Common Circle Education

I made an impromptu purchase for a 2 week course from Common Circle in permaculture. The purchase was made under duress that there was only one spot left at this low price… I made the purchase only to find out that I was not available for the said dates. I called in 15 minutes after making the purchase (voicemail) stating that I could not attend and would like a refund. I was denied on the basis that there policy is not to return any funds. I took it to Capital one which stood by the merchants policy of no refunds under any circumstance. Needless to say I have a bone to pick with Capital One as well. I advocate for a three day cooling off period for all purchases on a national level like on the local and state level. I feel I was scammed and tricked into making a purchase under duress. Stay clear from this organization

If I could give this place negative stars, I would.
I am pretty involved in the sustainability community and thought that I would go ahead and capitulate to getting a formal PDC. I was very aware of Common Circle through their marketing, though I always wondered why my friends would get quiet and tense would I would mention them. Well, now I know why they are held in poor regard by just about every knowing permie.
I recently signed up for the PDC and leadership whatever course on-​site at their OR location. I was pretty excited, as they offered a «scholarship» which made the course affordable for me, and which clearly included lodging and meals.
Sadly, this was a misleading advertisement. The cost did not include lodging, but camping equipment; «lodging» was an additional amount and not disclosed in the registration or event page. Also not disclosed is the «requirement» (it is stated as a preference elsewhere — again, buried in the questions section) that you must stay on site, thus forcing you to upgrade or camp — which is made clear is a miserable option, due to weather.
I had just come from India where I experienced a bug-​related medical emergency, so camping was not a viable option for me. I had made arrangements, once I was informed after registration of the lack of lodging, to stay in town, but was then told I would not be allowed to do so because of the community building aspect.
Now, that was clearly ridiculous, since if some of the group would be in tents and others in the cabin, plus people were allowed to eat off-​site, and they were allowed to take up to 10% off from coursework, then the idea that anyone sleeping off-​site was an issue appeared disingenuous, at best. I can only rationalize the whole conversation as an attempt to force people to pay substantially more after they had conceptually locked themselves into registration.
The owner also tried to bully me, without success. If he does pursue payment without my authorization, I will pursue it to the full extent of the law. They are, without doubt or equivocation, engaging in misleading business practices and fraudulent advertising (as defined by the FCC). It’s also odd that I have posted this review a couple of times, and it never shows for long.

Ohy Dear Lord! I should have known better. I’m a dedicated Unilocaler. My business has been built on Unilocal.Why didn’t I check the reviews before I gave this madman my credit card information? I tried to cancel my application and to get my ‘down payment’ back after reading how he has cheated so many folks but, true to the comments here, he was arbitrary and uncooperative. I’m out $ 2800 with very little recourse apparently. I have filed a case with Visa and I’ve made a BBB complaint. Who would have thought that an organization that purports to be about touch-​feely things like Sustainability and Permaculture would be so avaricious and cruel! STAY AWAY!!!

AVOID, AVOID AVOID anything to do with this organization and Vladslav Davidzon. We signed up for a promising-​sounding bike trip, but found out that the website description was misleading, and in trying to get things clarified, we began to realize that this was not an organization that wanted to work WITH the paying customer – not in the least! Even the other staff with whom we talked on the phone who tried to be helpful expressed frustration because while they understood what we were asking, they could only defer everything to Slav, who comes off like a totally intractable control freak with no people skills. You don’t want to deal with this guy. And you will have to if you do anything with Common Circle.
During the 8 months’ long process of trying to get our money back, which included Better Business Bureau intervention, we googled him and found a large number of complaints of all sorts. Slav’s rebuttals to the complaints were flat out defensive and didn’t address the reasons for his bizarre actions and reactions. He just made himself seem more awful. ‘Conciliatory’ is not in his vocabulary.
It really is a bummer, because many of us support the goals Common Circle espouses. You WANT to think it couldn’t be that bad, because the trip SOUNDS so cool… but think again!
Seriously, I would not be motivated to take the time to write something so negative if it weren’t bad.

I am writing to warn others about Common Circle’s Permaculture classes. The sole owner and operator is Vladislav Davidson. He is a dangerous man with a narcissistic personality disorder. He is very controlling and concerned daily with the «container» in which he regularly reminds us that we are required to reside within.
His advertising is very misleading. One feels it is an interactive permaculture educational class. Once you sign up and pay, the truth is revealed. No refund, required onsite accommodations with extra cost, and an agenda including severe psychoanalysis. We were expected to work 12 hour days, 7 days per week. We were fed canned food and a very limited vegan diet, excluding coffee, alcohol and any other foods of our choice.
If not for the fact that I brought my daughter, I would have left. My daughter complained that she could have learned the material from a book and is attending Humbolt State University for Environmental Science and was already aware of most of the content of the course.
Again I hope this message gets out to those that are contemplating attending a Common Circle course. Please beware of steer clear. The advertising is deceptive and Vladislav Davidson is a creep.
Dana Denny

Common Circle’s Permaculture Design course was a genuine heart and mind opening experience. If you are interested in finding how you can be part of the life giving earth healing solution in today’s global ecological and social crisis this course gives you an in depth and extensive overview of what it takes to make it happen.
A highly interactive curriculum enables students to work together building deep bonds and lasting friendships that enables learning not only from the teacher but from each other’s unique experience.
The guest speakers were phenomenal as were the field trips and hands on experience essential in creating the connections to understand the design theory in action.
Since Common Circle’s course I have been empowered to continued my path as a permaculture designer studying natural and green building at Merritt College in Oakland.
Permaculture design should be an essential course for anyone who is serious about ecological and social justice and wants to learn how to be empowered and make changes that aren’t dependent on waiting for bureaucratic government systems to change their abusive ways.
If you’re ready for that paradigm shift of consciousness take the next Permaculture Design course with Common Circle as soon as you can.

You are going to find this difficult to understand when you look at their website. Common Circle looks like a heart centered organization and I was lured in because I want to make my community better. I signed up for a course but two weeks later was diagnosed with an illness that prevented me from attending the event. Instead I will be visiting the AZ Cancer Center.
Careful how you pay for their courses! When you sign up online they ask for a deposit, but they don’t explain that the additional amount for the course will also be automatically withdrawn from your bank account/​credit card. It just happens. They also do not explain that the entire amount is non-​refundable, no exceptions. Look at the site, can you find a refund policy?
I thought I would lose the $ 95 deposit but guess what? Despite giving them 3 weeks notice and explaining my circumstances they refuse to even speak with me, don’t return my calls and send me an email stating they will «gratefully» keep the entire $ 500! Who takes $ 500 and gives you nothing in exchange and feels good about it?
I was sent an email when I contacted them about this with a link to their cancellation policy. They actually suggest you buy insurance to cover your course fees if you cannot attend: «Client is advised to purchase necessary insurance to cover their course fees and any course-​associated costs/​circumstances.»
You should know before hand what I later learned:
Wow! Wouldn’t you feel ripped off and wonder about the ‘integrity’ and lack of compassion of such an organization? I am extensively networked in the sustainability movement and I’ll be passing along this experience to others.