#098, In Practice, Nov/Dec 2004

20th Anniversary

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RACTICE P a publication of the savory center

November/December 2004 * Number 98

Communities of Practice

www.holisticmanagement.org

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

by Ann Adams

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hen we began our 20th anniversary celebration last January, we were excited about the festivities for the year and what we could accomplish in the year ahead with your help. With IN PRACTICE, we put on a coat of many colors, thanks to the thoughtful support of Dr. Dean William Rudoy. He has also generously sponsored our new four-color brochure that you all should have received as part of our annual appeal letter we mailed the beginning of September, as well as sponsoring this four-color issue.

To make the best use of this opportunity and to celebrate our 20 years as a network and a movement, we thought we would share with you as many pictures as we could of the land results people have achieved through their Holistic Management practice. While people have greatly improved their quality of life and their finances with Holistic Management, most of us were drawn to Holistic Management because of our great love for the land and our concern about the policies and decisions being made in land management. So in this issue we offer several photo essays as examples of Holistic Management in practice.

Celebrating Accomplishments In September 1984 Allan Savory and Jody Butterfield founded the Center for Holistic Resource Management. For those of you who have been with us over the years, you’ve seen changes in staff and programming. But through it all, you’ve seen our ongoing commitment to teaching people about Holistic Management and coordinating our worldwide network.

What that network has accomplished is very impressive indeed. Holistic Management has been introduced in every populated continent in the world, and we have over 70 Certified Educators helping teach this process in eight countries. In turn, those practitioners are leaders in their communities, serving as formal or informal mentors to other agricultural producers, government employees, and other members of their communities. When I read the numerous sustainable agricultural and community development publications that cross my desk, the percentage of our members, practitioners, and educators that are referenced offers a clear pattern with a clear message—we are reframing the conversations in these arenas.

Moving Forward This year’s IN PRACTICE was in some ways a microcosm for the transition at The Savory Center. In those issues we celebrated the past with stories from previous issues, and we offered a glimpse into some of the lives of the new practitioners. The staff and Board at The Savory Center have been in conversation with many in our network to explore how we can better support our long-time and new members and get the word out about Holistic Management. To that end we have been developing our five-year strategic plan based on the concept of communities of practice. continued on page 2 Our appreciation to Dean William Rudoy, Ph.D. for his generous donation that has enabled us to print this four-color issue of IN PRACTICE in celebration of our 20th Anniversary.

Since 1984 The Savory Center has been working with agricultural producers and resource managers to create a grassroots global greening through improved land health. While there are many ways to measure improved land health, the dark green of healthy grasslands has been something that many Holistic Management practitioners have documented. Like this picture of Joe and Julie Morris’ ranch, T.O. Cattle Company in central California, the fence line contrasts of Holistic Management practitioner’s land with that of their neighbors often clearly points out the increased vigor of the plant community when people work with nature and use the tools of animal impact and grazing in a thoughtful manner.

FEATURE STORIES The Africa Centre—A Participant’s Perspective Selinah Ndubiwa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Brussels Ranch—After the Fire Dick and Judy Richardson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Twin Creek Ranch—The Beauty of Animal Impact Andrea Malmberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Monitoring in Montana Wayne Burleson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Holistic Management in South Africa— Monitoring the Progress Johan Blom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Never Underestimate Change Roland Kroos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Lana Litter—Money in the Bank Nick Reid and Karen Forge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

NEWS & NETWORK Savory Center Grapevine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Certified Educators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Savory

The

CENTER

Communities of Practice

AD DEFINITUM FINEM

THE SAVORY CENTER is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. The Savory Center works to restore the vitality of communities and the natural resources on which they depend by advancing the practice of Holistic Management and coordinating its development worldwide.

FOUNDERS Allan Savory

* Jody Butterfield STAFF

Tim 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 Terri Telles, Finance Coordinator Donna Torrez, Administrative Assistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rio de la Vista, Chair Leslie Christian, Vice-Chair Terry Word, Secretary Richard Smith, Treasurer Jody Butterfield Judy Richardson Bruce Ward

ADVISORY COUNCIL Jim Shelton, Chair, Vinita, OK Robert Anderson, Corrales, NM Michael Bowman,Wray, CO Sam Brown, Austin, TX Leslie Christian, Portland, OR Lee Dueringer, Scottsdale, AZ Gretel Ehrlich, Gaviota, CA Cynthia & Leo Harris, Albuquerque, NM Clint Josey, Dallas, TX Krystyna Jurzykowski, Glen Rose, TX Dianne Law, Laveta, CO Guillermo Osuna, Coahuila, Mexico Jim Parker, Montrose, CO Dean William Rudoy, Cedar Crest, NM York Schueller, El Segundo, CA Richard Smith, Houston, TX Africa Centre for Holistic Management Private Bag 5950, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Tel: (263) (11) 404 979; email: hmatanga@mweb.co.zw Huggins 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: savorycenter@holisticmanagement.org.; website: www.holisticmanagement.org Copyright © 2004.

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So what do we mean by communities of thinking and their practices, we need to practice? Quite simply it is the identification increase our skills and efforts for more of people, organizations, and communities who effective collaboration and so that more people are practicing Holistic Management, sharing it can achieve the results you will see on the with others, and creating demonstrable results. following pages. In other words, it is time for As we identify these communities of practice, a strategy that more effectively uses all our we will also identify who they are reaching resources to move us toward our mission. We and what resources they may need from us hope our donors, educators, members, clients, to increase the momentum they have already and everyone else in our resource base will established. In this way, we can build more want to support this strategic initiative. symbiotic relationships not only with those In an effort to bring the community together who are directly in our network, but also in this time of transition, we are sponsoring a with those other Holistic Management like-minded Rendezvous: A organizations with Community Caring whom our members for the Land on We believe that our are involved.

January 12-13, 2005 in Lest you think that Albuquerque. This distinction as an we are expanding our gathering will be in organization is offering focus to the detriment conjunction with the of our land roots, the Quivira Coalition a process that helps people other key component Annual Conference take a holistic and more of our strategic plan is on January 14-15, 2005. refocusing on our Please read more effective approach to land mission of working about this event in management for results with people to manage the enclosed flier. land regeneratively At this conference that are sustainable and and holistically in we will have more even regenerative. ways that benefit the opportunity to talk social, economic, and with you one-on-one environmental health and in groups to of their communities. begin exploring We believe that our possible collaborations distinction as an organization is offering a and continue sharing the learning. process that helps people take a holistic and This is an opportunity to connect with the more effective approach to land management international Holistic Management community for results that are sustainable and even and support and influence The Savory Center’s regenerative. We will focus more on new direction. This is also an opportunity to collaborative efforts in the coming year celebrate and acknowledge Allan and Jody’s with our network to expand our outreach contribution to the Holistic Management to the public and government employees movement and to The Savory Center. Most of and officials. all, it’s a continuing education opportunity. I We are at a “tipping point” in the hope as many as possible take the opportunity combined effort to help people understand to attend. As a community caring for the how nature functions and to recognize the land, our ability to create lasting change is critical human role in ecosystem health. While proportionally related to how much we share many people and organizations have made what we’ve learned and listen to new ideas and great inroads in getting people to change their perspectives. See you at the Rendezvous!

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The Africa Centre— A Participant’s Perspective

by Selinah Ndubiwa (with Jody Butterfield) The Savory Center launched the Africa Centre for Holistic Management in Zimbabwe in 1992.

Several years later a 6,200-acre (2,520-hectare) property near the Victoria Falls was gifted to the two organizations to serve as a Holistic Management learning site and training center. In the mid 1990s the Africa Centre expanded the learning site to include the nearby Wange community—creating a community-based conservation program that continues to this day. I was asked to give an overview of this program, but it’s difficult to convey the scope of the activities and the remarkable people involved in a single article. So I’ve opted instead to describe the program through the eyes and words of Selinah Ndubiwa who has been involved in each of the program’s core activities: Land Restoration, as a village-based trainer; Village Banking, as a member and officer, and Permaculture Gardens, as a trainer and practitioner. This is her story.

—Jody Butterfield

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y brother said I should go to secondary school but my father and stepmother said no—they wanted me to get married so they could collect lobola [bride price]. But I didn’t want to get married until I was independent. I went to a mission and finished secondary school there while I worked in the community cultivating fields to get money for personal items like soap and clothes. And I also bought a cow. When I finished school I started a garden at my father’s place, and it was successful and made money. My brother’s wife taught me sewing and knitting and crocheting, and I made things and sold them. I had become independent.

I met my husband, Jabulani, at my uncle’s house and I knew him three years before we married in 1971. We have no children of our own, but we have raised many children—two from my younger sister whose husband died in an accident, two from my young mother-inlaw after my father-in-law died, and we still have a few all of the time. We also feed AIDS orphans and also assist some elders with food and clothing.

Village Based Trainer I was selected by the Africa Centre as a village-based trainer in 1997. I did the training because I was so eager about learning more.

Different groups had tried a lot of projects around here but they hadn’t been successful. I thought this one had promise. When I got the understanding of holistic—that we were looking at the whole thing, not just the animals, or the boreholes [wells], or some of the people, but all

of it together, including the environment—then I knew it was worth exploring.

My work as a village-based trainer was hard at first because the people I was training thought Holistic Management was a political thing—it was a white man (Allan Savory) who had brought it

Selinah Ndubiwa in her permaculture garden.

to us. But I and the other trainers (there were eight of us) kept on with the training, just teaching the people, and they gradually realized that we weren’t dwelling on politics but on the environment, on grazing, and on the welfare of the people.

The people really became interested when they realized it was people who were causing the land to deteriorate, not the animals. If people were doing it then we could fix it, and so we are. Before we didn’t know what we could do. We’d seen the land get worse and worse, the rivers stopped flowing, the grass stopped growing.

Our Holistic Goal We have a family holistic goal—me, my husband, and the children were involved in forming it. This is what it’s about: • The Life we want: many stock, healthy children and family, plenty of food and to live in harmony.

• What we will produce: plenty types of food, good housing, covered ground, plenty of water, and so on.

• Future Resource Base: to be wealthy, land to be covered with grass, rivers flowing in the vlei [meadow] year round like long back, all the environment to be like it was.

We had the opportunity to get involved in several projects but after testing them all, our permaculture garden was best [see below].

Another project that later passed was a dairy project—we’re milking 10 to 12 cows.

Village Banking I’ve been a member of the Kuvelenjani (“How did this come?”) bank since we formed it in 1999.

I borrow mostly for seeds for my garden, but also to buy sugar and sweets [candy], or kapenta [fresh-water sardines] and mopane worms in bulk, which I then retail in the community. Like most of the women, I use my profits to feed my family and send the children to school.

I became a bank officer a couple of years after that, being responsible for six banks, one of which I started nearly 16 km (10 miles) away.

I have to walk to each of the banks every two weeks—and it has become difficult because one of my legs gets sore and there are no tablets in the clinic for the pain.

Some of the women are illiterate, many are not familiar with bookkeeping so that is what I teach them as a bank officer—how to enter figures in the book, how to use a calculator. I gave training to all the bank treasurers [there are now 27 banks serving over 500 women]. Before we started there were many women who didn’t know what a bank was. They had seen them when they went to town, but didn’t know what went on there. Now they all know.

Why are the village banks so successful?

Because they make you feel like you are somebody. That’s why no one leaves—you would feel like you were nothing then. You could produce nothing. If a woman dies we make sure her loan is paid up—which we can often do with what she has managed to put in savings. If that isn’t enough, then we all chip in. continued on page 4

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The Africa Centre—A Participant’s Perspective Permaculture Gardens All of us village-based trainers got some training in permaculture, which the Africa Centre arranged. Our own garden is 2 hectares (5 acres) in size and was originally a project of 10 of us in the community. Four have died so only six of us are left—four women and two men. Portions of the garden are also allocated to elders looking after orphans and to our children who do all the work on their plots themselves.

I taught them all what I knew about permaculture. They are doing a good job. The

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main garden is producing well and we have enough of a surplus to sell some vegetables to a distributor in town. The Africa Centre helped arrange this market for us. The distributor comes to us each week and collects our vegetables, paying us Z$75,000 (US$15) to Z$80,000 (US$16) per week, which is a good profit for us. This year I’m also growing merenga beans—high in protein and oil—and Jatropher cucus [jojoba] so I can have oil to make soap, since no one can afford soap anymore.

This year we used chemicals for the first

time. We had a terrible infestation of begrada bugs and aphids and feared losing everything. In terms of our holistic goal we didn’t want to use poison, but we also knew we had to eat and that we needed vegetables to sell to others, so we decided to do some tests on small plots. We used carbaryl, which is very expensive, on one test plot. It did kill the begrada bugs but didn’t affect the aphids at all. We tried Lantana camara, a natural pesticide, but it did nothing to the aphids either. Based on these test plots we finally decided to remove all the rape [similar to collard greens] from the crop mix and put it on its own, since that was the plant attracting all the aphids. It worked.

Brussels Ranch— After the Fire

by Dick and Judy Richardson Editor’s Note: Dick & Judy Richardson own and manage Brussels Ranch near Vryburg, South Africa. Dick is a Certified Educator and has trained many agricultural producers and Certified Educators internationally. They can be reached at judyrich@cybertrade.co.za.

Transect II October 2003. The same view three years later after an extended dry season that put us into our drought reserve. Harvester termites invaded and consumed every plant. But the cattle have broken the capping.

April 2000. View of the veld (range) 10 months after we took over management.

April 2004. The same view six months later following the rains.

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Household Nutrition Gardens Last year the Africa Centre started a home nutrition garden program in the community [through a USAID-funded program—Linkages for Economic Advancement of the Disadvantaged/LEAD]. I was in charge of identifying orphans under 18 and vulnerable children under 14 who were living with an elder or relative, and then training these families how to use drip irrigation kits the Africa Centre provided. The head of one of those families was only 18 and he had four younger brothers and sisters to look after—their parents died of AIDS. He serves as mother and father, and they have a very good garden going.

Each family had to make a 10 x 10 meter (27 x 27 foot) garden first and construct a stand, 1.2 to 1.5 meters (3-1/2 – 4-1/2 feet) high, for the irrigation reservoir. When they had done that we gave them a drip kit, which included a large (33-gallon) plastic drum with a valve and hoses to lay in the garden. We installed just over 400 kits before the program ended this year. I taught them about permaculture, and this year they will learn about Holistic Management. This is how we introduce Holistic Management to more people.

It’s Been Good I think Holistic Management has been good

for us because the environment is improving. It brought big knowledge to us. For instance, we used to kill all the birds because we only saw them as pests and didn’t realize how important they were. Now we have thousands of doves come in and drink and eat the insects. And now we have our animals in the garden to deposit dung and urine instead of hauling manure to the garden by scotch cart.

In the village banks we now call each other by our first names. Traditionally we have always called ourselves Mrs. So and So or the Mother of So and So—even when the child had died a woman was still referred to as his or her mother. We want to have our own names now until we die.

Transect IV

October 2000. View of the veld (range) 10 months after we took over management.

August 2002. The same view two years later one month following a fire that burned a large portion of the ranch.

April 2004. The same view two years later under planned grazing at the end of the growing season.

Photo taken at the boundary fence in April, 2004. Neighbor (left) had also been burned out and restocked with very few animals. We brought 500 head into the 40-hectare (100-acre) paddock on the right side of the fence and strip grazed it.

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Twin Creek Ranch— The Beauty of Animal Impact

by Andrea Malmberg Editor’s Note: Tony and Andrea Malmberg own and manage Twin Creek Ranch near Lander, Wyoming. Twin Creek Ranch & Lodge is an eco-tourist lodge and working ranch offering Country Cuisine Gatherings featuring locally grown food and Twin Creek’s “beyond organic” beef. When Andrea arrived at Twin Creek, she knew that while Tony had done a great job improving the land around the ranch headquarters, it was going to be her task to do some “landscaping” around headquarters. This photo essay chronicles that experience. Tony and Andrea are currently in The Savory Center’s Certified Educator International Training Program. Andrea can be reached at: andrea@twincreekranch.com.

We moved this cabin in October 2000.

This is how the land looked in June 2001.

After

Fall 2001. We covered the seeds with oat hay and brought in the goats. The goats ate the seed heads of the oat hay and trampled and fertilized.

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August 2002. This was our control site. We did not have any goats here in 2001 and had quite a lot of diversity in weeds the following summer.

August 2002.

After our goat treatment at least something grew, but there were a lot of weeds— primarily Canada Thistle. We used horses as a treatment for this—they love the seed heads of Canada Thistle.

Before—the damage

The Treatment— the tool of animal impact

After the initial treatment

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Goats and horses eating thistles, ducks and chickens eating insects— including Mosquitos!

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May 2004. Here is the garden plowed and planted. Notice the Canada Thistle outbreak where we flooded out the seeds (top left hand corner).

Though unintentional, we left a lot of bare ground leaving room for the weeds along the road to find a new home.

Monitoring in Montana

by Wayne Burleson

This picture shows the cattle moving toward the gate after being called with a whistle. This is herd effect—excited animals moving fast toward the reward of a new grass, in a new pasture. There are about 600 cow-calf pairs which equates to 4,800 hoofs stepping on everything.

This is the before herd effect photo taken in 1986. The plants show the pasture as we first started to build all the cell center fences. The shrubs are sage brush, which now have been stepped on and are gone!

This photo was taken August 1988 after 10 days of planned grazing during a severe drought – herd effect big time. Because of the all the herd effect, this pasture we re-named the Mojave Desert. Ranch owner Don Schaules is in the center.

This photo was taken in May 1989. The grass species is 70 percent Western Wheatgrass in the springtime green-up stage.

This photo is taken one year after the animal impact treatment in August 1989. The Western Wheatgrass has dried and turned yellow. This was the thickest stand of grass on the ranch that year and the pasture was not grazed that year.

Right hand holds a plant dug from pasture one year after herd effect Left hand holds the same plant species— Western Wheatgrass— dug on the same day.

This plant was from the same area, but from a fenced out exclosure (no grazing for three years) near Don’s cell center. The plants were growing in the same area some 30 feet apart. The exclosure was made on purpose to study long-term rest effect on his ranch by making a 50 foot loop in the electric fence.

We built five of these “Test-Rest” exclosures.

Wayne Burleson is a Holistic Management® Certified Educator and runs a range management consultation business, Pasture Management.

He can be reached at: 406/328-6808 or rutbuster@montana.net.

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Holistic Management in South Africa— Monitoring the Progress

by Johan Blom Editor’s Note: Johan Blom is a Holistic Management® Certified Educator in Graaff-Reinet, South Africa. He collected these photographs from

various South African practitioners, some of whom have been managing holistically for 25 years. He can be reached at johanblom@cybertrade.co.za

Kriegerskraal, Graaff-Reinet—Trenly and Wilmari Spence Trenly wanted to cover the soils with good plants, be it palatable grass or karoo shrubs. He had ± 15-20 cattle, 700 mutton sheep and 500 goats. He is currently running 120 cattle, 900 mutton and 600 goats.

Rainfall is 320 mm (12.8 in), in the Karoo lower veld with mountain parts.

Trenly participated in a Holistic Management course in 1995 and began changing his management then.

Springbuck Camp This camp (paddock) was part of the mountain, but he fenced it off in 1990. The camp was very big, but now it is only 45 hectares (122 acres) big.

November 1993 Before Holistic Management

April 1999 Notice bigger patches of Cenchrus Cilliarus.

May 2004 Water cycle much better even with less rain than normal.

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April 1996

February 2001

May 2004

Aristida Congesta still the dominant grass.

The camp is now small and the bare areas are becoming smaller.

This photo is to show what the potential of the veld (range) can be.

Watervlei, Graaff-Reinet— Norman and Jenny Kroon The Kroons moved to Watervlei in 1994. Norman changed his management and ran big flocks of wool sheep and cattle together.

Springbuck 4

He also did some stripgrazing during the year, but only when he felt there was a need for it. These clay soils need drastic impact to step up, be it strip grazing or a bit of plow work. Check the costs! This is Lower Karoo veld with 300 mm (12 in) rainfall.

September 1983

Aberdeen Flats

Before Holistic Management.

August 1992

February 1998 One year after plow, seeds, and animal impact.

Drought

April 2000

April 2000 Two years after strip grazing the plowed veld.

May 2004 Dry season. Not grazed for 100 days, but will be grazed in June 2004.

May 2004 continued on page 10

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Holistic Management in South Africa—Monitoring the Progress continued from page 9

Vrijsfontein—Cattle As Management Tool to Seed Grass April 1998 Seeds were deposited by cattle.

October 1991 Signs of cattle activity around the post.

April 2000

Panicum Maximum seeded via cattle rubbing against the post.

Klipdrift— Sholto and Ann-mari Kroon Duiker #11

1980

1986 The Kroons were putting in a new center.

1990 Mostly ChlorisVirgata. Left corner, Sporobolus Fimbriatus. Green patch next to first dropper right of fence is Cenchrus Ciliarus.

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One flock was allocated for that center for the whole year, densities too low and back to soon.

February 2002

Only 20mm (.8 in) of rain that season.

Camp already grazed.

Never Underestimate Change

by Roland R.H. Kroos

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n the last day of August, I turned 50 years old. As hard as that fact is to bear, I can’t believe I have been involved in Holistic Management for 20 years. I was first introduced to the concepts of Holistic Management back in 1983, when I was asked to guide Allan Savory around Washington State. I learned more in that day and half than I did in several of my college classes. I watched Allan put on a two-day introductory conference, and I was hooked on the concepts of Holistic Management.

When I meet Allan Savory, I was working for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-USDA) on projects associated with the Mt. St. Helen’s disaster. Shortly thereafter, I moved back to Nebraska and was asked to organize a similar two-day event in North Platte, with Allan. I had no idea how this event in early 1984 would profoundly affect not only my life, but the lives of so many people in Nebraska.. In those two days, over 200 people attended this introductory workshop. Within the year, a number of ranchers I worked with traveled down to Albuquerque to attend a week-long course in Holistic Management. Not only that, but they put enough pressure on the NRCS for technical assistance, that the NRCS sent me to my first course in 1984.

I realize now, how fortunate I was to work with a dozen ranchers immediately following the first course. Though we made a lot of mistakes, together we were able to learn how to put into practice this management process. In late 1985, I resigned from the NRCS and started to work for the Center for Holistic Management. Following my training at the Center, I continued to work with some of these ranchers in a consultant/mentor type role. With The Savory Center celebrating its 20th Anniversary and me questioning what contributions I have made in 50 years, I though it would be a good idea to interview some of these ranchers that started practicing Holistic Management in 1984. So on August 26 and 27, I interviewed four families and asked them to share how their lives have changed. You should know that it was time that prevented me from following up with and visiting more ranchers in the Nebraska Sandhills practicing Holistic Management. I hope you appreciate the honesty and candor with which these people answered my questions.

Editor’s Note: Due to space constraints, we will only be able to print one of Roland’s interviews in this issue. The January issue will carry the rest of his interviews.

Eatinger Cattle Company

just didn’t favor continuing to grow crops on this marginal land.

In 1991, Jim (long-time employee) quit and for six years we had employees who didn’t fit our operation. In May of 1997, Dennis Drews began working for Eatinger Cattle Company and continues to work for us today.

I’ve come to realize that cows and land can’t make money, only people can. Over the last twenty years, the community respects what we are doing and the direction we’ve taken.

Wayne & Roxanne Eatinger

What changes have occurred since 1984 when you first attended the Holistic Management course?

In 1984, I was 30 years old and still doing the rodeo circuit. My dad (Byron) was running the business, and I was a hired hand on the ranch. Attending the Holistic Management course in 1984, catapulted me into management. Holistic Management provided me with the skills to treat the ranch as a business, Wayne Eatinger (left) and Dennis Drew showing the fence line contrast and we continue to be successful today. between the Eatinger Cattle Company property and their neighbor’s In 1998, I bought Eatinger Cattle property. The Eatingers have grazed this paddock twice during the growing Company from my parents. season, the last time less than two weeks before this photo was taken.

So where is Eatinger Cattle As a result of attending this course, I Company today? found myself moving from hired hand to owner.

Long range planning, figuring out how We operate on approximately 16,000 acres I wanted to participate in the planning and to pass the ranch business onto the next (6,426 ha). We own approximately 1,200 cows decisions being made. Allan Savory in that first generation, and letting go. Dad was very and take in 1,200 yearlings for 110 days. In 1984 course instilled in me that if things were going supportive and open minded to the Holistic we were removing approximately 21 ADA’s to go right, it was by my own doing. Conversely, Management approach. Dad actually encouraged (animal days/acre). Today, we are removing if things where going to go wrong, it was my me to attend my first course. We had a number approximately 33-36 ADA’s. In 1984, Eatinger own damn fault. No excuses! You must take of disagreements, but Dad was willing to trust Cattle Company had a net worth of responsibility. I learned you can hire an me and allowed me to try a number of new approximately $400,000. Today our net worth is employee, but you can’t hire somebody to ideas. The greatest challenge occurred in 1995, $1.3 million. Eatinger Cattle Company only owns do the management for you. when I decided to turn off two center pivots 500 acres; we lease most of the land we operate What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in the last 20 years?

and allow this cropland to revert back to grass.

Initially, my dad said, “It never would happen.”

The pivots were worn out and the economics

on. Most of the last 20 years, we have made a continued on page 12

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flexible grazing plan, we were able to almost eliminate most of the scours in 2004. Time will tell whether we have solved this problem or not.

profit. Those years we lost money were because of the poor decisions we made. Today, most of the cows on the ranch are calving in June, and we don’t feed hay to them in the winter time.

Though they are calving late spring, this ranch has experienced tremendous scour problems from 1998–2003. In 2001, we lost five to six percent of the calves despite treating over 50 percent of the calves for scours. With advice from the veterinarian and creating a very

Are you still using Holistic Management today?

We don’t refer to the Holistic Management® model all the time if that is what you mean.

However after 20 years, I believe we have the process figured out. I still do the financial planning on worksheets and the grazing planning. When you have over 60 paddocks, you need to use this planning process to keep everything straight.

What has been your biggest discovery or

Never Underestimate Change

Lana Litter—Money in the Bank

by Nick Reid & Karen Forge Editor’s Note: This article is an excerpt from a draft case study farm publication, the research for which is funded by the Land, Water & Wool Program—a joint initiative of Australian Wool Innovation and Land & Water Australia. The article was written by Associate Professor Nick Reid, Ecosystem Management, University of New England Armidale, and Karen Forge, Southern New England Landcare Ltd, Armidale. The full article title is “Wool Production & Biodiversity Spin a Yarn for Tim & Karen Wright.” For further information about this publication, contact Nick Reid at 61-2-6773-2759 or nrei3@metz.une.edu.au.

T

im and Karen Wright’s property, “Lana,” is 3,350 hectares (8,342 acres) in the Gwydir River Catchment near Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. Their average rainfall is 769 mm or 30 inches. They carry 7000 Merino sheep and 650 breeding cows and have divided their land into 240 paddocks of approximately 10-25 hectares (25-62 acres). Each paddock is grazed an average of eight days per year (approximately two days each season—fall, winter, spring, summer) with at least a 70-day recovery period. Their main enterprise is easy-care, low-cost Merino sheep with an average adult micron of 17.5.

Resource Issues In the 1960s, Tim’s father, Peter, began aerially seeding “Lana.” “Using pasture improvement like this, we lifted our stock numbers from 7,000 DSE (Dry Sheep Equivalent) in 1980 to 20,000 in 1991,” says Tim. But the Wrights were losing money with this form of management because they barely

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broke even over five years after “improving” a paddock. In fact, after the 1981 and 1994 droughts, the lowest yielding paddocks were the sown paddocks.

In the early 1990s, Tim and Karen attended Holistic Management and Grazing for Profit schools. Tim experimented with cell grazing between 1991-1993 and then began planned grazing in 1995. With planned grazing, stock numbers across both “Lana” and “Kasamanca”—their 780-hectare (1,942-acre) property—have been maintained between 15,000- 20,000 DSE ever since, with only one-third the fertilizer inputs of the 1980s. This includes years with rainfall as low as 400 mm (15.6 inches). At any given point 95 percent of the land is in recovery mode.

Planned Grazing Tim has learned that sheep and cattle are generally best grazed separately. “We keep sheep and cattle separate to get the right balance between finance, livestock, and range condition.

Cattle always do better if they are on their own.

They also open up the pasture for the sheep and take the worm burden out. Cattle and sheep don’t mix; they don’t like each other. Sheep are more selective, and would otherwise take good feed away from the cattle. The two together didn’t work in the first year,” Tim says.

For this reason, he employs a leader-follower approach. “In a leader-follower system, cattle run two days ahead of the sheep. This solves the worm burden problem. For the leader-follower system to work, you’ve got to have the same size paddocks, 15-17 hectares (37-42 acres) in my case,

N ove m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 4

learning over the last 20 years?

1) The power of communication and learning how to negotiate; 2) Marketing—being more imaginative; 3) Being open minded and a self learner; 4) Holistic Management offers no magic bullets or quick solutions; Holistic Management is a process that you need to evolve with over time; and 5) We live in the best country in which to conduct business.

If someone was just getting started in practicing Holistic Management, what advice would you give them today?

First, get a handle on your finances. Your

so cattle get two days then sheep get two days so that the paddock experiences a four-day graze period,” says Tim. For Tim and Karen, the number and type of stock in each farmlet (cell) varies with country and class of livestock. “A good number of ewes is about 850 in a farmlet because you get less mismothering than with larger mobs. It’s also a better number in terms of lamb marking and labor. You can mark 700-800 lambs in a day,” says Tim.

Fencing & Water Tim and Karen put in a lot of fencing and stock water development as part of their planned grazing effort. “I installed permanent fences— suspension fencing, four barbs, steels 15 meter (16.5 yards) apart, one dropper between and steel end assemblies—for AUS$800/km (US$928/mile) including labor,” says Tim. “We made our own end assemblies. We could do one kilometer (.6 miles) per day, so it was pretty cheap. Each subdivision involved about 3/4 kilometer of fences (1/2 mile), so eight paddocks meant seven to eight kilometers (4-5 miles) of fencing. We try to fence parallel to the slope, on the contour, not up and down. That way you get stock to move nutrients off the old camps. Twelve months ago, we fenced the western paddock like this; we’ve seen a big change in 12 months already. A year ago, the pasture there looked dead. Those areas are now running three to four times the stock they used to.

“In the first and second years at Tilses, the water was already there in the creeks and dams.

Since it was just the sheep and heifers, it wasn’t a big drain on the water supply. In the third or fourth year, we put in a tank system to water the new paddocks. The dams were already here, but we went to troughs. The cleaner the water, the

weakest link probably isn’t land management, though it might be the most exciting and sexy to work with. You need to look at the whole and resist the temptation to manage only parts of your operation. Be willing to change what needs to be changed. You can build all the fence you want; it probably isn’t going to change the bottom-line of any enterprise.

Roland’s Final Thought I remember at the end of the first Holistic Management course Allan challenging us with this statement: “You may not agree with everything that I presented to you this past

better. There’s proof (from Nebraska feedlot research) that cattle do better on cleaner water.

Stock can lose 0.5 kg/day (1 lb/day) on muddy water in a dam.

“The stock tend to draw to the troughs. We don’t need troughs in wet seasons, but they are a good drought standby. A mix of dams and troughs gives us the best of both worlds. Trough are also good for the leader-follower system when the cattle muck up the dam water. Dams on granite soil don’t pug up as much as on the other soil types.”

Financial Advantages Tim and Karen see many advantages to Holistic Management® planned grazing. Tim has noticed the quality of his wool clippings improve.

The wool yield in the 1980s was only 73-74 percent, now its 78-80 percent. Tim has also seen planned grazing reduce the amount of Wiregrass (Aristida ramosa) and vegetable matter in the wool during the last 15 years, a phenomenon most noticeable in the skirtings in the drought years when the sheep are forced to graze the Wiregrass.

In the drought year of 1982 the vegetable matter percentage was almost 10 percent. In the drought year of 1994 the percentage was down to three percent. By the drought year of 2002 it was down to less than two percent. The reduction of vegetable matter has enabled Tim and Karen to decrease the amount of skirting. “The ratio of skirtings to main lines has gone from 1:3 to 1:5 over time, and since the skirtings are worth only half the value of the main fleece lines, the value of the overall wool clip has increased,” says Tim. While wool income has increased, cost of production has decreased when compared to cost of production during pasture improvement for the Wrights. “We operate a low-input system now. Our main inputs are fencing and the labor involved in

week, but I don’t believe you can approach the management of your ranch (resources) in the same light before you attended this course. In one fashion or another, you will change how you manage your resources.” Just this summer, I had a client request my assistance to help facilitate a family meeting for the first time. He bought a ranch in South Dakota in 1995 and the success this person has had in the last nine years is remarkable. He attended that first workshop in North Platte in 1984 and remembers meeting me. In the first 11 years, he thought about what it meant to practice Holistic Management and attended a couple

of Holistic Management courses taught by other educators. Even though neither Allan nor I have had direct contact with this person in the last 20 years, the change occurred. So to all you Holistic Management educators and practitioners out there, never underestimate the impact you might be having on someone’s life.

general maintenance. We used to have two fulltime employees on “Lana” up until the 1980s, then one full-time after that. We also used to have a lot more casual employees during the early 1980s. We now use contract labor only two days per week; we are not drenching as much; we are not sowing pastures or plowing anymore, and we are not spraying weeds as much. We’ve kept the chisel plow for bushfires only. The animals are now our farming tools.”

Interestingly, the least developed parts of the property have generated the best returns. They are producing at about the same rates as the more developed parts of the property, and they involve the least investment. Tim notes, “With planned grazing, I was able to leave the wethers in [the least developed areas] for the whole year, and I doubled the number of stock from 2 DSE/ha (.8 DSE/acre) to 5 DSE/ha (2 DSE/acre). We have spent AUS$40/ha (US$69/acre) on fencing and water for more subdivision, and it was repaid in two years.”

work, she recorded 30-50 species on transects.

During the study period, more perennials appeared including cool-season perennials that we had never seen before. These carried the stock through the last drought.”

In monitoring they saw a rise of desirable species, such as Paddock lovegrass, from 200 kg/ha (177lb/acre) in control transects to 600 kg/ha (530 lb/acre) in planned grazing areas, a 300 percent difference. Likewise, their Wheatgrass pasture biomass was approximately 10 kg/ha (8.8 lb/acre) in control transects versus 150kg/ha (133 lb/acre) in the planned grazing areas, over a 1400 percent difference.

In looking at the undesirable species, the Wiregrass basal diameter changed within a 50-month time period from a common diameter of 1 to 1.25 in control transects to 0.1 in the planned grazing areas. And the Pinrush shifted within a 40-month period from a common diameter of 1 to .5 in the controlled area to non-existent in the planned grazing areas.

Roland Kroos is a Holistic Management® Certified Educator and owner of Crossroads & Company, a range management consulting business. He lives in Bozeman, Montana and can be reached at: 406/522-3862 or KROOSING@earthlink.net.

The Land “In 2002, we had 397.5 mm (15.6 in) of rain, the lowest Species rainfall on record. 1902 was Paddock lovegrass the next lowest rainfall, yet Wheatgrass the stock we have been able to carry has been phenomenal.

And the biggest winner has been the land. There’s more groundcover in these old sown paddocks than there was after sowing them. The sheep camps used to be pinrush and thistle. Now the grasses beat the weeds,” says Tim. Dr. Christine Jones monitored the cell grazing trial on “Lana” in the early 1990s and documented a shift in pasture composition from undesirable to desirable species. Tim explains, “In Christine’s

Change in Plant Communities Desirable Plants Control Area Planned Grazing Areas 200 kg/ha (117 lb/acre) 600 kg/ha (530 lb/acre) 10 kg/ha (8.8 lb/acre) 150 kg/ha (133 lb/acre)

Difference 300% + 1400%+

Livestock Needs Tim has saved money on purchased feed in recent years. He fed no hay or grain during the 2002 drought, although all stock had access to minerals and Tim provided cotton seed meal pellets for cattle and supplementary nuts for the ewes. “We took the cattle through on about $25-30 continued on page 14

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Lana Litter—Money in the Bank continued from page 13 per cow-calf unit over the whole of the drought, and supplementation of the sheep cost about 80 cents/sheep, including labor. The regular movement stimulates the animals to eat. During the drought, they didn’t need bulk—that was there in the pasture. Lactating animals just needed added protein and minerals for a month or so.”

•

The rest factor—the pasture roots grow deeper, drawing up the nutrients. Christine did some root work, looking at rooting depths, and found the roots went deeper than they had before.

• The pasture is in recovery phase 95 percent of the time, meaning more litter is being laid down, enriching the topsoil with organic matter.

• The transfer of nutrients off the sheep camps. A lot of this comes back to fencing design and grazing management to transfer nutrients away from the sheep camps. It takes 10 days for nutrients to

Through the Grazing for Profit and Holistic Management courses Tim learned how to read his land and recognize healthy water, mineral and energy cycles, and the different pasture and other plant species. Tim appreciates that a lot of the primary production in his pastures returns to the soil as litter. “Litter is money in the bank—it’s not a waste of pasture. It provides a good microclimate for fungi and bacteria. Last autumn, there were thousands of mushrooms and toadstools. Fungi like lots of litter.

“We are not interested in sowing exotics or natives in the traditional sense of sowing. What we’ve got is what we’re meant to have. In about 1993, I sold most of my farming gear, and spent the money on fences. Subclover is an exotic and was abundant in 2003, but this was the first year in ten that we have had clover to this extent.

We usually only get small amounts.”

Because the grass species composition of the pastures has been changing for the better, sewing subclover becomes less of an issue for the Wrights. “The stock are healthy without it.

Fescue and clover hang on in swamps so they are valuable plants in those situations. There are more native legumes than there used to be. Sheep prefer native legumes to many other plants.

Having a range of pasture species means that you always have something seeding. Cattle manure is full of seed, so the seed gets transported around the paddocks. Under set stocking of improved pastures, phalaris and white clover drop out of the pasture—the natives out compete them.”

Another area where Tim and Karen have been able to save money is fertilizer. “Christine Jones helped us look at our mineral cycle in the grazing trials in the 1990s,” says Tim. “She found a four to five times increase in available phosphorus in areas that hadn’t been fertilized over a three year period, along with increases in total nitrogen and potassium. We asked ourselves “why?”

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Tim and Karen are especially pleased about the natural regeneration occurring across “Lana” because the lack of forest and woodland regeneration on farms is a major conservation concern elsewhere in southern Australia. Stock pressure is managed to control “problem” species. Tim explains, “ ‘Timecontrolled grazing’ is not a bad name for it [animal impact and grazing] because I have controlled lots of eucalypt regeneration with an extra half day or overnight period of high density grazing. The extra

PHOTOS: NICK REID

Ecological Principles

Timber & Riparian Areas

Molong Creek under holistic planned grazing and doubled stocking rate. Note the well-vegetated drainage line, riparian zone and the regrowth red gum on the banks.

pass through the animals. If you are moving sheep every two days, you are moving nutrients from paddocks with sheep camps into the next four paddocks without.

“It’s challenging, but the fact is you can make nutrients; if you are building soil, you are increasing nutrient levels in the topsoil. These three factors make a big difference to the fertilizer bill. We’ve been able to reduce fertilizer applications by 70 percent.”

N ove m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 4

grazing has allowed me to bring a potential woody weed problem under control.

“The important thing is the rest that the riparian zone gets most of the time. Even though we run high stock densities, the planned grazing is helping the riparian zone recover, allowing vegetation to grow back, erosion to heal and water quality to improve.” With improved habitat comes more wildlife with platypus in Roumalla and Basin Creeks. The Wrights also have abundant birdlife, some koalas, and a few wallabies up in the hills, as well as brush-tailed possums, straw-necked ibis and some wedgetailed eagles, with plenty of snakes, echnidnas, bats, frogs, and lizards.

Tim is an active member of the local BalalaBushgrove Landcare Group, and “Lana” has hosted many of the Group’s trials during the last 15 years.

The Group won a Silver Landcare Award for the research they conducted during a five-year period.

Tim and Karen are achieving the triple bottom line. Through Holistic Management and planned grazing, they have more time for family, friends, and community; their business profitability is improving; and, they are working with nature to enhance their farm ecosystem’s productivity and biodiversity and restore its natural resource base.

T he

GRAPEVINE n ews f ro m t h e s a vo r y c e n t e r * p e o p l e , p ro g ra m s & p ro j e c t s

From The Executive Director

A

s I read the recently published Limits to Growth by Meadows, Randers and Meadows, I have been reminded about the current level of ecological pressure we have put on the planet, and how the time has come where we can no longer speak of sustainable practices, but must actively pursue regenerative practices. The authors note that such action by the larger populace will only occur when the triple bottom line is affected (i.e. when resource shortages make us truly explore alternatives).

But those engaged in Holistic Management and holistic practices are already thinking about more long-term consequences and alternative, regenerative practices. With the work we have done at The Savory Center in the past year to establish a strategic plan and refocus our energies, we have come to realize more deeply how many of you are impacting

Savory Center Member Wins Award Rukin Jelks, Jr. of the Diamond C Ranch in Elgin, Arizona won the 2004 Cattleman of the Year Award from the Arizona Cattle Grower's Association. The press release noted that Jelk's operation has been held up as an example of successful Holistic Management in spite of drought conditions. Rukin acknowledged in his acceptance speech at the conference how Holistic Management had helped his ranch operation. Congratulations, Rukin!

NE Holistic Management Workshops Seth Wilner of University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension organized a Holistic Management workshop on October 13-14 at Lakeshore Farms in Notthingham, New Hampshire. At the request of Cooperative Extension Service professionals from around the New England region (County Agents and Educators), the workshop will be held to develop capacity for Holistic Management within the Northeast extension service. Fifty participants will receive proceedings and support material, including regional network resources

your communities in ways this international organization could never do alone. The successes you are achieving are the ones we would love to encourage, or even enhance or support if appropriate.

In the lead article of this issue, Ann Adams discusses our strategic focus of collaboration with communities of practice as we begin a process of re-branding and re-positioning The Savory Center to have an even more substantial impact in supporting the grassroots effort toward improved planetary health. The exciting aspect for me, coming from agriculture, is that those of us involved in agriculture (both farming and ranching) can be the leaders in making substantial change in the ways we begin regeneration of the ecological health of the soils and lands as well as contributing greatly to the carbon remediation and water quality issues facing the globe.

What are you involved in at your ranch or

(educators and practitioners) they will be able to access within their areas. Co-sponsors are the Northeast Green Pastures Association, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (NE-SARE), and The Savory Center. Kelly Pasztor, The Savory Center’s Director of Educational Services, will be on hand to co-facilitate the workshop with Seth Wilner.

The Central New York Resource Conservation & Development Council (CNY RC&D), Cornell Small Farms Program, Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE), and The Savory Center are sponsoring the upcoming “Holistic Management Decision Making for Agency, Non-Profit Professionals and Farmers” workshop on November 4 & 5th, 2004 in Norwich, New York. This two-day workshop will provide an opportunity for farm service providers to gain an introduction to Holistic Management from experienced practitioners and educators. Phil Metzger, CNY RC&D, and John Thurgood, Cornell Cooperative Extension Delaware County, are the organizers. Kelly Pasztor from The Savory Center will co-facilitate the workshop.

Tim LaSalle

farm and in your community that helps people restore deteriorating land in ways that benefit the social, economic, and environmental health of their communities? We would like to hear from you. And if there are opportunities for us to support ideas and projects you are aware of, we would like to hear from you also. The Savory Center is committed to supporting our members and accomplishing our mission through not only sharing what we have learned, but listening, learning, and incorporating what you have learned. We are eager to participate in even deeper levels of collaboration with all of you working to improve the health of the land and the communities that depend on it.

International Food Communities Meeting In October, Allan Savory and Jody Butterfield led a delegation from The Savory Center to Terra Madre—“World Meeting of Food Communities” in Turin, Italy sponsored by Slow Food (www.slowfoodusa.org). Slow Food is primarily dedicated to the promotion of worldwide ecologically sound food production and land stewardship practices. The Terra Madre forum (October 20-23) and Salone del Gusto (October 21-25) was expected to draw some 5,000 producers from around the world. These events will allow producers to meet and share their experiences and knowledge of the production, promotion, and enjoyment of slow food.

The Savory Center delegates are: Ben and Denise Bartlett, Michigan; Mike Bonnheim, California; Juli and Kevin Brussell, Illinois; Bill and Kay Burrows, California; Guy Glosson, Texas; Doc and Connie Hatfield, Oregon; Jim and Daniela Howell, Colorado; David and Kay James, Colorado; Andrea and Katherine Malmberg, Wyoming; Sandra Matheson and Lyle Galloway, Washington; Mike and Cathy McNeil, Colorado; Teresa Maurer, Arkansas; John and Dorothy Priske, Wisconsin; Jim and Mary

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Rickert, California; Jack and Zera Varian, California; George and Elaine Work, California.

On the Road with Allan Savory

T

he autumn has been busy for founder Allan Savory. Late September found him participating in the Ecoagriculture Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, where he served as moderator for a session on “Managing Ecoagriculture at a Landscape Scale,” in addition to participating in other organized discussions and working groups.

On October 4-5, Allan was at the Idaho State University GIS Center’s 3rd Annual Integration of Geo-spatial and Range Sciences Conference sponsored by NASA. Along with Keith T. Weber, Director of the ISU GIS Center, Allan led a field trip and rangeland viewing and delivered a lecture on “Thinking Holistically to Tackle Today’s Problems.”

Immediately following the mid-October Terra Madre forum in Italy, Allan headed down under to Melbourne, Australia to deliver a keynote address and participate in a panel discussion at the 2004 Inaugural Global Sustainable Development Conference sponsored by the Minerals Council of Australia from October 25-29, 2004.

Book Review

By Ann Adams The Oglin

By Dick Richardson with Rio de la Vista pp 432 $24.95; © Savanna Press 2005

H

ave you ever wished that someone would take the principles of Holistic Management and simplify them in a way that even a child would understand? Well, Dick Richardson and Rio de la Vista have done just that in an intriguing cross of styles in which C.S. Lewis meets J.R.R. Tolkien on the African continent.

The epic journey chronicled in this novel is the story of two Oglins (magical earth spirits of Africa), Baylin and Lafina. The Oglins live in harmony with nature, but they are not immune to the increasing environmental problems that surround their lands. Chosen by their Great Spirits, Baylin and Lafina must find the cause of the problem and a solution. To do so, they must find clues on their journey as they talk to numerous animals along the way.

For someone who has only experienced Africa in a few movies, novels, and TV shows, I found this book extremely entertaining and educational. Our heroes cross an astounding variety of terrain and meet a cast of characters

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And, finally, looking ahead to early 2005, through the efforts of Certified Educator trainee Abe Collins, the Vermont Grass Farmers’ Association (VGFA) has invited Allan to keynote at their annual conference on January 22, 2005. The theme of the meeting is “Thinking Globally, Grazing Locally.” While there, Allan will also lead a workshop on Holistic Management.

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) will host Allan Savory as heir keynote speaker and workshop leader on February 4, 2005. The PASA “Farming for the Future Conference” will be held in State College, PA on February 3-5, 2005. Further details on the conference may be found on their website: www.pasafarming.org.

how effective land management can improve land health as part of the Department’s reservation wide orientation for grazing officials.

Ranch & Range Program Begins

P

ertified Educator Joel Benson presented an overview of Holistic Management and Land Regeneration to 98 Navajo Nation Grazing Officials on September 23rd. On the request of Ron Jones, Grazing Management Specialist for the Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture, The Savory Center was invited to share information about

articipants in The Savory Center’s 2004 Ranch and Range Manager Training Program met in late August for their introductory training session at Jim and Daniela Howell’s The Blue Ranch. They enjoyed some much needed rain followed by clear blue western Colorado skies as they camped, learned, ate great food, and enjoyed getting to know each other. Lead instructor was Holistic Management® Certified Educator Byron Shelton with Director of Educational Services Kelly Pasztor assisting. As always, participants particularly enjoyed learning how to read the land as well as practicing testing decisions toward their holistic goals.

With some between session guidance from Byron and Kelly, they’ll come ready to the financial planning session in Lander, Wyoming at Tony and Andrea Malmberg’s Twin Creek Ranch in October where they will work on their 2005 financial plan.

including a duiker, a dung beetle, a talking tuft of grass, a gorilla, an eland, a “go-away” bird, and even a Bushman family, while skirting the occasional oblivious tourist.

Perhaps one of my favorite encounters was when the Oglins talk with Checha the Cheetah and inquire about her hunting strategy. She replies: “Well, you see, we cheetahs, have to judge things very, very carefully. We only have a certain amount of energy to expend in a run. I’ve got to get myself into exactly the right position, to force one impala out into a different direction, so that I will be able to take a short cut and take it from the best angle. It’s an art really. It’s an art that a cheetah must master if one is to survive! But you see, you can only learn how to do it by always asking yourself a specific question: Which move will give me the most advantage for the least effort? This releases the mind from deeper concentration.”

Sound familiar? It’s a whole different way of explaining marginal reaction, and this is just one example of how the principles of Holistic Management are interwoven throughout the adventure of the Oglins’ trek through Africa. In this way, whether you know a great deal about

Africa or Holistic Management or not, this story offers many opportunities for further learning and introspection.

I’ve had the privilege of hearing Dick tell stories in person. He is a vivid storyteller that paints the scene with wonderful detail. His knowledge of the African landscape comes through the prose of this novel and invites you into a landscape that is both real and magical.

Through a story that is both real and imaginary, we as the reader are better able to see the sacredness of nature, to look beyond the ordinary and truly see and hear what the land is telling us.

And the wildlife illustrations of South African wildlife illustrator Cathy Feek add even more fully to that feeling.

Both Dick and Rio have been involved in the Holistic Management movement for many years and have traveled extensively, talking with practitioners far and wide. Their global and regional knowledge stand them in good stead as they craft a book that offers the average adolescent or adult a new way of looking at nature while immersed in an adventure story.

For more information about how to order this book, see page 21. Dick and Rio will also offer a book signing at The Savory Center’s Holistic Management Rendezvous in Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 12th and at the Quivira Coalition’s Annual Conference on January 15th.

Navajo Nation Presentation

C

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Certified

Educators

To our knowledge, Certified Educators are the best qualified individuals to help others learn to practice Holistic Management and to provide them with technical assistance when necessary. On a yearly basis, Certified Educators renew their agreement to be affiliated with the Center. This agreement requires their commitment to practice Holistic Management in their own lives, to seek out opportunities for staying current with the latest developments in Holistic Management and to maintain a high standard of ethical conduct in their work.

For more information about or application forms for the U.S., Africa, or International Certified Educator Training Programs, contact Kelly Pasztor at the Savory Center or visit our website at www.holisticmanagement.org/wwo_certed.cfm?

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

UNITED STATES ARIZONA Kelly Mulville 2884 W. Hilltop, Portal, AZ 85632 jackofallterrains@hotmail.com CALIFORNIA Monte Bell 325 Meadowood Dr., Orland, CA 95963 530/865-3246 • mbell95963@yahoo.com

Byron Shelton 33900 Surrey Lane, Buena Vista, CO 81211 719/395-8157 • landmark@my.amigo.net

Constance Neely 1160 Twelve Oaks Circle Watkinsville, GA 30677 • 706/310-0678 cneely@holisticmanagement.org

Bill Casey 1800 Grand Ave., Keokuk, IA 52632-2944 319/524-5098 • wpccasey@interl.net

Bill Burrows 12250 Colyear Springs Rd. Red Bluff, CA 96080 530/529-1535 • sunflowercrmp@msn.com

LOUISIANA

Richard King 1675 Adobe Rd., Petaluma, CA 94954 707/769-1490 • 707/794-8692 (w) richard.king@ca.usda.gov

MAINE Vivianne Holmes 239 E. Buckfield Rd. Buckfield, ME 04220-4209 207/336-2484 • vholmes@umext.maine.edu

Tim McGaffic 13592 Bora Bora Way #327 Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 310/741-0167 • tim@timmcgaffic.com

Montana State University Department of Land Resources & Environmental Science Bozeman, MT 59717 406/994-5079 • montagne@montana.edu NEW MEXICO * Ann Adams The Savory Center 1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 505/842-5252 anna@holisticmanagement.org Amy Driggs 1131 Los Tomases NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 505/242-2787 adriggs@orbusinternational.com Mark Duran 58 Arroyo Salado #B, Santa Fe, NM 87508 505/422-2280; markjodu@aol.com

GEORGIA

IOWA Julie Bohannon 652 Milo Terrace Los Angeles, CA 90042 323/257-1915 • JoeBoCom@pacbell.net

* Cliff Montagne

Tina Pilione P.O. 923, Eunice, LA 70535 phone/fax: 337/580-0068 • tinamp@charter.net

MASSACHUSETTS

* Christine Jost

Kirk Gadzia P.O. Box 1100, Bernalillo, NM 87004 505/867-4685 • fax: 505/867-0262 kgadzia@earthlink.net Ken Jacobson 12101 Menaul Blvd. NE, Ste A Albuquerque, NM 87112; 505/293-7570 kbjacobson@orbusinternational.com

* Kelly Pasztor The Savory Center 1010 Tijeras NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 505/842-5252 kellyp@holisticmanagement.org Sue Probart P.O. Box 81827, Albuquerque, NM 87198 505/265-4554 • tnm@treenm.com David Trew 369 Montezuma Ave. #243 Santa Fe, NM 87501 505/751-0471; trewearth@aol.com

Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine 200 Westboro Rd. North Grafton, MA 01536 508/887-4763 • christine.jost@tufts.edu

Vicki Turpen 03 El Nido Amado SW Albuquerque, NM 87121 505/873-0473 • mvt9357@aol.com

COLORADO

MINNESOTA

Joel Benson P.O. Box 2036, Buena Vista, CO 81211 719/395-2468 • joel@joelnlaurie.com

Terri Goodfellow-Heyer 4660 Cottonwood Lane North Plymouth, MN 55442 763/559-0099 • tgheyer@comcast.net

NEW YORK Karl North 3501 Hoxie Gorge Rd., Marathon, NY 13803 607/849-3328 • northsheep@juno.com

Christopher Peck P.O. Box 2286, Sebastopol, CA 95472 707/758-0171 ctopherp@holistic-solutions.net

Cindy Dvergsten 17702 County Rd. 23, Dolores, CO 81323 970/882-4222 info@wholenewconcepts.com Rio de la Vista P.O. Box 777, Monte Vista, CO 81144 719/852-2211 • riovista@rmi.net Daniela and Jim Howell P.O. Box 67, Cimarron, CO 81220-0067 970/249-0353 • howelljd@montrose.net Chadwick McKellar 16775 Southwood Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80908 719/495-4641 • cmckellar@juno.com

MISSISSIPPI Preston Sullivan 610 Ed Sullivan Lane, NE Meadville, MS 39653 601/384-5310 • 479/442-9824 (w) prestons@nwaisp.com MONTANA Wayne Burleson RT 1, Box 2780, Absarokee, MT 59001 406/328-6808 • rutbuster@montana.net Roland Kroos 4926 Itana Circle, Bozeman, MT 59715 406/522-3862 • KROOSING@earthlink.net

NORTH CAROLINA Sam Bingham 394 Vanderbilt Rd., Asheville, NC 28803 828/274-1309 • sbingham@igc.org NORTH DAKOTA

* Wayne Berry University of North Dakota—Williston P.O. Box 1326, Williston, ND 58802 701/774-4269 or 701/774-4200 wayne.berry@wsc.nodak.edu OKLAHOMA Kim Barker RT 2, Box 67, Waynoka, OK 73860 580/824-9011 • barker_k@hotmail.com

Number 98

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PENNSYLVANIA

INTERNATIONAL

Jim Weaver 428 Copp Hollow Rd. Wellsboro, PA 16901-8976 570/724-7788 • jaweaver@epix.net

AUSTRALIA Helen Carrell “Hillside” 25 Weewondilla Rd. Glennie Heights, Warwick, QLD 4370 61-4-1878-5285 • 61-7-4661-7383 helenc@upfrontoutback.com

TEXAS Christina Allday-Bondy 2703 Grennock Dr., Austin, TX 78745 512/441-2019 • tododia@peoplepc.com Guy Glosson 6717 Hwy 380, Snyder, TX 79549 806/237-2554 • glosson@caprock-spur.com Jennifer Hamre 602 W. St. Johns Ave., Austin, TX 78752 512/374-0104; yosefahanah@yahoo.com

* R.H. (Dick) Richardson University of Texas at Austin Department of Integrative Biology Austin, TX 78712 512/471-4128 • d.richardson@mail.utexas.edu Peggy Sechrist 25 Thunderbird Rd. Fredericksburg, TX 78624 830/990-2529 • sechrist@ ktc.com

Graeme Hand “Inverary” Caroona Lane, Branxholme, VIC 3302 61-3-5578-6272 • 61-4-1853-2130 gshand@hotkey.net.au Mark Gardner P.O. Box 1395, Dubbo, NSW 2830 61-2-6882-0605 gardnerm@ozemail.com.au Brian Marshall “Lucella”; Nundle, NSW 2340 61-2-6769 8226 • fax: 61-2-6769 8223 bkmrshl@northnet.com.au

Liz Williams 4106 Avenue B Austin, TX 78751-4220 512/323-2858 • eliz@grandecom.net

Bruce Ward P.O. Box 103, Milsons Pt., NSW 1565 61-2-9929-5568 • fax: 61-2-9929-5569 blward@holisticresults. com. au Brian Wehlburg c/o “Sunnyholt”, Injue, QLD 4454 61-7-4626-7187 • ijapo2000@yahoo.com

WASHINGTON Craig Madsen P.O. Box 107, Edwall, WA 99008 509/236-2451 madsen2fir@centurytel.net

CANADA Don and Randee Halladay Box 2, Site 2, RR 1, Rocky Mountain House, AB, T0M 1T0 403/729-2472 • donran@telusplanet. net

Sandra Matheson 228 E. Smith Rd. Bellingham, WA 98226 360/398-7866 • smm1@ gte.net

Noel McNaughton 5704-144 St., Edmondton, AB, T6H 4H4s 780/432-5492 • noel@mcnaughton.ca

* Don Nelson Washington State University P.O. Box 646310, Pullman, WA 99164 509/335-2922 • nelsond@ wsu.edu

Len Pigott Box 222, Dysart, SK, SOH 1HO 306/432-4583 • JLPigott@sk.sympatico.ca

Maurice Robinette S. 16102 Wolfe Rd., Cheney, WA 99004 509/299-4942 • mlr@icehouse.net

Kelly Sidoryk Box 374, Lloydminster, AB, S9V 0Y4 403/875-4418 • hi-gain@telusplanet.net

Doug Warnock 151 Cedar Cove Rd., Ellensburg, WA 98926 509/925-9127 • warnockd@ elltel.net WISCONSIN Elizabeth Bird Room 203 Hiram Smith Hall 1545 Observatory Dr., Madison WI 53706 608/265-3727 • eabird@facstaff.wisc.edu Larry Johnson W886 State Road 92, Brooklyn, WI 53521 608/455-1685 • lpjohn@rconnect.com WYOMING Tim Morrison P.O. Box 536, Meeteese, WY 82433 307/868-2354 • mcd@tctwest.net

Steve Hailstone 5 Lampert Rd., Crafers, SA 5152 61-4-1882-2212 hailstone@internode.on.net

MEXICO Ivan Aguirre La Inmaculada Apdo. Postal 304, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000 tel/fax: 52-637-377-8929 rancho_inmaculada@yahoo.com Elco Blanco-Madrid Cristobal de Olid #307 Chihuahua Chih., 31240 52-614-415-3497 • fax: 52-614-415-3175 elco_blanco@hotmail.com Manuel Casas-Perez Calle Amarguva No. 61, Lomas Herradura Huixquilucan, Mexico City CP 52785 52-558-291-3934 • 52-588-992-0220 (w) iconquiahua@att.net.mx

Jose Ramon “Moncho” Villar Av. Las Americas #1178 Fracc. Cumbres, Saltillo, Coahuila 25270 52-844-415-1542 • fmholistic@att.net.mx NAMIBIA Gero Diekmann P.O. Box 363, Okahandja 9000 264-62-518091 nam00132@mweb.com.na Colin Nott P.O. Box 11977, Windhoek 264-61-228506 canott@iafrica.com.na Wiebke Volkmann P.O. Box 182, Otavi, 264-67-234-448 wiebke@mweb.com.na NEW ZEALAND John King P.O. Box 3440, Richmond, Nelson 64-3-547-6347 succession@clear.net.nz SOUTH AFRICA Sheldon Barnes P.O. Box 300, Kimberly 8300 Johan Blom P.O. Box 568, Graaf-Reinet 6280 27-49-891-0163 johanblom@cybertrade.co.za Ian Mitchell-Innes P.O. Box 52, Elandslaagte 2900 27-36-421-1747 blanerne@mweb.co.za Norman Neave P.O. Box 69, Mtubatuba 3935 27-084-2452/62 norberyl@telkomsa.net Dick Richardson P.O. Box 1806, Vryburg 8600 tel/fax: 27-53-927-4367 judyrich@cybertrade.co.za Colleen Todd P.O. Box 21, Hoedspruit 1380 27-82-335-3901 (cell) colleen_todd@yahoo.com ZIMBABWE Mutizwa Mukute PELUM Association Regional Desk P.O. Box MP 1059 Mount Pleasant, Harare 263-4-74470/744117 • fax: 263-4-744470 pelum@mail.pci.co.zw Liberty Mabhena Spring Cabinet P.O. Box 853, Harare 263-4-210021/2 • 263-4-210577/8 fax: 263-4-210273 Elias Ncube P. Bag 5950, Victoria Falls 263-3-454519 rogpachm@africaonline.co.zw

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IN PRACTICE

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