Curriculum & Lesson Plans
14-Week Online + 2-Week In-Person Intensive
A comprehensive, structured learning journey through all 10 parts of "48 Acres and a M.U.L.E." with hands-on projects, expert interviews, and real-world case studies.
14-Week Online Curriculum
Week 1
Topics Covered:
- Vision and systemic problems in land ownership
- History of land ownership and consumer culture
- Introduction to the Prosumer model
- Production Equals Freedom framework
Readings:
Chapter 1 of '48 Acres and a M.U.L.E.'
Assignment:
Personal reflection: Your relationship with land and production
Week 2
Topics Covered:
- Hyperlocal Economy principles
- Circular Economy fundamentals
- Cooperative governance models
- Community Land Trust structures
Readings:
Chapter 2 + Case Study: Second Life Solar Initiative
Assignment:
Design a local circular economy system for your community
Week 3
Topics Covered:
- Land acquisition strategies
- Grants and funding mechanisms
- Direct outreach and collective buying
- Innovative financial architecture
Readings:
Chapter 3 + Sacred Land Collective case study
Assignment:
Develop a land acquisition strategy for a hypothetical project
Week 4
Topics Covered:
- Site analysis and environmental studies
- Mobilization strategies (Solar Glamping)
- Establishing a Circular Economy Hub
- Community engagement planning
Readings:
Chapter 4 + Site activation documentation
Assignment:
Create a site activation plan with community engagement timeline
Week 5
Topics Covered:
- Manufacturing systems design
- HempTiny Houses and sustainable building
- Plastic conversion and recycling
- Production at scale
Readings:
Chapter 5 Section 1 + Manufacturing case studies
Assignment:
Design a manufacturing system for your community project
Week 6
Topics Covered:
- Utilities infrastructure planning
- Solar microgrids and renewable energy
- Water systems and waste management
- Resilient infrastructure design
Readings:
Chapter 5 Section 2 + Utilities technical documentation
Assignment:
Design a utilities system for a 48-acre community development
Week 7
Topics Covered:
- Logistics and distribution channels
- Lean farm models
- Supply chain optimization
- Last-mile delivery solutions
Readings:
Chapter 5 Section 3 + Logistics case studies
Assignment:
Develop a logistics network for community products
Week 8
Topics Covered:
- Energy systems and solar microgrids
- Agrivoltaics and integrated systems
- Energy independence strategies
- Grid integration and storage
Readings:
Chapter 5 Section 4 + Energy systems documentation
Assignment:
Calculate energy requirements and design solar system
Week 9
Topics Covered:
- CE Coop HQ structure and governance
- Specialized cooperative networks
- S.T.R.E.A.M. micro-businesses
- Innovative financing models
Readings:
Chapter 7 + Cooperative governance frameworks
Assignment:
Design a cooperative structure for a community enterprise
Week 10
Topics Covered:
- Cooperative Action Plan development
- 100-Day Playbook implementation
- 100-Year Plan visioning
- Global scaling strategies
Readings:
Chapter 9 + Implementation guides
Assignment:
Create a 100-day implementation plan for your project
Week 11
Topics Covered:
- Real-world implementation examples
- Expert interviews and insights
- Success factors and lessons learned
- Adaptation strategies
Readings:
Chapter 10 + Additional case studies
Assignment:
Analyze a case study and identify key success factors
Week 12
Topics Covered:
- Comprehensive community land development plan
- Financial modeling and projections
- Community engagement strategy
- Impact measurement framework
Readings:
All previous materials + specialized resources
Assignment:
Develop your capstone project proposal
Week 13
Topics Covered:
- Peer review and feedback
- Stakeholder engagement planning
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Presentation preparation
Readings:
Specialized resources based on project focus
Assignment:
Refine capstone project based on feedback
Week 14
Topics Covered:
- Present capstone projects to peers and instructors
- Synthesis of learning across all modules
- Certification requirements review
- Alumni network introduction
Readings:
Peer projects and presentations
Assignment:
Present capstone project and reflect on learning journey
2-Week In-Person Intensive
2 days
Visit the Sacred Land Collective, renewable energy installations, and community development projects
2 days
Hands-on training in solar microgrid installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting
2 days
Learn hemp farming, harvesting, processing, and construction with hempcrete
3 days
Create and launch your own micro-business as a capstone project with mentorship
3 days
Master capital stacking, cooperative governance, financial modeling, and business planning
2 days
Present your community development plan to peers, instructors, and community partners
Learning Resources
Primary Materials
- • "48 Acres and a M.U.L.E." book (all 10 parts)
- • Expert interview videos and podcasts
- • Technical documentation and guides
- • Case study analyses and reports
- • Financial modeling templates
Interactive Elements
- • Weekly discussion forums with instructors
- • Peer review and collaborative projects
- • Live Q&A sessions with experts
- • Interactive tools and calculators
- • Capstone project mentorship