#097, in practice, sept/oct 2004

INS IDE THIS ISSUE

September/October 2004 * Number 97 www.holisticmanagement.org

My introduction to HolisticManagement came in 1986. I was athirtysomething farm girl involved

with the ranching community in Texas andhearing about farmers and ranchers going brokeleft and right. I loved growing up on a farm aswell as my professional association withagriculture, and I was grieving about the loss ofa culture and lifestyle diminished by theshrinking population of farm and ranch families.I began doing some research about a conceptnew to me called sustainable agriculture. Ithought maybe I would find some answers.

During this time, I was introduced to DickRichardson, a Professor in the Department ofIntegrative Biology at the University of Texas inAustin. He mentioned to me another newconcept called Holistic Resource Management,and I had to know more. I learned about andbecame involved with a small group of ranchersjust organizing what would become HRM ofTexas, and I attended my first 5-1/2 day trainingcourse in Albuquerque. The rest is history, asthey say.

Initially I didn’t grasp all the facets of HolisticManagement, but intuitively I believed that thisprocess offered more hope for agriculture thanany other method or practice I had learnedabout, so I had to learn more. I found a way toattend several more weeklong training coursesduring 1986 and 1987 while I began my tentativefirst steps at practicing the process. Guess whatwas the easiest part? The grazing chart!

Fortunately I didn’t stop there like so manycourse participants did back then. Being ranchers,most of us just wanted to make our pastures andcattle perform better. We didn’t want to changeour lives! But my life did change—a lot. And in

1991, I was offered a position as an Educator with what was then called the Center for HolisticResource Management.

My career positions have changedperiodically since then, but one thing hasn’tchanged. Whatever I am doing, I am trying to do it holistically. In addition to working as aCertified Educator, my husband and I operatetwo businesses that we manage holistically, and I am active with several non-governmentalorganizations, bringing Holistic Management totheir table. From this variety of experiencesspread over 18 years, I have made manyobservations about Holistic Management.

Beyond Paradigm Paralysis

The easiest part about practicing HolisticManagement is applying the tools. It’s also themost fun. It involves action and is relativelystraightforward. For us ranchers, you can beginseeing results within one growing season, it’sdone outside, and the activity closely resemblesactions in the mechanical paradigm with whichwe’re familiar (i.e. rangeland and grazing).

Of the various components of HolisticManagement, most students I’ve observed mosteagerly adopt the use of grazing, animal impact,living organisms, fire, and rest. They don’t do itperfectly right out of the chute, but they beginto see results relatively quickly. They want theirpastures and cattle to perform better than before.That is their motivation. What they resist is goalsetting, forward financial planning, and using thedecision-making guidelines.

When I first began in 1986, the first thing Idid was sit down and, using the Aide Memoire,

A Score of Observationsby Peggy Sechrist

a p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e s a v o r y c e n t e r

INS IDE THIS ISSUE

The Savory Center has worked to improvepeople’s understanding of rangeland health and management for the last twentyyears. This work ultimately comes down to how to better manage for soil health.Christine Jones provides further insight on this topic on page 12.

IN PRACTICEIN PRACTICE2 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y * 1 9 8 4 - 2 0 0 4

Savory Center Grapevine . . . . . . . . .14Savory Center Forum . . . . . . . . . . . .15Certified Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

FEATURE STORIES

LAND & LIVESTOCK

NEWS & NETWORK

Our appreciation to Dean William Rudoy, Ph.D. for his generous donation that has enabled usto redesign IN PRACTICE and print in color throughout 2004 in celebration of our 20th Anniversary.

A Score of ObservationsPeggy Sechrist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

A Island of Grass in a Sea of CornLaura Paine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Investing in Your GrandchildrenPeggy Maddox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Wonderland RanchChad McKellar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Avalon Organics—Combining Organicsand Holistic Management John King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8The Right Stuff—Cashing in on GeneticsJohn King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Issues That Challenge CattleProducers—How To Manage HolisticallyTerry Gompert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Beyond the Numbers—Managing Soil LifeChristine Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

continued on page 2

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pertains to beginners who connect to HolisticManagement through one facet of the process.With land managers, that is usually the grazingplanning. They make some progress withimproving their grazing management, and justwhen they begin to think Holistic Managementreally has something to offer, they feel pressuredto get busy and practice Holistic Managementbecause the grazing planning alone isn’t HolisticManagement. Many ranchers in Texas have“jumped ship” at this point and reverted to

previous management practices. But I have alsobeen fortunate to observe that when given timeto build confidence and receive nurturing, abeginner can reach a point when they becomecommitted holistic practitioners eager to learnhow to embrace the full scope of holism.

This observation has convinced me that nomatter how a beginner becomes interested inHolistic Management, nurturing, patience, andflexibility can lead them through that initialtunnel and finally to a level of knowledge thatwill sustain them as they continue their learningjourney. This could take months or years. It callsfor us to practice patience and nurturing whileletting go of judgements about what is correct

2 IN PRACTICE * Sep tember/Oc tober 2004

SavoryCENTER

TheSavoryTHE SAVORY CENTER is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. The Savory Center worksto restore the vitality of communities and thenatural resources on which they depend byadvancing the practice of Holistic Managementand coordinating its development worldwide.

FOUNDERSAllan Savory * Jody Butterfield

STAFFTim LaSalle, Executive Director

Kate Bradshaw,Director of Finance and Administration

Kelly Pasztor,Director of Educational Services;

Constance Neely, International Training Programs Director

Ann Adams,Managing Editor, IN PRACTICE and Director of

Publications and Outreach Brooke Palmer, Executive Assistant

Donna Torrez, Administrative Assistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORSRio de la Vista, Chair

Allan Savory, Vice-ChairLeslie Christian, SecretaryRichard Smith, Treasurer

Manuel CasasJudy Richardson

Bruce WardTerry Word

ADVISORY COUNCILJim Shelton, Chair, Vinita, OKRobert Anderson, Corrales, NM

Michael Bowman,Wray, COSam Brown, Austin, TX

Leslie Christian, Portland, ORLee Dueringer, Scottsdale, AZGretel Ehrlich, Gaviota, CA

Cynthia & Leo Harris, Albuquerque, NMClint Josey, Dallas, TX

Krystyna Jurzykowski, Glen Rose, TXDianne Law, Laveta, CO

Doug McDaniel, Lostine, ORGuillermo Osuna, Coahuila, Mexico

Jim Parker, Montrose, CODean William Rudoy, Cedar Crest, NM

York Schueller, El Segundo, CARichard Smith, Houston, TX

Africa Centre for Holistic ManagementPrivate Bag 5950, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Tel: (263) (11) 404 979; email: [email protected] Matanga, Director

HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT IN PRACTICE (ISSN: 1098-8157) is published six times a year by The Savory Center, 1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, 505/842-5252, fax: 505/843-7900; email: [email protected].; website: www.holisticmanagement.org Copyright © 2004.

AD DEFINITUM FINEM

CENTER

The A Score of Observations continued from page 1

filled out a grazing chart. Then I beganimmediately following it. Today I find a lot of“students” not using the grazing chart the waywe would like for them to, but doing a modifiedversion that produces desirable results. One ofthe ranches that HRM of Texas has used as agood example (and it has looked great for over adecade) has never used the grazing chart as wethink of it. But the rancher has improved hisecosystem processes. That is a success we allneed to recognize.

And from the grazing planning, HolisticManagement gets tough. The rest of the processrequires soul-searching, communication withothers, full disclosure, researching information,planning processes, worksheets and/or softwareentries, and decision making with an additionalset of new guidelines. All of this requiresdiscipline, diligence, commitment, follow-through,patience, persistence, and perseverance.

The point at which increased communicationand creativity kicks in to help with thesechallenges varies with every individual. Noteveryone feels motivated by more creativity and communication. In fact, I’ve observed extremeresistance to more communication. It takes time—sometimes a long time—for some to experiencesuccess in terms other than financial. So the keyas a facilitator is to learn what the core values ofeach team member are and then to successfullydemonstrate how all those core values areinterconnected—so that the team membermotivated by financial success understands thatfinancial success is interconnected with successfulexpression of all the other team values. But that isnot easily accomplished.

No wonder the resistance can run high insome folks. The entry point to becoming aHolistic Management practitioner can feel likenavigating a dimly lit tunnel. Will it lead to ourdesired destination? Is it really taking us downthe right path? It seems to be separating us from many of our peers! It’s at this point, I think,that I have observed many beginners put downtheir planning charts and rejoin their crowd ofpeers. Paradigm paralysis is alive and well andvery powerful.

But paradigm paralysis isn’t the only reason we lose beginners. As a part of our ownmonitoring process, we need to ask ourselves the question, “What in our own behavior may contribute to the problem of losingpractitioners?” One observation I have made

In 1995, the Texas Department of Agriculturedesignated the Sechrist Ranch as the firstcertified organic ranch in the State ofs Texas.Tests indicate that chicken from HomesteadHealthy Foods tested less than 2% fat, and beef,on average, is 40% leaner than USDA Choice.

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Holistic Management and what is not. As thecommunity of practitioners grows, we’ll haveeven greater numbers of beginners learning at different levels and at different stages ofunderstanding, practicing to the best of theirability and making lots of mistakes as a means oflearning. The fundamental concept of HolisticManagement suggests that every practitioner willbe practicing differently without conformity. Thevital thread through all this trial and error is acommitment to learning about holism and the artof managing holistically. With that commitmentin place, people will grow through personal aswell as shared experience with others.

Toward a Congruent Life

I have also repeatedly observed the humanchallenge of practicing congruent behaviorwhich if not in place can limit one’s practice ofHolistic Management. I’m referring to matchingour behavior choices to the values that weidentify in our goal. Learning how to identifyand clarify values has been a major contributionto our collective quality of life. Richard and Ibuilt our marriage on the values stated in ourquality of life statement, and it has served usextremely well.

Our personal successes do not necessarilymake Richard and I good role models foreveryone because that success is specific to ourvalues and holistic goal. People who know uswell know that we have had to struggle againstparadigms to begin a new business selling aproduct new to the marketplace against thenorms of the wholesale marketplace. Oursuccess as a married couple also has specificmeaning to us. We both like increasedcommunication and creativity. We like to meetdisagreements head on. We like to work hardshoulder to shoulder. Not everyone does. Whenpeople look at us, they don’t automatically seethe goal setting process at work; they see whatactions we’re taking, and those actions don’talways make sense to them.

When the greater “we” (human species)attempt to re-program ourselves, we’re strugglingagainst a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior.When under pressure, the vast majority of uswill return to old patterns of behavior, and theywill often be incongruent with the values westated in our holistic goal. Some examples of thismight include a member of a management teamclaiming full disclosure as a value and thenoperating with a hidden agenda; a personclaiming respect as a value and then publiclycriticizing someone for not complying with one’s

expectations; declaring trust as a core value andthen sharing private information with others; orimposing personal beliefs on another afterstating freedom of opinion as a value.

A second issue for incongruent behavior, Ibelieve, is instances of beginners so out of touchwith their values that they initially list valuesthey get from someone else or values that theybelieve they should have but are not internalized.In this case, you will also see rampant incongruentbehavior. This is where a good facilitator mustfind ways to help students identify their owntrue values. It is the old pattern of incongruentbehavior that undermines our new commitmentto practicing Holistic Management.

So it would seem that one stumbling block to broad scale practice of Holistic Managementhas nothing to do with land management, butwith the challenge of forming new patterns ofbehavior to bring us into congruence with ourvalues. To compound this challenge is the factthat people change throughout their lifetime.What is a high priority value at 30 changes bythe time you are 60. So we also need to learnhow to adapt to this changing dynamic.

Nurturing Relationships

You might be thinking at this point, “Heck,let’s just focus on the land. That’s what isimportant. We don’t have time to mess with the people and behavior stuff.” But a reality I’vewitnessed is “however go the people, so goes the land.” Allan Savory told us that during ourtraining, and I know that to be true. It is one ofthe fundamental principles of holism. All lifeforms are connected. We thrive together or we

Number 97 * IN PRACTICE 3

While Peggy originally was drawn to HolisticManagement because of the promise of healthierland and more productive animals, she andRichard now see how Holistic Management hasenriched their lives by showing them how tomake decisions that make life more meaningful.

wither together. If we become serious aboutliving holistically, whatever our motivation is, wemust carefully consider how we treat each other.We must learn to nurture relationships and treatthem with value as part of the fabric that makesthe whole healthy.

The theory of holism has been around sincethe mid 1800s. We still don’t understand it wellor practice it effectively. Most of us practitionersjust wanted to make our land better and becomefinancially sustainable. Will we have the courageand fortitude to recognize that holism is muchmore than healthy land? Will we commit tobuilding relationships? Will we accept that all life forms, including all people, are vital members of a greater whole? Will we have theperseverance to remain active life-long studentsof holism? Can we withstand the peer-pressureto conform to social norms? The challenge seemslarge and difficult at times. But after 18 years ofstudy, practice, and observation (along withendless mistakes and replanning), Richard and I both often say to others that we would not go back to the old paradigm for anything.Holistic Management has enriched our livesbeyond our expectations.

Holistic Management has enriched our livesby showing us how to make decisions that makeour life more meaningful. Our blended familyhas strong ties because we made it a high value.Our marriage is built on shared values and were-visit that often. We face challenges withcombined strength because our values serve asour yoke of synergy. Our work is more avocation rather than occupation. Our time iscarefully allocated to work and projects that areimportant to our lives (we just have too manyimportant opportunities!).

Holistic Management is morally and ethicallyimperative because we place high value on longterm sustainability, because it is the only way weknow of today to achieve a healthy future, andbecause we want our grandchildren (5 andcounting) to experience the benefits of a holisticsociety. It is the best future that we can imagine.It is pioneering work, and I’ve always wanted tobe a pioneer. I salute all you fellow pioneers inthe Holistic Management movement as weexplore this new frontier together.

Peggy Sechrist is a Certified Educator andrancher. She and her husband, Richard,currently operate Homestead Healthy Foods,which you can learn more about at:www.homesteadhealthyfoods.com. She can be reached at: [email protected].

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An Island of Grass in a Sea of Cornby Laura Paine

s a Certified Educator trainee, one of the things that I appreciate most about

the Holistic Management globalcommunity I’ve joined is its diversity. I’veenjoyed meeting many fascinating people and learning about land management in abroad range of environments. Our humidenvironment here in southern Wisconsin isvery different from the brittle environmentsthat gave rise to the Holistic Management land management principles, and my learningcommunity is exploring the application ofthose principles to our lives and farms. Thegoal of this article is to share a little of thatexperience. For all of us, it’s an evolution—ashift in mindset—the manifestation of whichcan be fairly subtle. That’s not the case withmy friend John, though, and it’s his story I’d like to tell.

A Land Ethic

John and I share an admiration for thewritings of Aldo Leopold, who gained insightsfrom his work in environments across thebrittleness scale from New Mexico to our ownWisconsin backyard. While on the faculty at

the University of Wisconsin, he wrote a seriesof articles about farming with a “land ethic.”

“The landscape of any farm is the owner’sportrait of himself,” said Leopold, encouragingfarmers to work with the unique qualities oftheir land to paint a picture that depicts afunctioning ecosystem providing botheconomic and conservation benefits. Althoughhe didn’t use the same terms, he was talkingabout optimizing ecosystem processes—energyflow, mineral cycling, water cycling, andcommunity dynamics—in an agriculturalsystem. For each of us, Holistic Management isproviding a structured process for achievingand maintaining that balance.

My Wisconsin community sits on top ofsome of the most fertile soils in the world.Plano silt loam is a deep, rich, forgiving soilformed under tall grass prairie. Although we’reon the northern fringe of the North American“Corn Belt,” farmers here are proud of their200+ bushel/acre corn yields and equallyproud of their high adoption rates ofconservation practices such as no-till planting.

That isn’t enough for John, though. He’slooked at his self-portrait and decided that

some changes are needed. In fact, you couldsay he’s chucked the old self-portrait and ispainting a new one. As county Extensionagent, I’ve had the honor of lending a hand as he defines what this new picture is going to look like.

John and his wife, Dorothy, farm a 300-acre(120-ha) mosaic of rolling cropland, creekbottom, and marshes. Like most of hisneighbors, John has been a cash grain farmerand, like them, he had invested enough inmachinery that he needed to rent additionalland and do custom work to make thingspencil out economically. Dorothy worked off-farm. They were financially comfortable butsomething was missing. Inspired by Leopold,John wants to be what he calls “a goodfarmer,” one who manages his land inharmony with nature.

Raising the Bar

When I had the opportunity to enroll inThe Savory Center’s Certified Educatorprogram a year or so ago, John and Dorothywere the first to join my learning community.They saw the potential of HolisticManagement to bring their lives and theirfarming operation into line with their values.

John and Dorothy have a vision for theiroperation that would engage them both inproviding income from the farm while

The New Year always brings theimpetus to get things done that youhave been putting off. With that

additional motivation and the challenge ofmanaging the Savory Center’s West Ranch, myparticipation in the Savory Center’s CertifiedEducator training, and family discussions overChristmas, Joe and I decided to give each ofour grandchildren a gift of $400 that could beused to start their own business. And, weoffered Holistic Management training as a partof the deal. Joel Salatin says in his book,Family Friendly Farming, “In a family farmoperation, everybody has a niche to fill. We allhave something different to offer, and everychild’s talent is different. We have to appreciatetheir talents and create opportunities forchildren to express their natural abilities.”

M4 Livestock

With our gift and the opportunity to create

their own enterprise, the Texas grandchildren,Morgan, Macall, and Mason have gone togetherand invested in hair sheep—twenty ewes andone ram. Their business is called M4 LivestockCompany, as new brother William will be a part of thecompany in few years.

Joe and Iinvited themdown for aweekend at West Ranch for a HolisticManagementplanning session.Each child was given anassignment tocomplete andbring with them.

Morgan, age 12, was to research hair sheep.Macall, age 10, was to bring the family holisticgoal, and Mason, age 7, was to bringinformation on their sheep purchase, which shecarefully wrote on blue construction paper.

These children had participated in ourfamily team meetings when Joe and I lived inColorado City and were ranching partnerswith Dalton and Gretchen, their parents, soHolistic Management concepts were not

Peggy Maddox with the executives of M4 Livestock Company.

A

Investing in Your Grandchildrenby Peggy Maddox

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supporting their quality of life and community.Exploring their values within the safety of ourlearning community has helped them clarifythat vision and move themselves toward it.

For starters, they’ve restored their largeVictorian home and opened it as a bed andbreakfast. The bed and breakfast allows Johnand Dorothy to share the beauty and finecraftsmanship that went into its construction,and for Dorothy, it’s an opportunity to shareher love of cooking. Opening their home formeetings and fund-raisers has given them ameans of contributing to their community.John and Dorothy relish their conversationswith the host of interesting people who staywith them and enrich their lives. They alsorelish the challenge of improving the health of the land.

The broader agricultural community where we farm is a long way from thinkingabout ecosystem health. In our county, an acreof cropland can lose five tons of soil per year and still be at “T” (‘ tolerable’ soil loss) . John has set the bar higher, shooting for T=0, to beachieved by covering every tillable acre withgrass pasture. John realizes that, ecologicallyspeaking, the best agricultural system is onethat maximizes perennial plant cover. Inaddition to controlling soil erosion and runoff, a perennial plant community bestowsstability on the soil biological community—

building ecosystem health, soil organic matterand fertility. Theoretically, he can harness this thriving biological community to improve the productivity of his farm and his profit potential.

His choice of Scottish Highland cattle wasdeliberate as well. The long-horned shaggybeasts on pasture are a draw for the bed andbreakfast, but that’s not their only job. The

Highlands are well suited to do the work ofclearing brush from the marsh areas andrestoring them to the open, prairie landscapethat once existed here. The grazing/browsinghabits of this primitive breed produce a lean,high-quality meat for which John and Dorothyhave found a market at local upscalerestaurants and individual buyers.

In this sea of cornfields and soybeans, Johnand Dorothy are swimming against the current.An acre of pasture is rare, let alone 300 acres,and seeding down all those fertile acres tograss has been hard to watch for some ofJohn’s neighbors. I can hear some of myExtension colleagues saying, “That land’s toogood to grow grass.” For many of these folks,John has gone from being a “real farmer” to a“hobby farmer” even though his hobby is hugeand his potential profit per acre comparesfavorably to his cash grain enterprise.

Through learning the basic principles ofHolistic Management, John and Dorothy aresuccessfully transforming their farm into aphysical representation of their holistic goal—a true portrait of what they want.

Laura Paine is a Cooperative ExtensionAgent for the University of Wisconsin. She isalso currently in the Savory Center’s CertifiedEducator Training Program. She can bereached at: [email protected].

John & Dorothy Priske chose Scottish Highlandcattle because they were well-suited to clearbrush in marshy areas and restore them toopen, prairie lands. The cattle also are a greatdraw for the bed & breakfast the Priskes run.

foreign to them. However, I wanted to bringthings down to their level. I did not changethe vocabulary of any of the planning process,but we discussed the meaning of the words,then they chose words that meant the same to them to show they understood what we meant.

I began by having them define theirwhole, the business they were going tomanage, the people, the money and resources,those things available to help them. Next, they formed their holistic goal. With theirpermission I will share the holistic goal for M4 Livestock Company.

M4 Livestock Co. Holistic Goal

We want:Business to be stable (great, successful, notgoing down the drain); To be having fun;To be motivated to work; To be makingmoney; To be raising healthy animals;To be happy.

We will produce: A good attitude; A work schedule; More knowledge; Goodrelationships (getting along together).

What we want the future to be:Land—provide plenty of food for theanimals and good water cycle.People—to see us as good workers, good citizens, good livestock people.Community—safe place, good neighbors,friendly people, good environments.

After a break, we were into HolisticManagement® Financial Planning. With thelivestock production worksheet before them,Joe took them through the next two years.When they understood how their herd andincome could grow, their interest increased.

We then planned for their first year’sprofit, half of $280 income. The otherexpenses were planned as best we couldestimate, and they were left to negotiate thepasture lease with their dad, which could cut into planned profit depending on theircreativity in negotiating.

Using the calculator helped Mason to stayinvolved. Morgan filled in the planning charts,and Macall, into creativity, enjoyed using thecolored markers on the dry erase board torecord the discussions. It was a good and

productive day that left time for activities oforigami, and searching for fossils with ourinterns from Mexico City.

Sunday morning we reviewed all we haddone and decided on a plan of action. After adiscussion about how to see that the plan wasworking and how to monitor, Mason said shewanted to be in charge of putting workschedules on the calendar. (She will keepeveryone on track.) Morgan would keep thebooks, and we set up a simple method for that. Joe taught Macall how to read the marketreport in the Livestock Weekly, and she wouldmonitor prices and trends in the hair sheepmarket. They left for home with their folder of plans and instructions for their parents totake them to the bank to open a savingsaccount as they were ready to get started.

All in all, it has been a gratifyingexperience for Joe and me, and we hope for our grandchildren too.

Peggy and Joe Maddox manage the SavoryCenter’s West Ranch. They can be reached at:[email protected]. This article firstappeared in the HRM of Texas newsletter.

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Wonderland Ranch—Using the Bounty of the Landby Chadwick McKellar

My wife and I purchased theWonderland Ranch 17 years ago,which came with a home, two

ponds, a forest of 70 acres (28 ha), 13,000 plustrees, and a business, all on top of what thelocals call, “theBermuda Triangleof Colorado.” Ourelevation is 7,800feet (2,600 metres),with 100 to 140inches (250 – 350 cm) of snowand 12-14 inches (300-350 mm) ofsummer rain. Thebusiness side is aprivate picnic park for largecorporations/companies cateringfrom 150 to 3,000people. Weprovide the foodand many of theservices, havingfed over 150,000people during our 16 seasons.

ObtainingAgricultural Status

Before Holistic Management, we were likemany who have started a business or havepurchased an existing one. We went month to month doing what we thought was takingus toward our plans and dreams.

In 1988 our eyes and minds were openedby a five-day course on Holistic Managementtaught by Allan himself. Our old dreams andplans slowly changed to our present dayholistic goal for our family and a holistic goalfor our business. And both have changed theway we do things. For instance, in the old wayof thinking, I was going to disk under a backpasture because there were too many forbs

and too few grasses. We have now managed to change the picture with just the animalimpact of several horses under tight pasturemanagement and fencing.

Our original tax assessment schedule

classified us asresidential andagriculture, andwhen doing our first financial planning, wesaw that changing our status to agriculture(grazing) alone would save us several thousand dollars per year. We stayed with this classification for over seven years, at which time the county computers changed usback up to residential because of the housingdevelopments surrounding our property lines.Thus, we applied for the Colorado AgricultureForest Program.

This program was designed by theColorado State Forestry Service, which requiresa minimum amount of acreage and forest.

Having been accepted into the ColoradoAgriculture Forest Program put us into thelowest property tax assessment level possible,plus it locked us into this status for ten years.Each year we have to meet with the stateforester to see how we are following ourwritten plan. We were told that our holisticgoal, which comprised the first pages of our30-page application, stood out as the mostimportant section of the application.

Harvesting the Bounty

Over the years, we have had to cut downover 3,000 trees, because of the dwarf mistletoefungus, and climbed three times that amountto trim those trees that have had infectedbranches. Each year we test our decisions

toward our holistic goal and feel confident thatwe were moving in the right direction. In thebeginning, we sold the wood as firewood, butthat never set well with me as it was just“going up in smoke” even though it mademore money. After checking back with ourholistic goal and testing the firewood decision,we saw the option of selling lumber and howmuch better it felt knowing the wood is goingto be used as building materials. Thus, any treethat is straight and long is skidded to an areaand loaded on semi-trucks to be sold to anearby lumber mill.

Using the timber from Wonderland for flooring and cabinetry, Chad was able to save even more money on this strawbale

barn/studio. He has also shifted from selling the timber he thins (to control mistletoe fungus)

as firewood to lumber whenever possible,increasing the overall value of the timber.

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So far we have sold four semi-loads, eachwith 75 plus trees 30-feet-long. In 1999 through2002, we had a ponderosa pine beetleinfestation and had to cut down 85- to 95-year-old pine trees and skid them to a staging areawhere they are covered in clear plastic toallow the sun (solar) to cook the larvae.

In the summer of 2001, my manager and Ibuilt a two-story, 3,000-square-foot. (360- squaremeter) straw bale barn with a complete twobedroom/kitchen/bath apartment upstairs. Thewood used (except the post and beam) camefrom our pine beetled wood, which carries the prettiest blue/yellow stain. I employed a portable saw milloperator to cut the logs into 14- to 16-feet long, 2 x 6 inch lumber,and stick dried them for fivemonths, at which time I deliveredthe wood to a local wood millingoperation. They turned the woodinto tongue and groove 3/4 x 5inch floor planking. The 8,000board feet of this blue stain wasused for the upstairs flooring,cabinets, and paneling and allturned out exceptional. The costof the wood was $.63 a linear footas compared to $1.50/linear foot if we had bought it retail. Theremaining pine beetled boardswill be sold, as the demand farexceeds the supply.

We use the slash from thetrees to build wildlife habitats andto control erosion in our erodibleareas. This practice has produced amazingresults. Each spring we have a tremendousamount of pine needles that have to be rakedup in the picnic area, and instead of lettingthem pile up and decompose, we put themdown as our walkways and paths. Althoughwe do not have an animal impact problem, we do have human impact on the grass withinthe park. To control this, we have constructedsplit rail fencing that allows us to designatedifferent fenced openings, which controls the flow pattern of the crowds. I just wish Icould get the first 300 visitors to put on those spiked aerating shoes.

Desertifying a Pond

We have two (2+ acre) ponds on the land,and over the years we have had extreme weedproblems in the water consisting of EurasianWatermilfoil. The past owner used commercialhigh nitrogen fertilizers, and this would leakinto the ponds causing a single cell algae, thusmaking the water dark and not allowingphotosynthesis to occur so there would be noweeds. Yet, the commercial fertilizers did notpass our testing, so we went to an organicfertilizer that I formulated for our lawns. But,in doing so we came up with a very thick

floating weed problem, so much so that fishingwas out of the question for the park area. Eachsummer we always had the dreaded job ofmanually raking the weeds out of the water inorder to have it open for fishing. This problemhad to have a biological weak link and I wasdetermined to find it without going to achemical water weed killer.

I am involved with a marine habitatfoundation in Southwest Florida where wehave tested and developed a floating habitatcontaining ocean crustaceans, which filter thebay/marine waters and clean the waters of the single cell algae. This same algae causes

darkness in the waters and desertification ofthe sea grasses. In other words, it kills the seagrasses. I realized that we could get the resultsof a no weed pond by creating that samephytoplankton or single cell algae. So eachyear around mid-June, when the watertemperatures are high enough, I take a burlapbag and add fresh horse and chicken manure.Then, I heave the burlap bag into the waterand stake it to the shore. Thus, I’m building apond full of phytoplankton and causingdesertification (removal of plant life) at thebottom of the pond. We wind up with a

beautiful clean pond of ambergreen water and no “weeds.”

We use our two horses andtwo goats to graze the 70 acreswith a four-month grazingseason. I have eight pastures thatunder our current grazing plansee the horses once per seasonfiguring a 65-day recovery periodwith the exception of my firsttwo paddocks being grazed again 95 days after they leave.Our more open paddocks havebeen seeding themselves withsapling pine trees, and aftertesting our dilemma of pullingthe saplings or letting them grow,we decided that Mother Naturedesigned this area as a forest andnot open pasture. Plus, the landvalue will be greater as a forestthan pasture.

So how has the impact ofHolistic Management affected our business as a whole? The three people that have workedwith us and helped to create our holistic goalfor over 10 years have taken ownership of our business and our holistic goal. We meetregularly to discuss any changes or new ideasabout how the business is running and to test those decisions. They not only share ourholistic goal, but our profits as well; so much so, that they can’t afford to leave!!

Chadwick McKellar is a Certified Educatorwho lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He can be reached at: [email protected]

Chad’s introduction to Holistic Management increased his ability to usenature rather than work against it. This pond is a great recreationaldraw (fishing) for his company picnic business, so it pays to keep it free of weeds. With a little ingenuity, Chad produced a single cell algaeto do his work for him.

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seen great results in just 12 months,” says Allan. “We are seeing more cloverin the pasture and timothy is returning.” It proved so successful that theywill use it across 1,250 acres (500 ha) this season.

Allan has observed that thistles are becoming less of a problem as therecovery times paddocks get allow the grass to out compete the weeds. Any patches of thistles are bruised with tractor and leveller and grazed twodays later at 121 stock units (su)/acre (300su/ha). Although still renovatingpastures, the Richardsons believe there will be less need for additional

renovation work in the future because of the benefits of holistic planned grazing. Theyare planting low levels of ryegrass and highamounts of white and red clover, timothy,plantain, chicory, yarrow, and phylaris.

The holistic planned grazing associatedwith the weak link testing guideline hashelped them understand the role of animals in developing the landscape. As a result, theyhave invested in fencing at their 1,235-acre(500-ha) home block to reduce the averagepaddock size down from 25 acres (10 ha) to17. 3 acres (7 ha) in 18 months. They aim tohave an average paddock size between 10-15 acres (4-6 ha) in the next two years. With smaller paddock sizes they can maintainhigher stock densities and achieve greaterevenness in grazing pressure.

Smaller paddocks are part of a strategy toreduce gorse on their organic property. Theyplan to cut down the gorse first, then applyburnt lime to alter soil fertility and oversowwith clovers. By raising the pH, they expect

the soil to become bacterial dominant and that will stimulate grass growthto help out compete any re-emerging gorse seedlings.

On-Farm Research

Holistic Management has built on Allan’s interest in on-farm research.The cause and effect testing question has helped him research problemsand try various options. For example, they no longer vaccinate for scabby

llan and Sonia Richardson are using a combination of organics and Holistic Management to move from a farming focus to an

agribusiness focus. In the next four years, they hope to reducetheir running expenses from 55 percent of income down towards 35 percent. “This will happen from a number of changes,” says Allan,“including an increase in production of around 20 percent, and reductionsin fertilizer, seed, weed control, supplementary feeding, and machineryexpenses.” Allan acknowledges that Holistic Management has helped cut costs, increase production, andsystemize their farming operation.

Renovating Pasture

The Richardsons own and operate3,250 acres (1,300 ha) of non-brittlerolling hill country at Heriot, WestOtago, New Zealand. They run twooperations, Avalon Organic, whichcovers 766 acres (310 ha) of their 1,235-acre (500-ha) home block, with therest farmed conventionally under thename Bonnieview. Their property isaptly named as it reaches 1,350 feet (450 metres) above sea level creatinggreat views of central and west Otago,eastern and southern Southland, andStewart Island some 90 miles (150 km)southwest. The average rainfall isaround 34 inches (850mm) and thebrittleness is below five.

The Richardsons became involvedwith Holistic Management after Allanwas asked to open the 2001 conference in Christchurch. They did a courseto learn more about the concept. Both were struck by the common sense it used and that it worked with nature. What made their learning easierwas that it involved many concepts they had used to farm organically.

Initially they thought Holistic Management wouldn’t work in theirclimate. “I thought it was only for farmers who didn’t get rain,” says Sonia.They tried the holistic planned grazing with their organic unit. “We have

8 Land & Livestock * Sepember/Oc tober 2004

Avalon Organic—Combining Organics and Holistic Managementby John King

The Richardsons are pleased with how they the land hasresponded to holistic planned grazing. They have seen an increase in clover and a return of timothy to theirpasture and want to increase their ability to grazepastures more consistently to continue to reduce thistleand gorse populations.

&L I V E S T O C K &A

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mouth in lambs because they apply zinc to their pastures. “It costs 22cents/su for the vaccination and that doesn’t include the labor,” says Allan.“The zinc is less than 3 cents/su, and we don’t have to apply it every year.”

Growing lambs on an organic unit is challenging. What made the initial move into organics easier was Allan’s interest in worm resistance. As drenching options are limited with organic meat production, theRichardsons have looked hard at the causes of the many ailments anddiseases to which lambs are susceptible.

They have found that selecting for worm resistance has resulted insheep that are more tolerant to facial eczema and grass staggers, andpossibly footrot as well. The facial eczema and staggers connection wasconfirmed in their Perendale stud using the Ramguard F.E. test.

Allan believes that as his animals become more in tune with theirmineral status, they will balance their own diets and not overeat tocompensate. Animals have the capacity to overeat by 40 percent to correct a mineral imbalance meaning a lower carrying capacity and greater stresson growing animals. The Richardsons currently run 30 su/acre (12 su/ha) on their organic land, the same as on their conventional area.

Observing the grazing behavior of animals is key to understandinganimal welfare. Animals that are lying down chewing their cud are morelikely to be content than those marching up and down the paddock, orcontinually gorging themselves without a rest. Because of their efforts, the Richardsons’ organic lambs reached an average carcass weight of 32.5 pounds (14.8 kgs), a kilo less than their conventional farmed lambs at 35 pounds (15.9 kgs) in the 2002/03 season.

The overall animal performance of their organic property is influencedmore by the weather than stock health. Poor springs and dry autumns haveseen their lambing percentage jump from 130 percent two years ago downto 112 percent last year to an expected 120 percent this year. As they get ontop of their production issues, they plan to invest in strategic shelterbelts tohelp reduce the effects of the weather. However, at around NZ$90/lamb

(US$56) and all the reduced expenses, the organic unit certainly pulls itsweight. (See sidebar below).

Making the Transition

It’s not just on the farm where they have seen results. Both Allan and Sonia feel that Holistic Management has helped ease Sonia into thefarming operation. “It has certainly helped with understanding more aboutagriculture and getting involved with the farm,” says Sonia. The Richardsonshave been married five years and now have Grace (3) and James (1). Sonia’sbackground of city living and nursing has meant farming is a completelynew lifestyle. “Holistic Management is similar to the concept of nursing,”says Sonia. “Its helps us identify causes of problems while addressing the symptoms.”

Their holistic training has enhanced their understanding that many ofthe business and lifestyle decisions they make have an influence beyondthe farm boundary and their own family. As Sonia observes, “Allan islooking beyond the farm to benefit the wider community. Researching andexperimenting for worm resistance wasn’t just to benefit Bonnieview.” BothAllan and Sonia act as if educating farmers and consumers about the linkbetween human health and healthy land is as every bit as important asdeciding which paddock the ewes should be in today.

The Richardsons realize what it means to have an agribusiness focusrather than just concentrating on their own farm. They are excited thatbalancing time, family, and new marketing challenges is becoming easier asthey develop greater confidence with their practice of Holistic Management.With their quiet, steady approach, they are building on their reputation,both nationally and locally, for their contributions to the farming industry and their community.

John King is a Certified Educator in Nelson, New Zealand. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Number 97 * Land & Livestock 9

llan Richardson’s research into disease resistance is starting to pay dividends. “The problem with most organic operations is that no

chemicals can be used,” he says. “This puts strain on young growing animals andis where most organic operations struggle to compete with conventional farms.”By leading the research, Allan Richardson is not only making money from hisprime stock, but also selling his genetics to an increasing global market.

For 15 years, the Richardson family has been selecting livestock for wormresistance. The upshot of their program has been an increase in resistance to multiple diseases. Research links worm resistance with resistance to bothgrass staggers and facial eczema. Recent tests revealed that 40 percent of thisyear’s rams from the Avalon Organic stud here in New Zealand are resistant to facial eczema despite it not being a problem on the property.

There is also research to back up Allan’s claims about a link betweeninternal parasite resistance and external parasites. “Lice are not as much of a problem as we thought they’d be,” says Allan. “We wouldn’t have theproduction we’ve got if lice were a problem here.” As Allan points out, “Mostorganic farms fail because they don’t have the right genetics. Therefore, theyhave to drop the stocking rate significantly to get the production they wantfrom each animal.”

What is making this journey more satisfying is that the research agenda in New Zealand is focusing on treating symptoms of internal worm burdensrather than identifying their causes. Despite there being enough data to backup Allan’s claims, he has had to do most of the work himself and is now atthe forefront of multi-disease resistance. In the next 10 years the Richardsons

will continue to refine and grow their genetics business by expandingtheir export markets in the UK, USA, and Australia.

—John King

A Profitability Comparison between Organic and Conventionally Raised Lamb

Conventional Organic %/stock unit /stock unit

Income $72.43 $81.94 +9

ExpenditureAnimal Health $1.66 $0.24 -85Weed + Pest $0.72 $0.04 -95Fertilizer $5.80 $3.02 -49Feed $3.00 $2.58 -14Vehicles/fuel $4.00 $3.07 -23Administration $1.50 $1.65 +10

Other expenses are the sameTotal farm expenses $44.55 $38.42 -14

Farm Surplus $30.48 $43.51 +30

Based on a 8,670 stock units (su) sheep and beef property, both organic andconventionally stocked at 11.36su/haOrganic average lamb price $75; Conventional average lamb price $63su = stock unit = the annual requirements to feed a single 55kg ewe raising a lamb

The Right Stuff—Cashing in on Genetics

A

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return on your investment. There usually, however, is some potentialinvestment that will return double your money like fee hunting.

Reductionist Research

“Most scientific research tends to be reductionist in that it seeksto reduce phenomena to a simple form for study by controllingmost variables. It does this to show that one factor and not anothercontributes to a given result. Management, on the other hand, dealswith innumerable variables and cannot ignore any of themwithout adverse consequences.”This quote is from Chapter 49, “Making Research Relevant,” from

Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making by AllanSavory with Jody Butterfield. This may be the most important chapter in the book for me, and I suggest that every student, teacher, and cattleproducer read this chapter a couple more times soon. Most of theresearch (university, industry, or private foundation) available to cattleproducer reflects information to address one specific issue and not thewhole. This is where the problem lies.

Using this type of research leads the cattle producer to be reactive, not proactive. Examples may include: 1) how to kill a noxious weed,

rather than discovering the cause of the weedsbeing there in the first place; 2) how to substituterather than supplement pastures (substitute feedingis buying and feeding harvested feeds versusgrazing existing range, pasture and crops); 3) how to kill grasshoppers rather than manage forgrasshoppers; and 4) how to build calving barnsversus calving later in pastures. There could bemany other examples. A holistic manager will seethe limitation to reductionist research and onlyapply that which is appropriate.

This is an especially difficult challenge for me,working for the University for more than twentyyears and having spent most of that time inresearch-based education. I’m continually inundatedwith reductionist research and Holistic Managementhas been very valuable to me in sorting it out.Every bit of research needs to be tested, and if itdoes not move me toward my holistic goal, it needsto be rejected. With this type of thinking, theinteresting outcome for most cattle producers is that they most often reject technology-supportedresearch. Once tested, these cattlemen tend to use

low or no-cost options—just by observing nature and following it. Several in my learning group have said that the biggest outcome of

their practice of Holistic Management is that they do nothing more of thetime. One person in my learning group no longer worries about insectsand disease. He just lets nature give itself balance. Now a neighbor of thislearning group member recently asked, “Why don’t you ever treat for

Most cattle producers I know love the land and their livestockand want to do the best they know how to enhance the healthof both these resources. Their efforts, however, often go awry

because of various issues that surround the industry.These issues are still a challenge for those who want to manage

holistically. I am enrolled in The Savory Center’s Certified EducatorTraining Program, and working with learning groups that are part of myrequirement in this training. I am working with a total of 44 people inthree different learning groups. Two of the groups are cattle producersand the other is a university learning group whose members often workswith cattle producers. To consistently manage holistically is a struggle for everyone in my learning groups, and their issues are the same issuesthat affect all cattle producers.

I would like to discuss five of the issues that often inhibit my learning group members from managing holistically: 1) weaning self from government programs; 2) evaluating reductionist research; 3) understanding soil life; 4) addiction to technology; and 5) really understanding plants.

I suspect if my learning group members continue to be persistentholistic managers they will overcome these inhibitors.

Government Programs

Grants, low interest loans, price support, feedassistance, EQIP, cost-share programs, ConservationReserve Program, disaster programs, and more aretempting to the cattle producer. All of theseprograms have some purpose and some value. Often,however, these apparently “free” dollars are payingthe cattlemen to practice viewpoints that “thegovernment” believes in. They, “the government,” are buying your decisions. These decisions don’tnecessarily move the cattle producer toward his orher holistic goal, and that is where the problem lies.

Oh, how important it is to test every governmentprogram to see if the program moves us closer orfurther away from our holistic goal! Is there such athing as a three wire, hot, electric fence to wean usfrom government programs? Once weaned, justlooking through the fence, we may do even betterwithout that “milky” government check and movetoward our holistic goal quicker.

Free dollars usually come at a cost. Our share ofthe cost, even though relatively small, may be verypoor use of our few available dollars that could be used for a true wealth generating activity. An example might be a government cost shareprogram that pays 50 percent of the construction costs of a dam. Therancher’s share might still be $5,000. The marginal reaction test may causeyou to reconsider that investment. While the dam may move you towardyour holistic goal, the return on the dam might be less then 5 percent


Issues that Challenge Cattle Producers— How To Manage Holisticallyby Terry Gompert

Terry Gompert with his oldestgrandson, Josh, going out to check the cattle.

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weeds or spray for insects?” The learning group member replied, “Icontinually have less and less pest problems from doing nothing.”

Soil Life

Most cattle producers do not understand, or manage for, soil health. It is just dirt they own or use. Managing and creating an environment forbeneficial fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms is really a challengefor most cattle producers, including me. Habit is the issue. Maybe wementally focus on the animals and the plants and not what they dependon. Basically because of ignorance, many of us are wearing blinders andare going around thinking, “soil life . . . what is that?” Some indicators of soil life that we are learning aboutinclude: dung beetles, litter, earthy smell,and diversity of plants and animals. Thestudy, the understanding and allowingcommunity dynamics to progress is ourassignment for the future. I am findingthat creating habitat for soil life is mostimportant. In my teaching, I have tried toemphasize the importance of litter andthat a healthy soil provides the habitatneeded for soil life. One learning groupmember has found feeding hay on sandy cropland has more than doubled future crop yields.

Technology

Most cattle producers are addictedtechnology users. We considertechnology our main tool. An easy fix isto spray it, treat it, feed it, build it, till it,buy it and more. I am learning that mosttechnology gives returns on investments of less than 10 percent, and oftenit does not address actually improving the functioning of the ecosystemprocesses. For example, using a growth implant gives about a 7 percentincrease in feed efficiency and makes a small gain advantage. To sell non-implanted cattle as drug free, an additional $4 per hundred pounds isneeded to make up the difference for not giving implants. If tested towarda holistic goal, they often fail in cause and effect, weak link, marginalreaction, , energy/money source, and sustainability. Even at that, it is verydifficult for cattle producers to use only appropriate technology. We maybreak away from excessive technology for a short time only to find peerpressure, stress or not testing toward one’s holistic goal leading us backinto addictive uses of technology.

With animals and plants to graze, cattle producers have many toolsavailable to solve problems, such as rest, fire, grazing, and animal impact.Therefore, I have great hope in the future for proper use and appreciationfor technology if cattle producers can test against their holistic goal. Thishope will be accomplished by receiving support and encouragement from grazing groups and learning groups. Support groups help encourageothers as well as keeping accountability upfront.

Plants

Plants can do amazing things. They take from the air, soil and other

living items and give back to animals, other plants, soil and us. They do all this for just the right to live and reproduce in that spot. The cattleproducers’ challenge here is to understand, monitor and be proactive intheir plant management. We are getting better at evaluating production,understanding growth rate, and determining stock density. We are,however, having difficulty knowing the plants, knowing their purpose orvalue and just knowing their best use. I recently heard Allan Savory saythat all plants have a purpose—they have value. This is a better viewpointthan having a best plant or worst weed plant knowledge. We need toknow its best use.

I notice that most people do not plan their grazing, do not monitortheir pasture growth, do not put out three or more permanent monitoring sites, and are not proactive. This lack ofmonitoring and observation is a majorlimiting factor for those cattle producerswanting the most from HolisticManagement. Again, it takes time tomanage holistically. It takes habit! Onelearning group member told me thatHolistic Management grows on a person.The longer I try to practice it, the moreexcited I get using Holistic Managementwithout knowing that I am using it.

The interest in grazing and monitoringis high, as seen from the attendance atpasture walks and educational grazingevents. Practice will come. Therefore, I dohave optimism that knowledge of plantsand what they do will increase. It just takesunderstanding that “grass is what I grow,and cattle is what I harvest it with.” My

goal in my teaching is to create a support group of holistic managers so they learn from each other to do just that.

I am finding that cattle producers who believe in and want to practice Holistic Management face many issues, but these issues are really no more than old habits that keep coming to the surface. Toovercome these issues, it is going to take developing new and betterhabits. Several in my learning group have found great benefit in doingnothing when that’s what the testing questions reveal. Once the testingquestion gave fun answers and results, the habit for testing became easier. These habits will be easier to develop if other positive, like-minded individuals surround them. The learning communities greatlyhelp in supporting each other to change those habits and begin tomanage holistically.

Terry Gompert has deep roots in Nebraska. Someone in the Gompertfamily has been raising cattle in Nebraska since 1886. He is a veteranExtension Educator with emphasis on grazing education and is working to manage his cow herd and land base near Center, Nebraskaholistically. Terry is also an advocate and producer of grassfed beef and presently is participating in the Holistic Management® CertifiedEducator Training Program. He can be reached at:[email protected].

N u m b e r 9 7 * Land & Livestock 11

Learning groups or management clubs can providesupport when ranchers are trying new managementtechniques. Members of Terry Gomperts’ learning grouphave found such support helpful, such as John McGlynn,Jr. (left) and Reg Green (right), who come together to learnfrom each other.

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in vegetation, productivity, crop health, animal health, landscape function,watershed function, and eventually a loss of vitality in rural communities.The never-ending list of problems is served by a plethora of expertopinion and a surfeit of technological fixes.

But, have you noticed, despite the time and money spent, the tank isstill rusty? New leaks continue to appear? Alarmingly, many of what aretermed “improvements” corrode the tank’s very foundations. Someoneforgot to ask “does nature approve?”

If we begin at the beginning and build a new tank, we no longer haveto continually run around patching up holes. We can manage soil life insuch a way as to rebuild the building blocks, that is, to rebuild soils withsound structure, neutral pH, high natural fertility, high water-holdingcapacity and so much more. From the soil, all else springs. In ourmechanized, technologically oriented world, we tend to overlook thisextremely significant fact.

The common view is that if we somehow renew “landscapes,” ourproblems will be solved. It is certainly true that habitat begets livingthings. It is equally true that living things beget habitat. The extent towhich this happens depends on the behavior of the living things.

In the agricultural context, behavior is determined by how wemanage all of the living things in our care. Not just the four-leggeds, butalso the life we can’t see. The microscopic workers on the leaves of plants,in the litter on the soil surface and in and around plant roots. The moreleaves, litter and plant roots there are, the larger the workforce of nature’shelpers, and the faster we can potentially build new soil. In this unseenworld there are thousands of symbiotic relationships and feedback loops.Change one factor, and we change them all. All are connected. Everymanagement decision counts.

What are the communication pathways in soil? In what way do livingthings below ground respond to changes above ground? What are the

Editor’s Note: This talk was first presented at the South African HolisticManagement Annual Conference, Tiger Kloof, Vryburg. 30 March – 1April 2004

e want our soils to be magnificent: full of energy, brimmingwith life that we can hear, see, smell and “feel.” Life with

which our senses can hold a conversation.When we manage soils with purpose, passion and pleasure, soil life

responds in kind. As above, so below. As below, so above. When you lookat your soil, you see your management reflected. We all want the wholeto be healthy. But where do we start?

The Voyage

As Marcel Proust noted, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” Our thinking aboutsoil is restricted by the words we use. We talk about things like pH,phosphorus and calcium. What do those words mean? We add somenumbers. Soil pH 5.8, available phosphorus 2 ppm, or 20 ppm or maybe200 ppm. What do those numbers mean?

We search for more and more detail. Meanwhile, our soils areshouting, speaking in whole sentences, speaking in whole books. Whenwe stop, look, and learn to read the soil, we see decades of history beforeour very eyes. Communication with our soils occurs on many levels.

In matters of soil management, we need to learn to avoid the “rustytank syndrome.” Thisterm was coined inrelation to corporatestructures. Thelivelihood ofindividuals withincorporations isdependent on themmaintaining thecorporate image andpreserving thecorporate structure. Ifthe structure begins to deteriorate, experts

are called in from outside to find where the tank is losing water and to“fix the leaks.” There’s always someone with a solution to the “problem”—at a price. A rusty spot can be patched up, but soon another will develop,and the tank will again begin to lose water. Another expert is called in.More money is spent. The pattern continues. What is really required is anew tank, but there are too many vested interests in maintaining the oldone.

The rusty tank syndrome applies equally well to soils. When soilsbecome dysfunctional, that is, not achieving what we’d like them toachieve, we tend to call the experts in to “fix the leaks.” The rusty patchesmanifest as symptoms ranging from compaction, erosion, falling pH,salinity, low fertility and low water-holding capacity through to declines


Beyond the Numbers—Managing Soil Lifeby Christine Jones

Christine Jones told the crowd at Vryburg, South Africa, “When yoursoils talks, listen . . . Extraordinary things happen to plants, animals,and people when soils are renewed.”

Appropriately managed grazing also stimulates themicrobial production of a wide range of plant growth

stimulating substances in soils,including natural hormones,

enzymes and vitamins.

W

PHO

TO C

RED

IT: T

HE

LAN

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triggers? In particular, how does soil life respond to grazing? How can we incorporate the soils needs into grazing management?

The Crew

Grazing animals, grasslands, soil biota and soils have co-evolved forover 20 million years. It is hardly surprising that the inter-relationshipsbetween animals, plants and soils are complex and very sensitive to change.

There are four broad categories of change in grasslands in response to grazing:

1) physiological changes within plants and the effects of these changes on plant community dynamics2) effects of changes in plants on soil biota3) effects of changes in soil biota on soil health and soil forming processes4) effects of changed soil conditions on plants and animals (completion of the feedback loop)

For today’s presentation on Managing Soil Life, we will concentrate on the effects of grazing management on soil biota.

Levels of biological activity in soils vary enormously over space andtime. They are affected by soil moisture, temperature, pH, oxygenconcentration, and the availability of a carbon source (energy). All ofthese factors are strongly influenced by the way plants are grazed. Ofparticular interest to this discussion is the supply of energy (food) to soil organisms, in terms of timing, quality and amount.

In a green grass plant, there is generally more nitrogen in the leavesthan in the roots, and more carbon in the roots than in the tops. Whenthe leaves are removed by grazing, the plant responds immediately to re-adjust this balance. Some carbon (in the form of soluble carbohydrate)is mobilized to the crown for the production of new leaves, some is lost to the soil as pruned roots and some is actively exuded into therhizosphere (the soil surrounding plant roots) where it can haveprofound stimulatory effects on soil biota.

If plants are grazed more-or-less continuously, they will have poorlydeveloped root systems, and there will be very little carbon available for injection into the soil at each grazing event. The animal-plant-soilecosystem will decline to a steady-state equilibrium where not muchhappens other than further deterioration. Many leaks develop because the soil “tank” is not robust.

The Results

The good news is that when grazing is optimized by ensuring that the most desirable plants (from the animal’s perspective) have recoveredsufficiently for their root systems to be well established before re-grazing,the net effect of grazing is an increase in soil carbon (energy) levels. This stimulates many positive feedback loops in the animal-plant-soilecosystem, resulting in improvements in:

Ô biomass of soil organismsÔ diversity of soil organismsÔ rate of nutrient cyclingÔ macronutrient (N & P) availabilityÔ trace element (Cu, Zn etc) availabilityÔ proportion of beneficial soil organisms

Ô disease suppressionÔ size and number of soil poresÔ soil aggregate stability

The carbon exuded from the roots of grazed plants stimulates therhizosphere flora involved in the acquisition and transfer of nitrogen,phosphorus and other nutrients, assisting rapid regrowth of leaves. Thisenhances energy and nutrient flows. Appropriately managed grazing alsostimulates the microbial production of a wide range of plant growthstimulating substancesin soils, includingnatural hormones,enzymes and vitamins.

The optimizationof the grazing process helps tosynchronize nutrientmineralization withplant demands. Thisreduces losses fromthe soil ecosystem.Under continuous grazing, particularly in seasonal rainfall environments,the supply and demand for nutrients such as nitrogen rarely match,leading to imbalances and contributing to “problems” such as soil acidity.It is one of nature’s paradoxes that increased levels of soil biologicalactivity not only improve nutrient availability, but also minimize soilnutrient losses and stabilize soil pH.

Extraordinary things happen to plants, animals and people when soils are renewed. In any business it’s good business to give the customers what they want. When your soil talks, listen. This isn’t justabout Managing Soil Life. It’s about all of us, including you and me. We’re all in this boat together. Let’s build a good one!!

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Christine Jones is a grass ecologist with a PhD in Agronomy/Botanyfrom the University of New England and over 30 years’ researchexperience in the plant sciences. She can be reached at:[email protected].

Number 97 * Land & Livestock 13

Monitoring groundcover and soil surface condition are an importantpart of managing soil life.

In a green grass plant, there is generally more nitrogen in the leaves than in the roots and more carbon in the roots than in the tops.

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A Letter to The Savory Center Network

(posted June 22, 2004 to The Savory Center’sElectronic Conference)

Dear Savory Center Network:

The arrival of spring heralded many things,including healthy amounts of rain at the

David West Station for Holistic Management inwest Texas. On an early morning in June, TheSavory Center’s Board of Directors witnessed first-hand thick grass growth during a tour of theranch with Joe & Peggy Maddox, Ranch Managers,and Steve Nelle, wildlife biologist from the NaturalResources Conservation Service of San Angelo,Texas. We extend our gratitude to Joe and Peggyfor hosting this visit to the West Ranch, and givingthe Board a taste of Texas-style hospitality duringthe June 3-4th Board Meeting in Ozona.

West Ranch Educational Programs

The Savory Center remains committed to the educational focus of the West Ranch, and weare greatly appreciative of both the outstandingeducational work of Peggy Maddox and thedevelopment of the West Ranch as a learning site by both Peggy and Joe. Thanks to their hardwork, the ranch is already beginning to generatea positive cash flow.

Peggy’s work with the youth in thecommunity, acting as a liaison in ourcollaboration with HRM of Texas for field daysat the West Ranch, and her steady work with the interns in our intern program have advancedour educational mission in Texas, and we plan

efforts knew no bounds. But in 2003, she realized the Center had

reached a point in its development that called for new leadership, and she was also anxious to curtail her work hours to spend more timewith her family. Thus, she stepped aside andwelcomed Tim LaSalle on board. Over much of the past year she focused her efforts ondeveloping the La Semilla Field Station andeducation programs at the West Ranch. In bothcases, she brought many new partners to thetable and greatly enhanced awareness of TheSavory Center in our own community.

Shannon says she’s not sure what she will donext, only that it will include bringing HolisticManagement into the settings in which sheworks. She would like to volunteer some of hertime to The Savory Center and may also workoccasionally on contract, but first she’ll bemaking a trip to Zimbabwe to re-visit the AfricaCentre for Holistic Management, near VictoriaFalls. The Savory Center’s staff and board raisedthe funds among themselves to cover all thecosts of this trip. It was our way of sayingthanks to Shannon for her commitment,dedication and her many contributions to theorganization and the movement at large.

Tim LaSalle

Executive Director

T h eGRAPEVINE

news f rom t he savo r y cen te r * peop le , p rog rams & p ro jec t s

for this to continue. However, the intern programis being put on hold while we explore methodsand sources to make it sustainable.

We have greatly appreciated the enthusiasmand support of the West Ranch by the Texascommunity and Dr. Manuel Casas from Chapa deMota for supplying us with the majority of internsto date. In particular, we would like to especiallythank Janice Ramirez Castro, from Mexico, ourmost recent intern, for her special dedication,enthusiasm, and strong presence at the WestRanch. Her desire to learn and contribute to thework of the West Ranch is an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to re-developing theintern program so that it builds on the strength of young people like Janice for years to come.

Albuquerque Headquarters

Spring also brought changes to the office in Albuquerque and news of the departure of Shannon Horst, Senior Director of Strategic Projects.

In late May, Shannon Horst announced shewould be leaving her position as The SavoryCenter’s Strategic Projects Director at the end ofJune. Shannon has served The Savory Center well over the last 13 years, beginning with herappointment as Public Awareness Director in 1991.The next year she took on the role of ExecutiveDirector following the sudden death of herpredecessor, Hal Norris. Her contributions sincethen have been substantial in terms of the funds she raised, the projects she initiated and the partnerships she created. Her energy andcommitment to furthering The Savory Center’s

Tim LaSalle

La Semilla Project Update

As the Savory Center has begun to prioritize projects and programs to increase leverage

on our work, Board and staff made the strategicdecision to not renew our lease for the LaSemilla Field Station. We recognized that ourother two educational learning sites,Dimbangombe Ranch in Zimbabwe and TheWest Ranch, already had established fundingsources that allowed us to focus on our workthere. While we had hoped to develop additionalfunding sources for La Semilla, our development

research made it clear that the full complementof funding sources was not present to continuedeveloping the field station.

However, we are extremely excited aboutthe partnerships and working relationshipsShannon Horst and Lee Johnson developed inthe local community as part of our work withLa Semilla. We will continue to look for otherenvironmental education and rangeland projectsand programs to collaborate on with thesepartners as we work to more effectively fulfillour purpose and mission.

Staff & Advisory Council Changes

As noted in Executive Director Tim LaSalle’s letter, there have been a number of changes

at The Savory Center. Two such changes notmentioned in his letter is the departure of twostaff members—Lee Dueringer and Lee Johnson(known affectionately as Lee D. and Lee J.).

In June we bid a fond farewell to Lee

Johnson, Project Assistant at La Semilla, as heheaded east to Kripalu Yoga Center inMassachusetts. He was hired as Director of StaffDevelopment for Kripalu, and we wish him the

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ranch looking at changes since last year and theprogress being made in implementing the landplan. After a catered chuck wagon meal, groupscould choose from a variety of sessions,including creating successful producerpartnerships, advantages of multi-species grazing,value added livestock production, maximizingyour use of federal programs, or “Holistic

Management, What is it?”Many had arrived earlyto enjoy the bird walkwith birder, Peg Wallaceof the University ofTexas/Austin. JaniceRamirez Castro, WestRanch intern, alsoconducted nature walkson the newly developednature trail. Managers,Joe and Peggy Maddox,along with JenniferLanier of The Humane

Society, Rigo Delgado from Heifer ProjectInternational, Margaret Krome of Michael Field’s Agriculture Institute, and Dr. Bob Steger of Steger Ranch Services enjoyed presenting to the enthusiastic group.

best of luck. Lee brought an incredibleenthusiasm, commitment, and sense of humor to his work with us. We know Kripalu is luckyto have him on board.

In May, Lee Dueringer, Development Director,returned home to Phoenix at the end of his two-year tenure at The Savory Center. Lee’s job wasto secure five-year pledges from our top donorsand complete development researchbegun by Durkin & Associates. He hasnow taken a job with ChildHelp, USA asDevelopment Director. We will miss hisenthusiasm for our work, his sense ofhumor, and his encouragement to look atnew ways of approaching development.However, Lee has agreed to serve on ourAdvisory Council so we are glad to havethis opportunity for continued contact.

In July, Alicia Schell, our FinanceCoordinator, announced that she and her children would be moving back toOregon to be closer to her family.

We would also like to thank Trudy Healy forthe energy and talents she has shared with us asan Advisory Council member. Trudy is heavilyinvolved in water policy issues in New Mexico,and her increased workload with the WaterBoard resulted in her resignation from ourAdvisory Council in June. We are glad to knowthat we have someone of her caliber in thatimportant work, but we will miss her presenceon our Advisory Council.

Collaboration with Heifer Project

The Savory Center recently signed a contractwith Heifer Project International as part of

Heifer’s ongoing work with the Navajo Nation.Heifer provides livestock for specific projects,and they are interested in having some of theirfield staff receive Holistic Management training.Likewise, they want participants in the project to

also receive Holistic Management training sothey are better able to improve the landresources while earning income from livestock.The training will be completed by 2006 and willinclude decision-making, financial planning,grazing planning, biological monitoring, and low-stress livestock handling.

Mexico Efforts

As part of The Savory Center’s 2003 Mexico Certified Educator Training Program,

Director of Education, Kelly Pasztor, andInternational Training Programs Director,Constance Neely, meet with officials from theMexican Ministry of Agriculture in an effort to secure additional funding for HolisticManagement Training in Mexico. They alsomet with Dr. Manual Casas at Chapa deMota, Mexico to explore options on how we can further develop the internopportunities for veterinary students fromUNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonomade Mexico) at the West Ranch.

West Ranch Field Day

HRM of TX and The Savory Centerhosted a field day at the West Ranch

on June 12. Thirty-five participantsenjoyed a misty, cool morning out on the

Bob Steger presenting to West Ranch Field Dayparticipants

2003 Mexico Certified Educator Trainees in Tlaxcala, Mexico

Icontinue to enjoy IN PRACTICE and to learnof the progress that is being made in Holistic

Management.In reading the article by Guy Glosson on

his visit to Zimbabwe (“Ruminations on Herding, Handling and Africa, Issue #95), I wasreminded of livestock management applied by nomadic cattle herders in SoutheasternEthiopia when I worked there a few years

ago; 45 years to be exact.In the Ogden plains, a semi-desert, very

brittle environment, cattle, in the dry season,grazed for a day and a half out from the waterpoints and, of course, a similar time back towater. I saw young boys controlling small herdsof cattle, who had been without water for threedays and that were in full sight of the wateringtroughs, with the area surrounded by various

herds. The herd did not approach the water untilthe herder signaled them to do so. They thenmoved to the troughs in a calm manner with nopushing or shoving.

The watering system was also quite unusual.The wells, about 30 feet deep, hand dug, hadplatforms placed at intervals of about six feet,Water was supplied by wooden buckets with acapacity of two to three quarts. These containerswere thrown up to the next level until reaching

Savory Center Forum

continued on page 16

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the surface. As a full container was thrown, theindividuals in the well caught an emptycontainer from above. I have often wondered if new technology eventually reached the area.

Another interesting observation related tohousing for the nomad families who lived nearthe wells in the dry season and moved out withthe herds during the short rains. Shelters were astructure of arched bamboo poles covered withstraw mats, as were the floors. A house, with its limited contents, could be taken down andloaded on a camel in a very short time. What an example of prefab and refab housing.

John Glenn

Daphne, Alabama

My Attitude Adjustment—How Holistic Management Has Changed Everything

By Stephen Ritz

Iprovide technicalassistance in

natural resourcemanagement tolandowners for the USDA Natural ResourcesConservation Service(NRCS). I work in a field office that is located in thePotomac Highlandsarea of eastern WestVirginia. Our main work product is aconservation plan for land-based operations,many of them agricultural.

NRCS conservation planning policy considerssoil, water, air, plants, and animals in workingwith those who manage natural resources. Theresulting conservation plan can address allaspects of an operation.

Learning the holistic decision-making processthrough my participation in the 2001 NortheastRegion Holistic Management® Certified EducatorTraining Program has shown me the distinctdifference in how most people make decisionsand the holistic decision-making framework. I’velearned that if a person makes a decision basedon the best possible outcome for the social,financial and environmental aspects of asituation, there is a much better chance thatlasting benefits will be realized.

Deeper Discussions

I’ve provided this type of assistance innatural resource management to clients for overtwenty years. Often we are asked to design aspecific solution to what is perceived as themain problem facing an agricultural operationsuch as addressing an animal waste managementsituation or a limited livestock watering system.While listening to the client and inventoryingtheir resource concerns, I am now able to betterdiscuss possible root causes of these concerns.

For instance, the distribution of precipitationin our part of the world is limited in the growingseason by frequent dry periods. This promptsmany landowners to pursue building moreponds to catch surface runoff or to drill a waterwell. While these measures will improve waterquantity in the short-term, often they don’taddress the root cause of an ineffective watercycle. Increasing organic matter levels in oursoil through improved management, as well as

slowing down potential water runoff, alwaysaddresses the root cause of this problem ratherthan a symptom.

Understanding who the decision makers arein an operation at the beginning of the planningprocess has saved much time by determining the parameters of what potential changes arepossible. Everyone must be “on-board” forsuccessful management of most family operated farms.

Realizing that those of us involved in naturalresource management are all in the sustainabilitybusiness, I now ask questions of farmers such as“How do you want this farm to look when yourgranddaughter or grandson is managing thisfarm?” This can provide powerful insights forboth them and their planner.

I routinely engage farmers in discussionsabout the effectiveness of the water and mineralcycles on their land as well as the plant andanimal interactions and the efficiency of solarenergy. These ecosystem processes, which arevital to all life, are of a major daily concern tothose who farm and make a living from theland, but in the past I didn’t spend as much time talking to farmers at this level.

Often, however, farmers must be motivatedto make decisions with the short-term financialconsiderations foremost in their minds. Having a holistic perspective now leads me to bring thesocial and environmental considerations into the picture.

Having a holistic perspective while workingwithin a bureaucracy can be challenging. Attimes we all tend to have professional differences

of opinion. Learning about the holistic decision-making framework and its effect on policy hastaught me not to question someone’s motives fortheir decisions. Conventional decision makingdoes not simultaneously address the social,financial, and environmental aspects of adecision. If the results of decisions made withoutthis perspective don’t provide the desired results,I’ve learned to focus on how the decision wasmade rather than to question the expertise ormotivation of the person.

Using the Holistic Management® model as aframework for diagnosing problems and findingsolutions has brought new emphasis to theconsequences of natural resource decisions andthe application of what most consider to be “best management practices.” Applying suchpractices to the land, while failing to see theinterconnectedness of resources, can lead usaway from where we hope to go in land-based operations.

Anyone who is learning to practice HolisticManagement and understands the concept thatthe world works in wholes is forever changed.The conventional decision-making processbecomes incomplete. Initially learning to live thelife one values most takes desire and discipline. Ican say, after the first trials of learning to makedecisions by this process, it becomes easier. Aswe have learned in our training, learningimproves greatly with practice and vice versa.

I value my work as a professional in naturalresource management with the NRCS. Learningto teach Holistic Management has enriched mywork and allowed me to see that even smallsteps taken are valuable if they move us towardthe environment we describe in our holistic goal.That is why I have introduced this decisionmaking process to the management team of theUSDA-NRCS in West Virginia, and I have beenasked to continue to train other employees inthe future.

It has been my privilege to have been chosento participate in the 2001 Northeast RegionHolistic Management® Certified EducatorTraining Program. Sharing this importantinformation with those who make decisions onthe land will continue to challenge me in mywork and will allow me to contribute to makingour part of the “whole” world a better place.

Steve Ritz is a District Conservationist withthe USDA Natural Resources ConservationService in Romney, West Virginia. He can bereached at: [email protected]. This articlefirst appeared in Improving Whole FarmPlanning Through Better Decision-Making.

Stephen Ritz

Savory Center Forumcontinued from page 15


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ARIZONA

Kelly Mulville2884 W. Hilltop, Portal, AZ [email protected]

CALIFORNIAMonte Bell 325 Meadowood Dr., Orland, CA 95963530/865-3246 • [email protected]

Julie Bohannon 652 Milo TerraceLos Angeles, CA 90042323/257-1915 • [email protected]

Bill Burrows12250 Colyear Springs Rd.Red Bluff, CA 96080530/529-1535 • [email protected]

Richard King1675 Adobe Rd., Petaluma, CA 94954707/769-1490 • 707/794-8692 (w)[email protected]

Tim McGaffic13592 Bora Bora Way #327Marina Del Rey, CA 90292310/741-0167 • [email protected]

Christopher PeckP.O. Box 2286, Sebastopol, CA 95472707/[email protected]

COLORADOJoel Benson P.O. Box 2036, Buena Vista, CO 81211719/395-2468 • [email protected]

Cindy Dvergsten17702 County Rd. 23, Dolores, CO 81323970/[email protected]

Rio de la VistaP.O. Box 777, Monte Vista, CO 81144 719/852-2211 • [email protected]

Daniela and Jim Howell P.O. Box 67, Cimarron, CO 81220-0067970/249-0353 • [email protected]

Chadwick McKellar16775 Southwood Dr.Colorado Springs, CO 80908719/495-4641 • [email protected]

* Cliff MontagneMontana State University Department of Land Resources &Environmental ScienceBozeman, MT 59717406/994-5079 • [email protected]

NEW MEXICO

* Ann AdamsThe Savory Center1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102505/[email protected]

Amy Driggs1131 Los Tomases NWAlbuquerque, NM 87102505/[email protected]

Kirk GadziaP.O. Box 1100, Bernalillo, NM 87004505/867-4685 • fax: 505/[email protected]

Ken Jacobson12101 Menaul Blvd. NE, Ste AAlbuquerque, NM 87112505/[email protected]

* Kelly PasztorThe Savory Center1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102505/[email protected]

Sue ProbartP.O. Box 81827, Albuquerque, NM 87198505/265-4554 • [email protected]

David Trew369 Montezuma Ave. #243Santa Fe, NM 87501505/751-0471; [email protected]

Vicki Turpen03 El Nido Amado SWAlbuquerque, NM 87121505/873-0473 • [email protected]

NEW YORKKarl North3501 Hoxie Gorge Rd.Marathon, NY 13803607/849-3328 • [email protected]

NORTH CAROLINA

Sam Bingham394 Vanderbilt Rd., Asheville, NC 28803828/274-1309 • [email protected]

NORTH DAKOTA* Wayne BerryUniversity of North Dakota—WillistonP.O. Box 1326, Williston, ND 58802 701/774-4269 or 701/[email protected]

OKLAHOMAKim BarkerRT 2, Box 67, Waynoka, OK 73860580/824-9011 • [email protected]

Byron Shelton33900 Surrey Lane, Buena Vista, CO 81211719/395-8157 • [email protected]

GEORGIAConstance Neely1160 Twelve Oaks CircleWatkinsville, GA 30677 • 706/[email protected]

IOWABill Casey1800 Grand Ave., Keokuk, IA 52632-2944319/524-5098 • [email protected]

LOUISIANATina Pilione P.O. 923, Eunice, LA 70535phone/fax: 337/580-0068 • [email protected]

MAINEVivianne Holmes239 E. Buckfield Rd. Buckfield, ME 04220-4209207/336-2484 • [email protected]

MASSACHUSETTS* Christine Jost Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine200 Westboro Rd.North Grafton, MA 01536508/887-4763 • [email protected]

MINNESOTATerri Goodfellow-Heyer4660 Cottonwood Lane NorthPlymouth, MN 55442763/559-0099 • [email protected]

MISSISSsIPPI

Preston Sullivan610 Ed Sullivan Lane, NEMeadville, MS 39653601/384-5310 • 479/442-9824 (w) [email protected]

MONTANAWayne BurlesonRT 1, Box 2780, Absarokee, MT 59001406/328-6808 • [email protected]

Roland Kroos4926 Itana Circle, Bozeman, MT 59715406/522-3862 • [email protected]

Certified Educators

U N I T E D S T A T E S

* These educators provide Holistic Management instruction on behalf of the institutions they represent.

To our knowledge, Certified Educators are the best qualified individuals to help others learn topractice Holistic Management and to provide them with technical assistance when necessary. On ayearly basis, Certified Educators renew their agreement to be affiliated with the Center. Thisagreement requires their commitment to practice Holistic Management in their own lives, to seek outopportunities for staying current with the latest developments in Holistic Management and tomaintain a high standard of ethical conduct in their work. For more information about or application forms for the U.S., Africa, or International Certified EducatorTraining Programs, contact Kelly Pasztor at the Savory Center or visit our website atwww.holisticmanagement.org/wwo_certed.cfm?

Certified Educators

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PENNSYLVANIAJim Weaver428 Copp Hollow Rd.Wellsboro, PA 16901-8976570/724-7788 • [email protected]

TEXAS

Christina Allday-Bondy2703 Grennock Dr., Austin, TX 78745512/441-2019 • [email protected]

Guy Glosson 6717 Hwy 380, Snyder, TX 79549806/237-2554 • [email protected]

Jennifer Hamre316-A La Grande Ave., Austin, TX [email protected]* R.H. (Dick) Richardson University of Texas at Austin Department of Integrative BiologyAustin, TX 78712512/471-4128 • [email protected]

Peggy Sechrist 25 Thunderbird Rd.Fredericksburg, TX 78624830/990-2529 • [email protected]

Liz Williams 4106 Avenue BAustin, TX 78751-4220512/323-2858 • [email protected]

WASHINGTONCraig MadsenP.O. Box 107, Edwall, WA 99008509/[email protected]

Sandra Matheson228 E. Smith Rd.Bellingham, WA 98226360/398-7866 • [email protected]

* Don NelsonWashington State University P.O. Box 646310, Pullman, WA 99164509/335-2922 • [email protected]

Maurice RobinetteS. 16102 Wolfe Rd., Cheney, WA 99004509/299-4942 • [email protected]

Doug Warnock151 Cedar Cove Rd., Ellensburg, WA 98926509/925-9127 • [email protected]

WISCONSINElizabeth BirdRoom 203 Hiram Smith Hall1545 Observatory Dr., Madison WI 53706608/265-3727 • [email protected]

Larry JohnsonW886 State Road 92, Brooklyn, WI 53521608/455-1685 • [email protected]

WYOMINGTim MorrisonP.O. Box 536, Meeteese, WY 82433307/868-2354 • [email protected]

AUSTRALIA

Helen Carrell“Hillside” 25 Weewondilla Rd.Glennie Heights, Warwick, QLD 437061-4-1878-5285 • 61-7-4661-7383 [email protected] Hailstone5 Lampert Rd., Crafers, SA [email protected] Hand“Inverary”Caroona Lane, Branxholme, VIC 330261-3-5578-6272 • [email protected] Mark GardnerP.O. Box 1395, Dubbo, NSW [email protected] Marshall“Lucella”; Nundle, NSW 234061-2-6769 8226 • fax: 61-2-6769 [email protected] WardP.O. Box 103, Milsons Pt., NSW 156561-2-9929-5568 • fax: [email protected] Wehlburgc/o “Sunnyholt”, Injue, QLD 445461-7-4626-7187 • [email protected]

CANADA

Don and Randee HalladayBox 2, Site 2, RR 1, Rocky MountainHouse, AB, T0M 1T0403/729-2472 • [email protected] McNaughton5704-144 St., Edmondton, AB, T6H 4H4s780/432-5492 • [email protected] PigottBox 222, Dysart, SK, SOH 1HO 306/432-4583 • [email protected] SidorykBox 374, Lloydminster, AB, S9V 0Y4403/875-4418 • [email protected]

MEXICOIvan AguirreLa InmaculadaApdo. Postal 304, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000tel/fax: [email protected]

Elco Blanco-Madrid Cristobal de Olid #307 Chihuahua Chih., 3124052-614-415-3497 • fax: [email protected] Casas-PerezCalle Amarguva No. 61, Lomas Herradura Huixquilucan, Mexico City CP 5278552-558-291-3934 • 52-588-992-0220 (w)[email protected]

Jose Ramon “Moncho” VillarAv. Las Americas #1178Fracc. Cumbres, Saltillo, Coahuila 2527052-844-415-1542 • [email protected]

NAMIBIA

Gero Diekmann P.O. Box 363, Okahandja [email protected] Nott P.O. Box 11977, [email protected] Volkmann P.O. Box 182, Otavi, [email protected]

NEW ZEALAND

John King P.O. Box 3440, Richmond, [email protected]

SOUTH AFRICA

Sheldon BarnesP.O. Box 300, Kimberly 8300Johan BlomP.O. Box 568, Graaf-Reinet [email protected] Mitchell-Innes P.O. Box 52, Elandslaagte [email protected] Neave P.O. Box 69, Mtubatuba 393527-084-2452/[email protected] Richardson P.O. Box 1806, Vryburg 8600tel/fax: 27-53-927-4367 [email protected] ToddP.O. Box 21, Hoedspruit 138027-82-335-3901 (cell)[email protected]

ZIMBABWEMutizwa MukutePELUM Association Regional DeskP.O. Box MP 1059Mount Pleasant, Harare263-4-74470/744117 • fax: [email protected] Mabhena Spring CabinetP.O. Box 853, Harare263-4-210021/2 • 263-4-210577/8fax: 263-4-210273Elias NcubeP. Bag 5950, Victoria [email protected]

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

For a list of our affiliate networks, please visit our website at:www.holisticmanagement.org/asc_net.cfm

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#097, in practice, sept/oct 2004

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