Living Mandala
Living Mandala is a 501c3 nonprofit that produces permaculture and closed-loop aquaponics courses, workshops, and consultations, serving individual learners, communities, and green-business professionals primarily across California through a 50-facilitator collective.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Living Mandala does
Living Mandala is a 501c3 nonprofit educational organization founded in 2007 (operating since 2008) and headquartered in Oakland, California, with a team of 6 employees. The organization is a fiscally sponsored project under Empowerment Works and operates as a collective of 50+ facilitators, trainers, and consultants. Its mission is to design, facilitate, and produce courses, workshops, events, and consultation services that implement ecologically and socially regenerative practices across permaculture, closed-loop aquaponics, natural building, renewable energy, and community organizing.
The company's core offerings fall into three categories: (1) certification courses — notably the internationally recognized Permaculture Design Certification (PDC) extending beyond the standard 72-hour curriculum, and the Closed-Loop Aquaponics Complete Course covering backyard, educational, and commercial systems; (2) consultation services in permaculture design, eco-village planning, natural building, and group facilitation; and (3) community projects including the 350 Home & Garden Challenge and Food Forests Across America. Its proprietary curriculum assets include a 100-page aquaponics course manual with detailed construction plans and schematics, and integration of permaculture principles with aquaponics systems that aim to produce water, energy, fish feed, and heat on-site.
Living Mandala generates revenue through course tuition (standard $1,295, early bird $995, student/graduate $895), professional consultation fees, and modest product sales via an online store featuring permaculture books and affiliate-linked products. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through livingmandala.com, phone inquiry, and online event registration via EventBee. The organization sells primarily to individual learners and hobbyists, communities and organizations seeking design services, and professionals pursuing green careers in sustainable agriculture, with a regional concentration in California venues (Oakland, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, Ukiah, Hopland).
Living Mandala firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Living Mandala
- Legal name
- Living Mandala
- Website
- https://livingmandala.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Living Mandala is a 501c3 nonprofit that produces permaculture and closed-loop aquaponics courses, workshops, and consultations, serving individual learners, communities, and green-business professionals primarily across California through a 50-facilitator collective.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Living Mandala industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Regenerative Education and Sustainability Training
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)
Keywords
Where Living Mandala is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Living Mandala business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Course and Workshop Tuition: Living Mandala generates primary revenue through educational course fees. This includes permaculture design certification courses, aquaponics training courses, and specialized workshops. Pricing varies by course with standard tuition at $1295, early bird discounts at $995, and discounted rates at $895 for graduates and students. Course fees include materials, certification, and meals during the course.
- Consultation Services: Professional permaculture design consultations, eco-village design consultations, natural building guidance, and group facilitation services offered to individuals, families, communities, organizations, and businesses.
- Product Sales: Living Mandala operates an online store selling permaculture and sustainability books (including the Permaculture Designers' Manual), ebooks, and recommended products. They also partner with Nova Monda chocolate for affiliate sales with 10% discounts for subscribers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Tuition for Closed-Loop Aquaponics Course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Early Bird Rate |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Student/Graduate Discount |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Living Mandala product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Living Mandala designs, facilitates, and produces regenerative education courses, multi-day intensive trainings, workshops, and events covering permaculture design, closed-loop aquaponics, natural building, eco-village design, and community facilitation. The organization also offers professional consultation services to communities, organizations, and businesses, and runs an online store for permaculture and sustainability books and resources.
Product overview
Living Mandala is a 501c3 nonprofit educational organization that designs, facilitates, and produces courses, workshops, projects, and events focused on ecologically and socially regenerative practices. The organization operates as a collective of facilitators, trainers, and consultants offering services across multiple domains including: permaculture design courses and consultations, closed-loop aquaponics training courses, natural building services, group facilitation and team building programs, eco-village design consultations, and community empowerment initiatives. Living Mandala also operates a resource center and online store for educational materials and books related to sustainable living practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Closed-Loop Aquaponics: The Complete Course A comprehensive aquaponics training course covering system design, construction, and permaculture integration for backyard, educational, and commercial systems. The course includes a 100-page course manual, detailed designs, and hands-on experience with instructors from NorCal Aquaponics, Austin Aquaponics, and Fishnet Aquaponics.
- Permaculture Design Courses Internationally recognized certification courses in ecological and regenerative design covering nature awareness, indigenous wisdom, group facilitation, and embodiment practices. The curriculum extends beyond the standard 72-hour PDC framework.
- Permaculture Design Consultations Professional permaculture design services including site analysis, design implementation, soil building, food forest gardens, and erosion restoration for individuals, communities, organizations, and businesses.
- Natural Building Services Natural building consultation covering cob building, natural plasters, light straw clay, straw bale, and living roofs for individuals and communities.
- Eco-Village Design Consultations Consultations for individuals and communities wishing to create holistic and regenerative village lifestyles, including design and planning support.
- Group Facilitation & Team Building Facilitation services for communities and organizations including meeting facilitation, democratic decision-making, project management, and team building.
- Personal & Community Empowerment Programs Activities including vision quests, backpacking trips, custom retreats, group design processes, and firewalks for personal transformation and community empowerment.
- North American Permaculture Convergence (NAPC) A multi-day permaculture convergence event held September 14-18, 2016 at Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California, focused on building resilient communities through permaculture education and networking.
- Living Mandala Store Online store offering recommended books on permaculture, sustainable living, and related topics, including eBooks and physical publications such as the Permaculture Designers' Manual, with affiliate links to Amazon and ClickBank products.
Quantifiable outcome
- Aquaponics systems use 90% less water than conventional farming
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Living Mandala
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Living Mandala technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Living Mandala partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Gaia UniversitycoreGaia University offers accredited bachelor's and master's degrees for action-learning world changers committed to eco-social regeneration. Living Mandala is working with Gaia University on establishing a Regional Center in the San Francisco Bay Area, linking organizations for teaching and learning within a growing international network.
- Mendocino Ecological Learning Center (MELC)coreMELC is a nonprofit educational organization, demonstration site and ecological reserve founded in 2003. Offers free education to the public in ecological design, permaculture, ecological agriculture, localization, and sustainable community development. Executive Director Max Meyers serves as instructor for Living Mandala courses.
- Regenerative Design Institute (RDI)coreRDI offers courses in permaculture, nature awareness, wildcrafting, natural building, and cultural mentoring. Their capstone program RDNA combines permaculture education with nature awareness and indigenous wisdom. RDI is collaborating with Living Mandala on the Bay Area Gaia University Regional Center.
- Permaculture ArtisansminorLicensed and bonded full-service ecological landscape and farm company designing, building, and maintaining regenerative landscapes and farms based on permaculture ethics.
- AppleSeed PermacultureminorLand-use design and consulting firm performing integrated ecological agriculture, whole farm planning, keyline design, and edible forest garden design. Collaborates with Living Mandala on various projects.
- NorCal AquaponicscoreNorCal Aquaponics, founded by Max Meyers, provides commercial aquaponic system design and installation services. Meyers serves as lead instructor for Living Mandala's aquaponics courses, contributing over 15 years of permaculture experience and pioneering off-grid aquaponics integration.
- Austin AquaponicscoreFounded by Rob Nash, Austin Aquaponics has been designing and implementing commercial-scale aquaponic systems since 2007. Nash serves as instructor for Living Mandala's aquaponics training, contributing boutique to large-scale farming techniques.
- Fishnet AquaponicscoreFounded by Jon Parr in 2010, Fishnet Aquaponics is associated with one of the largest commercial aquaponics systems in the world (8 acres under greenhouses). Parr serves as instructor for Living Mandala's aquaponics courses.
- SchoolGrowncoreCo-founded by Jon Parr in 2014, SchoolGrown builds and operates classroom-sized aquaponic greenhouses for schools and communities. Hosts Living Mandala aquaponics courses at their facilities and provides the hybrid CSA and educational model system.
- SundoorminorWorld's foremost International Firewalking School and School of Transpersonal Education, founded by Peggy Dylan in 1984. Offers courses in firewalking, breathwork, ceremony, spirituality, and leadership. Living Mandala offers firewalk facilitation services with certified Sundoor instructors.
- RITES ProjectminorReturn Intention Towards Ecological Sustainability organization working with individuals, communities, businesses, and schools to foster harmonious relationships with the environment through ecological design-based educational programs.
- Heart Circle NetworkminorNetwork providing ongoing small support group settings for personal development through communication, focus, and joy practices. Living Mandala offers Heart Circles as a featured facilitation technique.
- Empowerment WorkscoreLiving Mandala is a 501c3 fiscally sponsored project under Empowerment Works, working with non-profits, NGOs, businesses, local governments, and educational organizations to promote regenerative education.
- Harmony FestivalminorAnnual festival in Sonoma County, California. Living Mandala co-produces eco-village, Earth Temple Dome, and Healing Sanctuary areas with Harmony Festival for educational programming.
- The Resonance ProjectminorResearch organization exploring unification of sciences and philosophies through study of ancient civilizations, led by Nassim Haramein. Associated instructor contributes to Living Mandala educational programs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Living Mandala competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Aquaponics Association: Industry membership organization advancing commercial aquaponics. Comparable as an ecosystem node for aquaponics education and adoption that Living Mandala's instructors (Parr, Nash, Meyers) are active members of.
Direct peers
- Mendocino Ecological Learning Center: Nonprofit ecological learning organization in Northern California offering permaculture and ecological agriculture education. A core Living Mandala affiliate whose executive director also serves as an LM instructor.
- SchoolGrown: Co-founded by Jon Parr (Fishnet Aquaponics), builds and operates classroom-sized aquaponic greenhouses for schools. Hosts Living Mandala aquaponics courses and operates in the same K-12 sustainable agriculture training niche.
- NorCal Aquaponics: Commercial aquaponics design and installation firm whose founder Max Meyers is lead aquaponics instructor for Living Mandala. Operates in the same aquaponics education niche with overlapping customer base.
- Gaia University: Accredited action-learning institution offering degree programs in eco-social regeneration. Directly partnered with Living Mandala on the Bay Area Regional Center and shares the same pedagogical model and student community.
- Regenerative Design Institute: Closely aligned peer operating in permaculture design courses, nature awareness, and natural building education in California. Explicitly listed as a core Living Mandala partner and co-developer of the Bay Area Gaia University Regional Center, making it the most directly comparable peer.
- Permaculture Artisans: Ecological landscape and farm design company in California using permaculture ethics. Listed Living Mandala affiliate with overlapping service offerings in design consultation and regenerative landscaping education.
Broad incumbents
- Permaculture Institute USA: Long-standing national permaculture credentialing body and PDC network. Serves the same Permaculture Design Certification learner market as Living Mandala but at a broader national scale.
- Ecology Action: Long-established Northern California nonprofit teaching biointensive mini-farming and sustainable food production. Competes for the same California-based sustainable agriculture learner with adjacent but overlapping pedagogy.
- Permaculture Research Institute: Global permaculture education and demonstration network founded by Geoff Lawton. Overlaps with Living Mandala on permaculture course design and is referenced as a lineage source for LM's instructors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Living Mandala social profiles
Digital presenceLiving Mandala financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Living Mandala leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Living Mandala funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Living Mandala M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Living Mandala
What does Living Mandala do?
Living Mandala designs, facilitates, and produces regenerative education courses, multi-day intensive trainings, workshops, and events covering permaculture design, closed-loop aquaponics, natural building, eco-village design, and community facilitation. The organization also offers professional consultation services to communities, organizations, and businesses, and runs an online store for permaculture and sustainability books and resources.
Is Living Mandala a public or private company?
Living Mandala is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Living Mandala founded?
Living Mandala was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Living Mandala based?
Living Mandala is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Living Mandala make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Course and Workshop Tuition is the primary driver. The others are consultation Services and product Sales.
Who are Living Mandala's main competitors?
Aquaponics Association is listed as an others. Direct peers are Mendocino Ecological Learning Center, SchoolGrown, NorCal Aquaponics, Gaia University, Regenerative Design Institute and Permaculture Artisans. Broad incumbents are Permaculture Institute USA, Ecology Action and Permaculture Research Institute.
Does Living Mandala have an API?
No public API is recorded for Living Mandala.
What industry is Living Mandala in?
Living Mandala's product category is Regenerative Education and Sustainability Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAD, Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation), with a secondary code of BPADALAO, Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement.