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. "
“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!”