Holistic Management - Pitchstone Waters

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Holistic Management

A collection of 27 posts

cattle grazing on a desert grassland in West Texas

Holistic Management

An Introduction to Holistic Management

Occam's Grazer provides an introduction to Holistic Management and holistic grazing as well as many powerful insights, philosophies, and useful ideas from people who are using the framework and practices every day.

Regenerating Mongolian Grasslands

desert grasslands

Regenerating Mongolian Grasslands

Planned grazing can be accomplished with many different species, and adapted to almost any culture. The “Pasture Land — Use it Sustainably” (PLUS) project is a partnership between ADRA and the Savory Institute that seeks to introduce and consolidate the use and understanding of Holistic Planned Grazing among the herders and

Allan Savory and the Science of Tracking

"Invasion Biology"

Allan Savory and the Science of Tracking

How the world’s oldest scientific method has changed everything from grazing livestock to snaring poachers

Farming Sustainably with Regenerative Agriculture | Restoring Paradise

Farming Sustainably with Regenerative Agriculture | Restoring Paradise

At Mangarara, in New Zealand’s beautiful Hawke’s Bay, Greg Hart and his family are in the process of restoring 1500 acres of land, conventionally farmed for over 150 years, into the paradise it once was.

At the Foot of a Melting Glacier in Peru, Llamas Helped Revitalize the Land

"Invasion Biology"

At the Foot of a Melting Glacier in Peru, Llamas Helped Revitalize the Land

Llamas are camelids, the family of animals that also includes Bactrian and Dromedary camels, vicunas, alpacas and guanacos. These animals evolved in North America. Llamas and their ancestors were present in North America for 40 million years. Together with 80 percent of existing North American genera, llamas and their cousins

Regenerative Farming – A Quiet Revolution in Commercial Agriculture

Regenerative Farming - A Quiet Revolution in Commercial Agriculture

“Outside Bismarck, ND is a ranch that exemplifies a quiet revolution in commercial agriculture. While more and more consumers learn about the overwhelming benefits of eating healthfully (preferably local, organic food), a growing number of farmers and ranchers are weaning themselves from the grip of a small cartel of extremely

Examples of Grassland Restoration – Allan Savory – Tufts University

"Invasion Biology"

Examples of Grassland Restoration - Allan Savory - Tufts University

Excerpted from Allan Savory’s presentation on January 25, 2013 at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, this segment highlights examples of how Holistic Management restores grasslands from land that’s degraded to desert. This innovative, natural, and simple idea mimics Nature by using careful management of livestock to stimulate the

Dropping the Fences, Episode 2: RAIN

"Invasion Biology"

Dropping the Fences, Episode 2: RAIN

After reading the signs, Johnny’s predictions of good rain come true after seven years of drought. Within weeks the veld is transformed in a great renewal as seeds that have lain dormant for years come to life. It’s time for Veronica to learn more about regenerative agriculture with

What is Holistic Management?

What is Holistic Management?

From the Savory Institute. The Savory Institute’s mission is to facilitate the large-scale regeneration of the world’s grasslands through Holistic Management. The organization’s educational consulting activities are turning deserts into thriving grasslands, restoring biodiversity, bringing streams, rivers and water sources back to life, combating poverty and hunger,

stewardship_with_vision_episode_9_Sieben_Live_Stock_Company

Stewardship with Vision, Episode 9: Sieben Live Stock Company

Sieben Live Stock Company is a family owned and operated ranch in north central Montana which raises cattle and sheep. The Hibbard family believes proper grazing techniques can improve overall land health. Their practices include high density grazing with cattle herds, allowing adequate time to rest– which has ultimately led

The Function of Time in Environmental Recovery

The Function of Time in Environmental Recovery

Understanding the grass and grazer relationship NOTE: this article was originally published to ACHMonline.org A deep dive into a Holistic Management key insight Understanding how TIME affects overgrazing (environmental damage), rather than animal numbers is one of the Four Key Insights that Allan Savory describes in Holistic Management, A

The Predator-Prey Connection

The Predator-Prey Connection

“Everyone understands that predators control animal numbers. But of equal importance is predators’ effect on animal behavior, and the consequential benefit to habitat – and wildlife – that result from how animals behave when in the presence of predators. Because traditional wildlife thinking fails to grasp this relationship, most conservationists have historically

leopold_conservation_dixon_water_foundation

Rotational Cattle Grazing to Restore Degraded Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands and Promote Watershed Health

Describing the Mimms Ranch in Marfa, Texas, the authors write, “The Foundation aims for practical conservation, with the belief that restored grasslands improve overall watershed health, resources for native wildlife, and continued support of ranching.” NOTE: this article was originally published to usbr.maps.arcgis.com. As well – it was

Lose Grazing Animals, Gain Wildfires

Lose Grazing Animals, Gain Wildfires

“As discussed below, well-managed domestic cattle, bison, other livestock and grazing animals can restore ecosystems and biodiversity, upcycle grasses humans can’t eat into bioavailable nutrition, reduce wildfire risk, and help us create a better planet for our future. NOTE: this article was originally published to Weekly.Regeneration.Works on

Why Hunting is Necessary to the Health of Wildlife and Habitats

Why Hunting is Necessary to the Health of Wildlife and Habitats

“Remarks by Christopher Gill to The International Order of St. Hubertus. “If you have not adopted holistic thinking, you are part of the anti-hunting problem.” NOTE: this article can also be accessed here ->

The Magic of Cow Manure

The Magic of Cow Manure

Animal wastes from confinement feed operations, trapped in giant lagoons, are an environmental disaster. The putrid lagoons and manure piles are rightly criticized for pollution and increasing atmospheric methane. They also poison groundwater and streams and are often so fetid they make areas downwind uninhabitable. The dung and urine of

Grazing Naturally, by Dick Richardson, with Remarks by Allan Savory

Grazing Naturally, by Dick Richardson, with Remarks by Allan Savory

“Holistic Management International (HMI) published the article below by Dick Richardson, describing a better grazing system. I asked Allan Savory, HMI’s founder, what he thought of it. Dick Richardson’s article, and Allan Savory’s response, appear below. NOTE: this paper was originally published to HolisticManagement.org. It was

Livestock: A Powerful Tool

Livestock: A Powerful Tool for Wildfire Control

Quoting the article below, “Livestock grazing is also proposed as a potential solution for wildfires such as those that have devastated several western states this year. Researchers with the University of California Cooperative Extension are evaluating how much fine fuel — grasses and other plants known to start fires — cattle eat.

allan_savory_new_book

Allan Savory - Saving Western Ranching Culture

“In this interview Allan Savory explains why the Western ranching culture is dying along with other cultures. NOTE: this interview was originally published to WorkingCows.net on August 10, 2020. /content/images/wordpress/2020/08/Working-Cows-Ep.-150-Allan-Savory.mp3

Allan Savory on Permaculture and Holistic Management

Allan Savory on Permaculture and Holistic Management

Here is a very interesting interview with the ecologist Allan Savory who, in the opinion of many, knows more about rangelands than anyone alive. He is best known for his discovery that global desertification can best be addressed and reversed by using livestock to mimic the grazing patterns of the

If Crop Insurance Rewarded Conservation Practices, Would More Farmers Go No-Till?

If Crop Insurance Rewarded Conservation Practices, Would More Farmers Go No-Till?

“As described below, a private task force is developing a crop insurance product that would reward farmers for adopting regenerative conservation practices. If the task force succeeds and the product is approved by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), it will be the first of its kind brought to market.

New Numbers Show Conservation Soil-Tilling Method as Profitable as Conventional Ways

New Numbers Show Conservation Soil-Tilling Method as Profitable as Conventional Ways

Conservation soil tillage is a proven farming practice that would work great around Pitchstone Waters in Idaho’s Teton Valley. As the authors describe, conservation tillage involves less work and produces more profit for farmers. In the process, it builds rich soil, reduces erosion and improves wildlife—all of which

Rancher Focuses On Keeping His Land Healthy

Rancher Focuses On Keeping His Land Healthy

Plants and animals evolved together over many millions of years. In so doing, they grew to need each other. As a result, plants need animals as much as animals need plants. This is the basic insight to regenerative grazing, by whatever name it is called. The practices described by this

How to Let Grow

"Invasion Biology"

How to Let Grow

“How do we “rewild” areas where the native species are now extinct? In England, they use “exotic” species as substitutes. This common sense would collide with so-called “invasive species biology” in most of the US. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on September 27, 2019. It was