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HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL
Holistic Management and Holistic Management International/Healthy Land/Sustainable Future are registered trademarks of Holistic Management International. Copyright
©2012 Holistic Management International. All rights reserved.
Introduction to Holistic Management Whole
Farm/Ranch Planning
Improve Results on Your Farm or Ranch
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Holistic Management
Holistic Management® is a whole farm planning system designed to:
• Help you better manage your land • Achieve sustainable environmental, economic,
and social objectives• Ensure you consider what you value most
deeply• Make decisions that move you toward what you
desire for your farm, your family, and your life
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Holistic Management Principles
• Nature functions in wholes
• Understand your environment
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Principle One:Nature Functions in Wholes
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Manage your farm as a whole system
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Principle Two:Understand Your Environment
The Brittleness Scale
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Holistic Management Practices
1. Define what you manage
2. State what you want
3. Aim for healthy soil
4. Consider all tools
5. Test your decisions
6. Monitor your results
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Practice One:Define What You Manage
You can better manage your assets when you define your management boundaries.
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Practice One:Define What You Manage
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Your Asset Base
Consider all the resources available to you:1. Physical2. Human3. Financial
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Practice Two:State What You Want
Elements of the Holistic Goal1. Quality of Life and Values
2. Behaviors and Systems
3. Future vision
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Practice Three:Aim for Healthy Soil
The Four Ecosystem Processes
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Importance of Soil Cover
Importance of soil cover • In the functioning of the water cycle• In the mineral cycle• In biological community and succession• In the flow of energy
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Tools for Managing the Ecosystem
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Practice Five:Testing Your Decisions
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1. Root Cause
Does this action address the root cause of the problem?
• Forces you to identify the underlying issue.
• Avoids addressing only symptoms.
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2. Weak Link
Three types• Social• Biological• Financial
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Social Weak Link
Are there any social
concerns regarding this
action?
Avoids misunderstandings
or personal obstacles
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Biological Weak Link
Does this action address the weakest point in the life cycle of this organism?
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Financial Weak Link
In this enterprise, what single thing will have the greatest impact on your ability to generate income?
By investing funds where they give the greatest return, maximize your return on investment
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3. Comparing Options
Based on your holistic goal. . .
What is the biggest bang for your buck?
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4. Gross Profit Analysis
Which enterprise(s) contribute the most?
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5. Input Analysis
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6. Vision Analysis
Will this decision bring you closer to your future vision in your holistic goal?
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7. Gut Check
Does the decision feel right?
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Monitoring Your Decision
Lets you quickly know if your plan has gone off track.
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Holistic Management Decision Testing Matrix
Proposed Action: Pass Fail Doesn’t Apply
Don’t Know
Notes
Root Cause
Weak Link – Social
Weak Link – Biological
Weak Link – Financial
Comparing Options
Gross Profit Analysis
Input Analysis
Vision Analysis
Decision:
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Holistic Management Framework
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In conclusion
Holistic Management® is a whole farm planning system designed to help you
• Make good decisions• Plan for profit• Stay true to your personal goals
For more information: go to holisticmanagement.org/