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Consultancy: Who Needs It? Why Do It? Are You Ready For It?


Photo © Craig Mackintosh

It turns out that very few of those that do a PDC end up being consultants. It took me a while to actually become a paid consultant and I’ve only been doing it for a little while. I took so long to become one as I truly thought everyone who’d done a PDC would become a consultant and that I would just end up being ‘another consultant’. Wow, was I wrong! Of course, not everyone has to be one, many of us have other interests to pursue, but there are lots of us who do want to be consultants, but become defeated by things like a lack of knowledge, experience, confidence and other obligations (family, secure job, etc.).

What I decided to do for you my friend was to set myself up as an example of what is possible. So at the age of 33, with second child in wife’s belly, I decided to take the plunge and become a full time consultant. We had little money — nothing that would help establish a business. I did, well, jump into it head first. This could be bad advice as I am not into ruining lives! Well, maybe a little bit and for the best, wink wink.

Now, I have done plenty of free designs/consults in the past, as I’ve had a 15 year passion for permaculture and a PDC in my belt. I do hate to mention the amount of time that I’ve had an interest in permaculture, as a lot of you are new. But, I had always used ‘the greats’ as a way to help me avoid the big step in becoming a ‘professional permaculturalist’. They have been doing it for so much longer than me. My thoughts were always, "I’ll never be that good to actually do it correctly or charge people, god forbid!" Don’t let this stop you. If you have the desire, you’re already half-way there, and what you don’t know, learn. Yes, it is that simple. And really, the cliché is true, the more you know the less you know; and nature will let you know that!

A PDC can either make you feel as though you know nothing or that you know everything. Neither is true. A PDC will make you feel as though you need to do something. That’s essential. The need to do. I was fed up with it being a hobby. I was fed up that there were not consultants everywhere! The world bloody needs them so let’s give it a crack, eh?

So, I started a permaculture business, Terra Sancta Permaculture, and without any business knowledge. But hell, I can learn that and I hooked up with some training in small business. I searched all over the place for people doing consultancy and noticed a few posts by a fella named Nick Huggins. I started posting a bunch of questions as I didn’t really know how to start. Nick pretty much immediately invited me to contact him personally and iron out some of the questions I had about becoming a professional consultant. I was quite amazed that by speaking up, help just showed up.

This was excellent. I had a vague idea but actually setting up shop is a whole new realm and you definitely do not go through this during a PDC. You are told you can be a consultant just not how. Nick was thorough with me and gave me enough info to get cracking. These days Nick is actually setting up a permaculture business service, to help those wanting to make it as a consultant/designer, an extremely excellent and needed service.

But who needs a permaculture consultant? Isn’t this all common sense? Is it a real service? I know some of you are in this head space. I have been there too. I really thought that everyone knew as much as I did about permaculture. I didn’t realize most people didn’t and I could actually help people! Wow, that’s nice, isn’t it?

Yes, there are millions of people out there wanting to live ‘sustainably’ or wanting some empowerment in their lives and just don’t know how to do it. There are plenty of people with PDCs who still don’t know, as their brains buzz with a billion ideas. The work of the consultant is important in facilitating the client’s vision, molding it into something workable and fun. Clients will come to you with grand visions that will get your brow dripping in sweat and your heart racing in maddening panic. Fear — if you feel fear rolling around your eye balls, you are going about it the wrong way and you are not helping the client. They need to know the realities of their vision, and that their plans, in most cases, will end up being abandoned.

This brings my other point on the benefits of having consultants in our world. People abandon ‘self-sufficiency’ projects all the time. Many people come from very delicate places when heading into self-sufficiency territory, and often go into it with little to no planning or understanding. We need to tread carefully here and we need to help them plan effectively so what they want is possible and not an impossible dream. It’s an amazing, rewarding and important way to live yet people are scared and we can help.

Now, we’re not telling people what to do here. Our clients tell us and we make it happen using good design and planning; obviously within reason. Never feel you need the answers straight away and realise that your initial design will never be the final product. You will learn so much by doing and that applies to everything. You will be given challenges all the time and that is an awesome way to learn, because, well, you have to. And then, guess what? You’ll know it! And you’ll get better and better until you realize you don’t know much. But, you’ll be a decent designer, I am sure.

But why does one become a consultant? ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’? Absolutely not. The change I want to see is far too weird! Ha! My reason is that I knew there was a need there, and I knew people were too afraid to go in into, not feeling 100% about it. I know that with the experience I have I can share with those that don’t have the experience or knowledge. Even with deciding to write this article, my intention is the sharing of experience that I hope someone out there needs to read.

We design sustainable and regenerative systems. For some reason, taking this path has opened up a lot for me. I do have clients and when I needed help it appeared straight away. Don’t feel afraid to need help or advice. If you want to be a consultant, it does take a lot of setting up and knowing how to do it but there are plenty of us around to help.

Don’t feel ready for it?

Then what’s that old permaculture principle about starting small? Start small, always, as this is an excellent habit. We tend to go big straight away, but start with what you can do. If you feel overwhelmed, as I said, there are plenty of us around to help. We are into co-operation not competition. Generally, permaculture does attract helpful people, believe it or not!
We can, as people involved in permaculture and various ‘eco- clicks’, forget that there’s a huge amount of people that still don’t know what we do and don’t realise how it works and what’s involved. That’s pretty bloody exciting. All those lenses ready to be shattered!

Most importantly as a consultant, we, well me really, am hoping to empower my clients, so that there is no fear of things like peak oil, food shortages, etc. — to educate and give back the power to those who feel they cannot make change when they actually can, and that it’s fun. And, that it’s simple — they don’t need to stress about it, as we as the ‘professionals’ can help, plan and implement with them. There really is no better way to live.

As I said, you don’t have to be a professional designer/consultant, but if you want to, do it. Many are out there to help. Don’t take on what you feel is too much, but start with what you feel at least a little bit confident in. Chances are you have plenty to share, and remember you’re coming from a place that empowers others and rebuilds natural systems. Spread the power comrade!

~~~~~

Bob Nekrasov operates Terra Sancta Permaculture, Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia

26 Comments

  1. Bob, excellent article! I think you hit the core of it: how can we reduce the fear within those that want to consult, but can’t quite bring themselves to jumping in. The only way to get experience is to build experience. And I gotta say, nothing gives the experience of working with clients until actually starting to work with clients. Main thing is we gotta be prepared to deal with that last segment of the PDC, ‘all that invisible stuff’. It’s definitely not for everybody, but there are certainly many open niches. I say if you got the urge (and some decent knowledge and skills), jump on in, the waters warm, or at least it starts to feel warmer after a little while :)

  2. WOW! you have come to me at the perfect time! I have just finished a Landscape architecture degree, and something wasnt right. I needed you to tell me this stuff so i can be confident to go out there and be a ‘permie landscape architect’ I will definitley be in contact with you soon. I am keeping this article and printing it and putting it on my wall!
    kindness
    rebecca

  3. Hi Bob,
    Good post – thanks for putting down your thoughts. Hope all goes well over your way.
    Cheers

  4. Personally, I don’t think this is what permaculture is all about. Becoming a consultant is not in any way the reason why I myself undertook a PDC. In hindsight, although it was an interesting experience which gave me a range of valuable insights, I think that I partly wasted my money on a PDC course and would have preferred to spend that dough on something for which there appears to be a large hiatus at the present time. Something which would meet the needs of a great many people who are awakening to the realisation that they are going to require much more practical, locally oriented knowledge about providing for themselves, their families and their communities in the future. There is no course which fulfils that need, to my knowledge and, instead of churning out PDC graduates with little or no practical experience, the movement would be more beneficially involved in arming individuals with this sort of experience and knowledge. Let’s face it, becoming a consultant is obviously not the reason that most people take the PDC course.
    I think there is far too much emphasis, especially in the PRI side of the movement, to create or clone permaculture consultants as if in some way this will be the answer to all the world’s problems. I would go so far as to say that this predominant push for consultant training has something of the smell of yet another big business venture, complete with a ready list of products to sell and with the aim of producing even more big businesses connected in some hierarchical way. I am not decrying the products. I use them myself for inspiration and knowledge. I just don’t like the idea of profiting, making a living, or otherwise gaining advantage from activity and information that is really part of the heritage of humanity and should be available freely or at least with reasonable cost, to all.
    Does the world need more permaculture consultants, with their hands deeply in our pockets? I think not. There is no way that I would take advice from someone whose knowledge base was 72 hours or thereabouts of classroom training and who wanted to charge huge fees to produce plans for my little part of the world because that was how they make a living. I would take advice from someone who I could see was actually doing the sort of things that I needed to know about and who was willing to show me how to do some of them, just for the love of doing that.
    In the end, I have taken some of the information from my PDC course along with information gained from other research and applied it by trial and error to my own situation with varying but satisfying results. There is a big learning curve and I would love to have someone by my side or on whom I could call for advice or tips about particular issues, but I will be damned if I am going to pay for that sort of service.

  5. Great read Bob. I am a dairy farmer looking to get away from the day in day out slog and I am doing a PDC in September. I have been thinking of starting up courses on my property but really i think that being a consultant would be the way for me.
    I may be in touch soon.
    Cheers

  6. I love the consultancy work that I do, some of it paid, which is really nice and I hope to do plenty more of it in the future. In fact, while I am being paid to consult or teach I don’t have to take part in other destructive or non creative enterprises.
    I had no preconceived ideas about what I would do when I completed my PDC but I soon realized that plenty of people want to learn and benefit from my knowledge and experiences.
    Some people want to pay for a consultant or teacher and I am very happy about that.
    Doing a PDC helped galvanize my interests and inspired me to study further.
    Permaculture is really only just getting started as a concept out there in the world and we are only at the beginning of it.
    Permaculture will continue to evolve its form and functions. Just as nothing comes into this world fully formed, we should not expect that Permaculture should instantly be a mature concept.
    If Geoff didn’t teach and consult and get paid for it, we wouldn’t have this fantastic knowledge filled site or the access of the WPN. We have a lot to be thankful for that there are people out there very prepared to pay for Permaculture consultants and teachers.
    Anyone interested in being a consultant should follow their desire and become one. It is a great way to bring about positive change in the world.
    Carolyn Payne- Mudlark Permaculture.

  7. I really agree with what Bernie Edwards wrote. I immediately had a problem with being told at my PDC that now that I have done the PDC that I could charge someone up to $70 an hour as a consultant. For me, no way! Even if I had all of the skills and know how and could draw a design, I would still not charge a fee like that. Firstly, I need to get my own backyard in order, and if it is in order and I have achieved a lifestyle that is off the grid to the extent that the money I need to live on is greatly reduced, why would I need to charge such exhorbitant fees? Why not focus on bringing that change to people in an encouraging way by not charging large fees? If I could jump an earth moving machinery and dig those swales that farmers need then I would do it at a price that they can afford or nothing at all, if I can afford to do so. Why? Because I want to see that change happen. It is only 3 years since I did a PDC. For me it was a great ecological eye opener but it did not skill me up to the point that I am now skilled. After the PDC, I thought, what now? So, I enrolled into Hort at Tafe. Now, I know plants and I have picked up landscaping and quite a bit of other stuff. The greatest advantage for me with the PDC was the eco understanding but not a lot else. Hort gave me propagation and I now volunteer at my local botanic gardens to put that into practise. Simply, after a PDC and if the living skills are few and far between, remembering that PC is a whole bunch of disciplines, then the only way to continue it, is to jump into those disciplines, one at a time if necessary but the practical needs to be done before, I feel, the audacity of being a consultant, should be played out. Most people know this any way and in fact that is what most people try to do. I mean it is really helpful to know what a node is or an internode or understand the behaviour of new growth and old growth on a fruit tree. It is hard to get that understanding from a short PDC course but I would always say if asked, do a PDC! Then jump into the practical for the skills.

  8. ”There is no course which fulfils that need, to my knowledge and, instead of churning out PDC graduates with little or no practical experience, the movement would be more beneficially involved in arming individuals with this sort of experience and knowledge. ”

    Bernie, great idea…

    I deputise YOU to now walk that talk. Let us all know how it goes.

  9. I am totally unaware of any PDC that tells you once you finish the two week course you can go out and be a charging consultant. Who would say that? That’s like taking a two week sports camp and calling yourself a professional player. You need a lot more experience than a two week course provides to be an effective consultant. Without excellent knowledge and skills you can cause more harm than good. What is lacking is post PDC education and experience building.

    As to charging for services: Different strokes for different folks! For me, and most others I know, FREE turns out to be the opposite of sustainable.

  10. Money is, like any other manufactured object, a tool. Money by itself is a completely neutral artifact. It is the energy behind the ones controlling the money who determine if it is used for good or bad. The fact is, I am stoked to give money to people and causes which are taking action to improve this world, and to receive money from those who appreciate the things I do. The world can become sustainable a lot faster if those with permaculture skills, knowledge, and experience had greater in-flow of money. These people are not consulting and then taking elaborate European vacations and buying Ferraris. More than likely, the money is being used as leverage to move the world more quickly into it’s blossoming into full blown Paradise. Habits don’t change overnight. The money system is not going to just ‘crash’ and suddenly we go into Mad Max. It is a transition. Money is our friend and ally in creating a better world.

  11. Hello Bob!
    It was really nice reading your article, I took my time to go through it. Im from Panama and my mother language its spanish, but english is no problem.
    As I was saying, really encouraging article the one you wrote, Im currently saving money to do my PDC and perhaps the 10 weeks program, the main reason is, because I feel the urgent necessity to make this change in my live. I want to become a consultant, as I understand a consultant is a person with knowledge, experience and a good communicator! I like the way you describe about your 15 years experience (may be as a hobby as I read somewhere on your article), because before doing my PDC Im starting to make some volunteering work, hopefully also as an exchange to take part on some workshops, and concentrate on making and developing the most experience as possible, before taking my PDC, I would love to do it in Australia, and this means a big investment on flying and then the courses fees……reason why I want to come with some practice under my belt, so I can really make the most out of it.
    I agree, with some comments that a 72 hrs course hardly makes you a consultant, but that depends a bit on the background of the person. On a PDC you might have a person coming from accountings and having near to no experience with nature, but you can also have a person who is a landscaper, plus loves botanics……..so is not that black and white, hope you get me! but again I find very encouraging when you mentioned, one part is the will of doing it, the other part is learn what you don’t know, by doing this a person shows commitment! and I believe this is a really good thing for the Permaculture team!!! people committed and being encourage by others that can always give a hand! every body needs a mentor or guidance, listening to other is always a good virtue!
    Maybe the reason why there are not many Permaculture consultants is that a 72hrs PDC alone, is not enough to make you go out there and start charging big amounts of money, so doing some more learning, practicing seems to be the way to achieve the consultant stage!

    Well amigo, thanks for shearing this article!
    Dennis

  12. Yea, good article Bob, people who want to consult, I say go for it if you’ve the experience. People who want to just develop their own systems, that’s cool too.

    But don’t run people down for wanting to make a living out of it. Of course a PDC is a primer and it’s up to you to pursue further learning, I volunteered for 18 months at PRI to gain some of the skills that I have today.

    It’s up to you and your skill set

  13. Great article and intersting points made in the article and in the comments.
    I should like to just say that anyone interested in permaculture that intends to do a course would be well advised to take time afterwards (having learnt loads) to speak to as many people that have survived a war (wherever and whenever)that they can and also to study as much about how civilians survive during times of war.
    You will be amazed at just how much there stories will put the things you have learnt into perspective and context.

  14. ”Money is, like any other manufactured object, a tool. Money by itself is a completely neutral artifact. It is the energy behind the ones controlling the money who determine if it is used for good or bad. The fact is, I am stoked to give money to people and causes which are taking action to improve this world, and to receive money from those who appreciate the things I do. The world can become sustainable a lot faster if those with permaculture skills, knowledge, and experience had greater in-flow of money.”

    Yes, i agree Jonathon…

    Money is our cultural energy of exchange, a tool, just because it is very often used irresponsibley by many doesnt mean it is inherently ‘bad’ or damaging.
    Asking for something in return for a service is completely reasonable.
    After all, its contractual and a contract is an agreement, noone is holding a gun to their clients head and forcing them to sign on the line…
    This is a social phenomena i see often and it interests me…
    What if i said i was a lawyer or an accountant, would the money i make then be any more valid or deserved?
    As soon as someone tries to make a living off of something that also happens to be beneficial in a holistic perspective people immediately think they can smell a rat. These things are not mutually exclusive. Movie stars and sportstars make millions yet aid workers and permies make crumbs… what does this say about our priorities as a culture?
    Its not the nineties anymore, we need not bend our selvs into some form of ‘the starving artist’.

    You want to see abundance? Start living it….

  15. I think the question is would you hire a qualified permaculturist who had only 72 hours of experience-of course not! But one with 15 years in horticulture or landscaping or farming or permaculture and a PDC-YES! Like any profession be picky in who you choose. Many profesionals do work experiance, volunteering and apprenticeships before they start charging it is the same with PDCs. Although I have seen quite a few people come out of a 72 hour PDC and no other experiance and set themselves up as consultants-they quickly realise with no clients the error of their ways! :) and get more experience.
    Like any profesion it involves qualifications, experiance and desire!

  16. Just like any other ethical way of making a living, Permaculture consultancy is something that you do because you have both sufficient skill/knowledge/experience to offer consultancy services in your specific area of Permaculture, and you wish to make a difference in the world and take practical action to be part of the solution, and help others to participate in this solution. This is what should be driving the process. If money is the primary motivator, then you will see the insidious side of human nature emerge, and something resembling selfish individualism rather than supportive community. People’s motivations determine whether something is “bad” or “good” ultimately…

    The fact that consultants get paid for what they do is simply “fair exchange”, and this idea is supported by the third Permaculture ethical principle of “Fair Share” in the context of a community’s resources, be they financial or skill based resources.

    You can only give away your services for free if you have a mainstream day job to fund your activities, but most mainstream jobs aren’t exactly ethical or make a positive contribution to the world, so by working as paid consultants people can do what they enjoy, make a positive contribution to their community, and be engaged in life-affirming, ethical and constructive work.

    Consultancy is not every PDC graduate’s aim or goal, but it will be the appropriate calling for a select few who have the skill, knowledge, temperament and passion for the job.

  17. Hi, I see that the last comment is dated back in June 2012. I hope I’m not too much of a Johnny Come Lately.

    I have been consulting off and on for years but I still have this one hang-up problem when it comes time to make a living. I do not like to be asked for money so I absolutely hate to ask other people for money.

    Anybody have any “secret” tips or techniques for getting over that obstacle?

    Thanks and this is a great article.

    jtl

  18. Her Dr. Jimmy,

    I’m in the same boat. I have charged a few friends hourly because they requested help in the garden and I would do garden installations based on permaculture and regenerative techniques. I have my PDC and the skills and experience and feel that doing “yard work” simply isn’t enough to make a balanced income. I’m 23 and struggling financially. I am highly involved with implementing these techniques in public spaces and promoting them locally through volunteer groups that we have created. Although I’m ready to grow to larger installations and designs, it’s still hard for me to request larger fees. The only tips I have come across so far is to come up with some numbers and just go for them. Suggest breaking the work up into payments for more intensive designs. I heard Bill say he used to charge a flat rate of $500 for anything they wanted done until people started saying “boy that’s cheap”. I think one thing that will help bring me confidence in asking a fair amount is having great materials and resources that the client receives upon initial consultation.

  19. It sure would be great to hear from some consultants on here who are thriving in what they do along with a positive financial story.

    I’m doing my PDC right now and have signed up for a 10 week internship already. I like the idea that if I can gain enough additional experience to become a consultant then I can make money doing what I love while helping the planet move more quickly to where it should be. I think the secret will be to apply myself only where I know I am of value.

    As far as charging money I have done many things like photography, film making and project management where many people in those industries (except PM) sometimes also have a hard time charging money. All I can say is when you know you can deliver value to someone and are willing to put in the work to deliver that value then you can feel very justified asking for money. If you don’t think you are up to the task maybe you know someone who is – or who can either help or who you could refer the business to.

    Either way if someone has a need and wants to pay you for your effort, energy, knowledge and skill that you know you have, then I at least would feel comfortable charging money. If you know you are in over your head then you may need to reconsider what additional resources may be required for the project. As with photography I wouldn’t consider working for my friends in most cases since they are less likely to take you seriously especially in your early years and it can often feel awkward charging them. But what about a business, a municipality, a church, a government? These entities pay to get things done and if you have the skills and value offering then why would you even give it a second thought. Charge them for your services like any other vendor they would deal with and make sure you deliver great value.

    If you’ve never run your own business then I can see that charging for valuable services may be a difficult hurdle to see through but if you have delivered value in the past via your own business then this should not really be an issue at all.

    All the best to those who pursue their visions!

  20. Fantastic article!!

    I start the Introduction to Permaculture this year with the intention of doing the PDC next year and later down the track I plan to do a course in Permaculture facilitating and teaching as my biggest goal is teaching young people with disabilities about sustainability and organic food gardening as well as do some consultant work.

    This article certainly gives me the hope and motivation I need to achieve this goal.

  21. Thanks for this article, Bob. It’s just what I needed as I’m about to graduate Geoff’s new online PDC this month. I already have 5 design clients lined up whom I am doing for free for both the experience and a portfolio. Thanks again for the encouragement!

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