2020 Ranch Courses

10 Amazing Days in May and More in June!

Choose One or All of these Natural Building Courses

May 22-25, Cordwood Building Part 1

Join us for a complete hands-on four day training course in cordwood structures and foundations. Inspired by the friendship of Richard and Becky Flatau and Wayne Weisemen, this information packed, hands on training course will be used to create a cordwood and cob four season sauna, by the end of part 2, in just 10 amazing days!

Robert and Wayne have built structures together in the past, including one at the beautiful Kinstone project in Wisconsin. Now, Wayne Weisemen, a well respected permaculture design master and natural building expert, will lead this course along with carpenter and natural builder, Ross Brodt, of Tree of Life Construction.  Wayne, Ross, and your Ranch Host, Dr. Bessheen Baker, all have experience in building sacred geometry structures.  A lot of creative, fun, and inspiring components will be included in this sauna!

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Class is limited to 15 students: register early to save your spot.  Camping on site is free, and other affordable, ranch operated accommodations are available on site or in town, 8 miles from the ranch. Purified water and daily healthy snacks will be provided by your Ranch Host.  Meals will be on your own, and a firepit and grill are on site.  Outdoor solar shower and outhouses are in the camping area.  The Ranch will provide a homemade grilled meal on Saturday night of each weekend. There is plenty to do during your down time, and bonfires with potluck options are common. 

Course cost is only $399!

May 27  Cob Oven Class

This Wednesday afternoon class from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. will teach you how to build your own cob oven for incredible tasting bread, pizza, and beyond. You can make these ovens very affordably and get incredibly creative.  It would be a great family and friends project. Build it for your yard, hunting camp, or weekend getaway place.  A wonderful learning experience for $50!  Instructor:  Wayne Weisemen

May 28 Outdoor Sun Dehydrator

Wayne Weiseman 

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Wayne Weiseman is a Permaculture teacher, designer, consultant, and author.  He lives in Carbondale, Illinois, with his wife, Frances, and daughter, Halima.

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He was certified to teach Permaculture by Bill Mollison, the founder of Permaculture, and is recognized by the Worldwide Permaculture Network as an instructor of the Permaculture Design Certificate Course. Mr. Weiseman is certified by the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) to teach continuing education in Permaculture to licensed architects and landscape architects. Wayne has taught hundreds of Permaculture Design Certificate courses and advanced work, lectured, and consulted internationally for many years. His design portfolio includes numerous master plans for various clients.

Wayne has worked as a schoolteacher and as a consultant to educators and administrators in curriculum and professional development. As a primitive wilderness instructor, he relies on observation techniques and a thorough understanding of the natural world to ply his trade. He has worked extensively with corporate executives in the art of team building and the application of ideas in business and life developed through the observation of the cycles and connections found in the natural world. He has worked as a builder and contractor, herbalist, renewable energy expert, and farmer for the past thirty years. For many years, Wayne managed a land-based, self-reliant community project, combining organic crop/food production, ecologically-built shelter, renewable energy, and appropriate technologies.

Enroll Now

 Call (989)506-0057

This Thursday afternoon class from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. will give you the hands on experience to build your own Sun Dehydrator which is even better for food preservation than electric systems.  Capturing sunlight into your foods brings qualities beyond other forms of preservation.  One dehydrator will be built during this class, and you can then make one of your own at home!  This great opportunity is only $50! Instructor:  Wayne Weisemen

May 29-31 Cordwood Building Part 2

Learn how to complete a cordwood structure by working on the cordwood itself, installing the wood stove, and making unique interior touches.  Students will learn all the key pieces needed to finish a project in full.  Hands on throughout the entire class with quality time for design questions and more. This course can be taken on its own or as a continuation of the Part 1 detailed above.  A full three day course for only $299, limited to 15 students.  Free camping on site, and other affordable ranch operated accommodations are available just 8 miles away in the town of Mt. Pleasant.

Specials and Discounts

Students are welcome to stay the entire week for both cordwood courses, and a 10% discount would apply for taking both Part 1 and Part 2.  Those staying to work during the week between Part 1 and Part 2 on the cordwood project can earn a scholarship to both afternoon classes on cob ovens and solar dehydrators as a work/trade bonus.  The entire course will take place at Symbiosis Ranch and will include opportunities for free tours and casual lectures on the garden designs, sacred geometry, herbal medicine, and other topics of interest featured on this unique ranch.  All courses, classes, and tours offer learning and inspiration at every skill level!

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Call or e-mail us today, and we can reserve your spot in a short few minutes!  Bessheen Baker (989)506-0057 or

June 27-28

Rocket Mass Stove Weekend Workshop

We are pleased to be bring Milton Dixon, an experienced permaculture teacher and enthusiast, to Symbiosis Ranch for a weekend course on Rocket Mass Heaters! This bench and structure-warming stove will be built right inside our own Aircrete Dome structure! These super energy efficient stoves are able to heat structures and outdoor/indoor benches in a way that brings deep warmth into you and your environment.  Using very simple, easily attainable, affordable products, and lots of free earth material, you will learn how to creatively design your own masterpiece. This course will be limited to 15 students and will certainly fill up quickly!  Both days will be from 9 am to 5 pm(?) and is only $199 total, including free camping and a ranch dinner on Saturday night! Additional ranch operated accommodations are available on site or in town.

Call (989)506-0057 to register and save your spot!