Feeling like such a novice, I have signed up for this weekend course:

Permaculture Design: Organic Gardening, Composting and Native Plants

Permaculture Design is a holistic approach to sustainable community development. This course is a basic introduction to permaculture principles and concepts. Organic gardening with native plants will be discussed, and there will be tours of the Heart Gardens and Gumboot Gardens in Roberts Creek. There will also be a discussion about composting and a hands-on workshop about making your own organic solid and liquid fertilizers with an easy to create and maintain worm farm. The class meets at the “Elfinhome”, at the back of the Gumboot Café in the Heart of Roberts Creek.