Today many people around the world are promoting sustainability, good animal management and organic production.  It's worth considering that this is all humans did until very recently, and yet history shows us that civilisation after civilisation has failed.  The current state of global resource mis- management  needs little introduction.  The strategies and techniques we use to regenerate landscapes whilst meeting our needs socially & economically are important, but management & decision making is key to long term success.  Humans have never had a clear way to deal with complex systems and in agriculture, by default, we are working with ecological, economic and social complexities.  Whilst we usually meet our simple objectives in everyday life successfully, on the longer term & society wide our species constantly meets unintended consequences of this decision making.  This is because our day to day decision making is mostly around immediate problems, needs and desires which often lack a defined holistic context.  Managing holistically begins by defining how we wish our life to be in the context of these complex systems, and we consider the resource bases under our management to ensure our decision making leaves intact (or improves) these resources for generations to come.  Only once our holistic context is defined can we manage effectively, consistently and holistically in alignment with these.

Holistic Management was first developed over 40 years ago by Allan Savory, a Zimbabwean biologist, game ranger, politician, farmer, and rancher, who was searching for ways to save the beautiful savannah and its wildlife in southern Africa.  Managing holistically relates to all human activities, not just livestock production, although this is usually people's first exposure to it. The 20 min. video above documents Allan Savory's work in a nutshell, and is well worth your time if you have not come across it before.

Managing livestock holistically is based on four key insights that highlight the symbiotic relationship between large herds of grazing animals, their predators and the grasslands that support them:

• Nature functions in wholes You can’t control or change one thing in one area without having an impact on something else in another area.
• All environments are different It is crucial to acknowledge nature’s complexity and that an action can produce completely different results in different environments.
• Properly managed livestock can improve land health When domestic livestock is properly managed to mimic the behavior of wild herbivores interacting with grasslands, they can reverse desertification.
• Time is more important than numbers Overgrazing of plants is directly related to the amount of time the plants are exposed to the grazing animals and the amount of time that lapses between consecutive grazing events.

Kirk Gadzia, 10 Principles of Holistic Management
(Relating specifically to holistic planned grazing & livestock)

1. Nature functions in wholes. The whole is equal to – not greater than – the sum of its parts and their interrelationships. To manage holistically, the emphasis is that the interconnections between the land, people, livestock, wildlife, water, etc. must be acknowledged. Likewise, rather than just looking at the economic or financial side of something the ecological and social implications should also be considered.
2. Understand the environment you manage. Most farmers and ranchers fight nature. Nature always wins, so to find sustainability and success, comes when farmers and ranchers aim to mimic natural systems.
3. Livestock can improve land health. With management and control of timing, livestock are a beneficial tool for land health.
4. Time is more important than numbers. Control of time on the land is the critical factor. The amount of time is more important than the number of animals that are on the land. “You control overgrazing by controlling time, and the recovery period is more important than utilization.”
5. Define what you are managing. This means having a plan; taking stock of what the operation entails.
6. State what you want. “Holistic management does not function without establishing goals and values that fit with the quality of life you are trying to achieve.”
7. Bare ground is public enemy number 1. Bare ground is an indicator of whether or not your land management practices are improving the health of the land.
8. Play with a full deck. Landowners use all the tools available to solve problems and enhance their operations. This may include technology, rest, fire, and most importantly, human creativity.
9. Test your decisions. Include all involved in the ranch or farm in decision making, so they have buy-in to the idea, and so that the decision has been objectively tested. “We routinely see money spent without testing.”
10. Monitor for results. Did what you do work or do more changes need to be made? That’s what monitoring is all about – evaluating and improving for the future.

managing holistically at ridgedale permaculture

Whole Under Management

People/Decision Makers
Richard Perkins & Yohanna Amselem are owners and the primary decision makers at Ridgedale Permaculture. 

Our core team (who come committed for 6 months) have decision making power within their roles/ responsibilities.  Intern’s have creative decision making in aspects of their experience and are included in decision making where appropriate within the holistic context. 

Statement of purpose
Ridgedale PERMACULTURE’S foremost responsibility is regenerating landscapes, ecosystem processes and soils through resilient, replicable, scalable and profitable symbiotic farm enterprises. Our secondary function is to educate, facilitate, inform and empower people into action through regenerative design, enterprise and holistic decision-making that fosters and stimulates local community, economy and resilience. 

Quality of life; 

As the owner’s & primary decision makers at Ridgedale, Yohanna & Richard believe that financially sustainable and socially beneficial livelihoods are founded on regenerating the world’s biospheres.  We believe these three aspects that make up our triple bottom line are totally inseparable and so our decision-making consistently reflects this.

Things we value in our lives;
• We are committed to the benefit of all through our work & lifestyle, positively contributing to the local and global communities.  
• We have a lot of fun in our process of life long learning, and are open and create space for innovation.
•  We value minimal waste of all forms of capital
• We value profitable forms of local production & decision making that allows for sustainable, stimulating and meaningful income.  
• We are financially independent, stable and debt free whilst building tangible assets for future generations in a robust and resilient manner.
• We want access to clean water & food and maintain our health through beneficial work & eating the highest standard of seasonal and nutritionally dense produce.
• We relate respectfully to ourselves, participants and the wider community & global networks to support effective collaboration and self empowerment.
• We have time & space to acknowledge and care for loved ones and ourselves.
• We share our knowledge & experience of beneficial solutions and support other’s to participate in the regenerative economy.
• We value transparency, professionalism and integrity whilst striving for excellence.

Forms of production;

• Build topsoil via intelligently integrated plantings, Keyline soil development & holistically planned animal disturbances
• Innovation in farming, marketing & education
• Maximize photosynthetic energy captured on site
• Restore water, carbon and nutrient cycling by mimicking natures processes
• Create habitats that fully support organisms physiological needs
• Demonstrate socially just and sustainable profit with open farm gate policy
• Support world-class education in all aspects of regenerative systems design and holistic decision making
• Develop local food resilience & facilitate access to better than organic food by connecting people to local farmers
• Creative use of resources/ local waste streams to minimize fiscal, human and ecosystem capital
• Utilize regenerative technologies to minimize oil dependence
• Create & demonstrate robust decentralized energy production• Interception of local waste resources
• Document & publish articles & data regarding all elements of our operation
• Clear, open & honest communication with visitors, participants, public & wider networks (locally & digitally)
• Continually reassess our holistic objectives and management process with decision makers as appropriate
• Building community through (respectful and clear) communication, education and participation 
• Excellent direct customer relationships & services

Future resource base;

Behavior & conduct
• Commitment to Holistic Goal 
• Low input (fiscal, oil, energy, labour) based production
• Well maintained tools & spaces
• Satisfied & returning customers
• Offering tangible value to customers
• Supportive neighbors
• Competent staff/ core team
• Healthy working relationships
• Documented design, process, accounts
• Sharing experience over time
• Clear contracts when collaborating
• Sensitivity to cultural norm’s
• Supporting & valuing local people/ enterprises
• Open, honest & joyful communication
• Effective web based communications
• Open days & active participation in local community events
• 50km input/ output zone
• Stable and expanding network of customers, former training participants & global followers/ supporters
• Demonstrating replicable, scalable and tangible solutions
• Clear, recognizable brand

Future Landscape
• Topsoil creation with SOC levels building
• Pasture developing in rooting mass, diversity, beneficial MO populations and plant available nutrients
• Water under control & evenly distributed across landscape
• Increased photosynthetic capture/ biomass
• Closed nutrient/ water/ carbon/ energy cycling
• Riparian zones intact 
• Increasing diversity of wildlife species and health of natural “feedback” loops for disease free production
• Developing genetics (Animal & plant breeding)
• Healthy & maintained perennial systems
• Closed nutrient cycles
• Farm’s food needs met on site
• On site water resilience & independence
• Off grid energy independence
• Poly-income streams for resilience/ diversity

Testing questions;

To manage holistically we use these testing questions to help systematically consider the social, financial, and environmental aspects of decisions we need to make.  It allows us to consider the wider perspective of our Holistic Goal consistently and effectively. 

1.     Cause and effect: Does this action address the root cause of the problem, or merely a symptom?

2.     Marginal reaction: Is there another action that could provide greater return, in terms of your holistic goal, for the time and money spent?

3.     Sustainability: If you take this action, will it lead toward or away from the future resource base described in your holistic goal? (Social/ Land)

4.     Weak link:

o   Social: If you take this action, will you encounter or create a blockage to progress?

o   Biological: Does this action address the weakest point in the life cycle of the organism you're trying to control or promote?

o   Financial: Does this action strengthen the weakest link in the chain of production?

5.     Energy/money source & use

o   Is the energy or money to be used in this action derived from the most appropriate source in terms of your holistic goal?

o   Will the way in which energy or money is to be used lead toward your holistic goal?

6.     Gross profit analysis: Which enterprise contributes more to covering the overheads of the business? (Use this test when comparing two or more enterprises.)

7.     Society & culture:

1.     How do you feel about this action now?
2.     Will it lead to the quality of life you desire?
3.     Will it adversely affect the lives of others?