HMI’s Whole Farm/Ranch Land Management® Course took place in Willits, CA in February and March of 2016. The series of three 2-day workshop
s took place at the Grange Farm School in cooperation with the Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, California. Long-time Holistic Management Certified Educator Richard King was the instructor. The classes were attended by a diverse group of land managers. 52 percent of participants were cattle raisers, followed by chickens (38%), pigs (24%) sheep (34%), and goats (34%). 38 percent of class participants grew vegetables, 21 percent fruit, and 10 percent flowers. The series of workshops included the Introduction to the Holistic Management® framework for decision-making, Biological Monitoring, Planned Grazing, and Land Planning. In the Biological Monitoring class, participants learned a variety of monitoring techniques to determine whether planning decisions were moving them toward the future landscape described in their holistic goal. In the Planne
d Grazing workshop, everyone learned comprehensive grazing planning and how to use the planning chart. Animal days per acre were taught outdoors in a rainstorm, but everyone seemed to enjoy the experience.
The Land Planning workshop focused on covering the processes described in the Holistic Management® Handbook. Holistic Management worksheets were emphasized as a way to help develop an ideal land plan. The importance and techniques of brainstorming when creating the ideal land plan were covered as well.
In the end, the participants learned a great deal about managing their own unique situations with more ease, so that they could become more successful.
Here are some of the participant comments:
I will finally have a way to measure our progress in improving the land.
I learned the difference between annuals & perennials and the importance of monitoring. Also, I learned that monitoring soil carbon is very important.
I liked the outdoor activities and small group work. Videos are a great tool.
I am very happy with this course.
It was really very good.
Most useful training in assessing the amount of forage in a pasture, quality of feed and type of feed, what to look for in manure piles, how to create a plan, and monitor that plan.
The whole discussion of rotation, timing, assessment, and management was pertinent and very useful.
The financial considerations were good & the brainstorming was enlightening.
Here are some of the results of the training:
A special thank you to Sallie Calhoun and The Christiano Family Fund and The 11th Hour Project for their generous contributions which made this training possible. We'd also like to thank our collaborator - The Grange Farm School, as well as The Farmers Guild, and the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, who helped with outreach and promotion.