In Practice a publication of Holistic Management International
J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
NUMBER 168
W W W. H O L I S T I C M A N A G E M E N T. O R G
Cultivating Community: Land. Food. Health. BY ANN ADAMS
R
ecently as I was doing some reading about keystone species, it became clear to me why humans are a keystone species. I had been operating under the definition that keystone species are a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically. But another definition of keystone species is a species that significantly alter the habitat around them and thus affect large numbers of other organisms. I would definitely put humans into that camp. And as holistic managers we know that the idea is to create symbiotic relationships such that we influence large numbers of organisms regeneratively, to improve the health and productivity of the land and create thriving communities of humans, plants, and animals. That call to action can feel like a tall order some days when we are trying to just get by and get the kids out the door on time or the goats milked or address the hundreds of other items on our busy to do lists. But if we focus on the word
Registration Open! HMI’s 2016 Gathering October 14–16, 2016 Paicines, CA hmi@holisticmanagement.org/cc/
“community” we are, in turn, encouraged to look at those relationships that are woven through our lives and make decisions taking the whole under consideration, our myriad communities that we influence or by whom we are influenced. At HMI we have an international community of almost 20,000 people. The Holistic Management community around the globe has trained and influenced over 50,000 people over the last 10 years, influencing over 40 million acres. While that might seem a drop in the bucket to some, we see a great deal of increased interest and momentum building around the topics of Holistic Management, regenerative agriculture, soil health, local food, nutrient dense food, and conscious living. HMI is at the center of this conversation because Holistic Management is a decision-making process that more and more people are finding helpful in making better decisions in a complex world. The intersection of land, food, and health is becoming ever more apparent as scientists and doctors are making discoveries every day about the little known world of “micro-livestock”
in the soil, in foods, and in our guts. We are beginning to understand that these microbes are as much a keystone species as we are. But, of course, that’s the point of holism— nature functions in wholes. The better able we are to understand the interplay of all life and make decisions that come from a place of cooperation and collaboration rather than competition, the more likely we are to thrive and not be surprised by some unintended consequences. If you are interested in learning more about how to cultivate community, I encourage you to join the Holistic Management community at HMI’s 2016 International Gathering at Paicines Ranch on October 14–16, 2016 at Paicines, California. We have a great line up planned and there will be lots of opportunity to network and catch up with friends or make new ones. Registration is now live and you can go online to learn more or register at: http://holisticmanagement.org/cc/. Please join us in celebrating a passionate and inspiring community!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE As agricultural producers get older, more of them are in the process of including more of their families in the operation to prepare for management transfer and asset transfer. Read more about these families including NorthStar Bison on page 8.
The Next Generation