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Whole Systems Design says it has been designing, building and consulting on regenerative land and living systems in Vermont and around the world for over 20 years, with site assessment, property evaluation, site design, rural relocation strategy and homestead and farm design among its services. A 2022 customer said the company helped them look for land, buy it and develop a working master plan for a homestead, and that its pre-purchase consultations helped them avoid some very costly mistakes. That 2022 customer added that the company helped put together a grading plan that impressed their builders. A 2022 customer said the company worked with them on site analysis, site and landscape design, and plant selection and sourcing. In a 2022 review, a former student who attended a 10-day permaculture design course with the company in 2015 said the class did full site designs for a couple of real clients, which were presented and critiqued. A 2020 Reddit post in r/Permaculture said Ben Falk had done some interesting work. A 2022 customer recommended against hiring the company for a consultation, saying two hours amounted to an "Intro to Permaculture" lecture; that customer later put the bill at closer to $1,000 for the two-hour consult and called it a huge waste of money.
“Anyone know about Whole Systems Design? Ben Falk's done some interesting work”
“His website: http://www.wholesystemsdesign.com/”
I would recommend against hiring them for a consultation. They may have other strong points, but it's not consulting. We payed 2,000 for 2 hours of, essentially, "Intro to Permaculture" lecturing. Huge waste of money. There are others in VT with just as much knowledge and much cheaper (we learned in hindsight, of course). (What follows is my reply to wsd’s reply below.) I stand corrected, now that I’m just seeing your response here. The bill was actually closer to $1,000 for a 2 hour consult.
I was so impressed with the team at Whole Systems Design and their approach to training and design. I attended their Permaculture Design Course. I saw how thoughtful they are—always taking into account the goals of the client, the unique attributes of the land, and making sure they explain their strategy clearly. I highly recommend them.
I finally got the courage to sign up for the Summer 2022 Permaculture Design Course after years of reading about sustainable alternative living. Not only did I learn skills that will influence my decisions as I continue studying Landscape Architecture - and many other skills like natural medicine, fermentation, beekeeping, etc... - I also found myself within a community of like-minded individuals, and the experience really helped me grow!
Attended the PDC with Whole Systems Design this past year and I can say that I don't know if I've looked forward to something so much and still been blown away by an experience that more than met my expectations. Ten days of learning and fun with wonderful people in a gorgeous natural environment. Whole Systems Design is a great firm that comes up with creative designs that work to improve landscapes and lives.
This summer’s PDC at Whole Systems Design was a life-changing experience. The WSD instructors, the other students, and guest speakers all brought passion, creativity, and a depth of knowledge to permaculture that brought the permaculture principles and practices alive. The connections we made and community of caring we built continue to be source of support and inspiration. Thanks to WSD for creating a safe, fun, and generative learning experience.
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1 change recorded — last scanned Oct 23, 2026.
Typical your area range for this kind of work, from regional averages — not a quote from Whole Systems Design, LLC. Use it to sanity-check bids, then get the real number in writing.
Estimated range
$50 – $70
Typical landscaping service around $60
Footing drain and wet basement repairs4.1
