Holistic Management is an awesome complementary set of land management tools and decision-making framework for the permaculture designer.

There's still a few spots left for anyone on the fence or intrigued to get the download from Kirk... individual day options as well, if you can't come for the whole weekend.

I'm personally very much looking forward to it, and to seeing many of you there!

-Jay Ma

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Holistic Management Training

With Kirk Gadzia

September 9,10, &11, 2011

M.A. Center ~ Castro Valley, CA

For more Information and to Register Click Here.

The Next Step for Permaculture Designers

"What is the best thing you can do to further your effectiveness as a a permaculture designer? Take a Holistic Management course.”

“What permaculture lacks is a decision-making framework. What holistic management lacks is a design framework. Let's put together a dowry."

~ Darren Doherty

What is Holistic Management?

Holistic Management is a goal driven framework for making better decisions to manage all aspects of our lives. With a process to assess and optimize short and long term strategies, this systems-thinking approach to managing land resources can improve production, generate financial strength, regenerate ecosystems, and improve the quality of life for those who use it.

How Livestock Can Save the Planet!

For millenia every grassland on the planet co-evolved with grazing mammals that travelled in large tightly packed herds and moved often (due to predators). It turns out that when you mimic these patterns with managing animals the effect is soil building, increased biodiversity, longer water cycles, and healthier ecosystems. This is an important key to combat climate change AND have economically and ecologically abundant farms and ranches in the process.

Learn this goal driven framework to manage land, organizations, and homesteads of all scales.

• Gain an understanding of the Holistic Management framework overview

• Make sustainability a profitable practice

• Bigger profits & better quality of life

Day 2: Holistic Land Management

We will apply the decision-making framework to the design and management of land. Using the 380 acres at the M.A. Center permaculture project as a model we will learn hands on how to:

• Evaluate land health through observation of ecosystem processes

• Develop systems of monitering so feedback will guide future decisions

• Understand the "tools" of land management.

• Understand priciples of restoring fecundity and biodiversity to grasslands

• Prioritize projects to assure short and long term financial, social, and ecosystem goals are met.

Day 3: Holistic Animal Management

In drylands and Mediterranean climates herding grass eating animals can either degrade landscapes or act as the single most effective soil building force available. Here we will learn the principals of managing animals on grasslands, orchards, and brush-scapes. Particpants will learn how to develop grazing plans that will:

• Transition dry hillsides to green perennial grasslands, fertile orchards, perennial, or biodiverse forests.

• Bring water sources back to life

• Sequester carbon in deeper and healthier soils

• Improve soil health and biodiversity of rangelands and pastures.

• Increase grazing and wildlife capacity.

• Boost orchard health and fertility

• Grow healthier crops and achieve higher yields.

• Reverse desertification in brittle environments

About the Instructor - Kirk Gadzia

Kirk Gadzia is a certified instructor with the Holistic Management International Center, Savory Institute, and is founder of Resource Management Services - a training and consulting firm located in Bernalillo, NM. Kirk has extensive international experience in consulting with many large ranching and agricultural operations throughout the United States and overseas. The focus of his work is a holistic approach to agriculture and life, whereby land, animals, crops, wildlife and other resources are planned into the operation and financial picture. The model for making this work is mimicking natural systems and balancing life style with long and short term goal.

* 1,000 tree holistic food forest

* Dynamic watershed restoration

* Broadacre land contouring & water infiltration

* Keyline patterning & ploughing

* Native reforestation & agroforestry

* Holistically managed grazing

* Soil food web management

* Solar energy

* Community garden & orchards

* Sustainability & spirituality programs

For more Information and to Register Click Here.

Living Mandala