HMI’s Online Learning Series Getting Started Introduction to Holistic Management course had 23 participants from the United States and Canada. This course focused on key Holistic Management planning concepts and principles to help participants manage their farm/ranch for the triple bottom line (social, environmental, and financial sustainability) and more effectively manage resources. Participants were excited to learn how to improve their ability to observe, understand, and make decisions based on what they can control. Through these new skills participants now have the knowledge and tools to improve their ability to work with nature and to increase productivity.
Featured Participants:
Larry Bogdan
“I’ve lived on this farmland for over 60 years and have tried a few different things but have mainly farmed conventionally. That seems to mean that the farmer takes most of the risks and then accepts the price the market gives. Drought has been a problem here but increasing the precipitation that enters and remains in the soil improves plant growth. The Introduction to Holistic Management class is helping me make the paradigm shift to take greater control and has given me the testing questions to help make profitable decisions. It was difficult to change 40 years ago but today so much information is available in the form of classes, posts and videos that now is a good time to change farming practices and concentrate on building healthy soil instead of buying inputs every year. ”
Kirsten Robertson
“I expected the course to be about grazing, but was very pleasantly surprised to find that grazing is only a small part. The Inventory took me from a mindset of ‘want’ to one of abundance, the Holistic Goal gave me a way of life instead of a way of grazing, and the Decision Making Process provided a logical way to evaluate options, while still miraculously including a gut check. It certainly changed my life and led to us actually moving out of our house (but not off the farm)! I never would have thought a ‘grazing’ class could have this much impact!”
Here’s the best things participant’s learned/experienced:
“How to put together a ranch/farm goal and test decisions against it, as well as looking at the current ecosystems on my ranch.”
“Awesome class!”
“The testing questions were perhaps the most new and I think using those in connection with the holistic farm goal will be very helpful in making good decisions.”
“Valuable Class!”
“I enjoyed creating the holistic goal, learning about the decision-making framework, and learning about healthy ecosystems. I thought Elizabeth did a nice job leading the online classes and facilitating discussion.”
“I liked this course, it gave me a general understanding of management, and a sense of direction on where to go from here. Also the instructor was very relatable and I felt comfortable talking with her about any questions.”
“I learned how to logically make a decision and establish a goal, and list all our resources.”
“Great intro course; learned so much about HMI and about myself/my farm.”
“To see how organic matter and soil improvement can make water use efficient and increase plant growth over conventional agriculture.”
“Excellent. So much better when you have the farm/land to visualize everything within your context. This makes it more practical than theoretical.”
“I was very happy with the course and the instructor.”
“I really enjoyed the introductory course and learned a lot. It was very well organized and instructed and had great reading material.”
Getting Started Introduction to Holistic Management® Whole Farm/Ranch Planning Course Survey Results
Knowledge/Behavior and Confidence Increase | % Increase |
Your ability to define your management team after session | 100% |
How to inventory your farms resources after session | 100% |
Your ability to develop a whole farm goal after session | 100% |
Your ability to identify needed systems and protocols to create a successful farm after session | 97% |
Ability to integrate social, economic, and environmental factors into your decisions after session | 93% |
Your ability to make complex on-farm or ranch decisions after session | 93% |
Your ability to assess ecosystem health after session | 93% |
Overall satisfaction with the instructor’s effectiveness | 100% |
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