundation in some of this material. How do I know I’ll gain anything from the ELM School?
A: The ELM School is a professional development and training program designed to help students launch their own eco-landscaping business. If your intent is to build or grow your business, there is a wealth of resources waiting for you inside the course! Erik designed this course based on his own experience building his successful business, Permaculture Artisans; this is basically a business in a box!
Q: I’m unsure what my schedule is going to look like over the next couple of months. If I sign up now, will I be missing any super important content?
A: Not at all. Because this course is fully online, that means all of the content is available to you whenever you have an opportunity to focus on it! We have designed the Eco-Landscape Mastery School for you to work through the curriculum at your own pace.
Q: I am not on Facebook; how can I interact with the community or get my questions answered.
A: We definitely encourage you to consider joining Facebook, if only to interact with other ELM students and take advantage of the conversation and collaboration available to you there. However, if you are not on Facebook, you will also have the opportunity to get your questions answered in the Teachable platform (where you will find the course content). Note that this is not a place where the majority of students interact.
Q: What if I get in and realize the ELM School is just not for me?
A: While we certainly hope that wouldn't be the case, we understand that these things happen! We offer a 7-day money-back guarantee (and are unable to honor refunds requested outside of that window).
