SilliamWhale
Member
Ultimate holism is great in a conference talk but when using holistic management on a farm level it is useful to recognise the “wholes within wholes” we are working with to keep thing manageable. This approach can make it apparent that big problems are often only able to be fixed by a million small manageable solutions.
I agree with you.
One way I try to visualise things on a farm level is as if I'm managing a bunch of buckets full of water. I'm trying to keep those buckets replenished, healthy and leak free. Of course its simplistic but for me it means when I look at my system, or even parts of my system it forces me to look at how my "buckets" are functioning - are they doing well enough, where can I do better, how can I get more for less etc.?
Of course this is within my current paradigm (I'm simply not ready for the all enveloping change that Savory espouses) - and my current paradigm is still simply that I want to grow combinable crops, I want to no till, need money to pay off debts, as well as what I do on my farm helps me develop my own sense of identity/ self purpose etc. HOWEVER this is light years away from moving towards true Holistic Management not least because my own bias won't let me/ don't want me to. So for me, for now I'm sticking with my metaphorical buckets and I really must get myself a girlfriend and stop thinking about this stuff
A Groundswell Holistic Context could be very interesting for next years booklet though - both as a potential guide for others developing one and because it could allow the event to develop a greater clarity/ mission statement that is clear for all attendees. It will encompass the usual ideas - clean water, soil, quality of life etc but to put a clear context would be interesting. I wonder if 3LM would help develop it as a flagship context? Job for @martian