Groundswell Farm

Holistic Management

Coined by Alan Savory, holistic management is an approach to managing resources in an agricultural setting. The term Holistic Management is trademarked to the Holistic Management International organization. At its core, the approach focuses mainly on livestock grazing in a way that is similar to cyclical grazing. This method means livestock are moved frequently from pasture to pasture, allowing for short periods of disturbance, followed by rest periods to allow for the grasslands to regenerate. Beyond grazing practices, Holistic Management also encompasses guidelines for decision making through six indicators: define what you are managing, define what you want now and for the future, watch for the earliest indicators of ecosystem health, don’t limit the management tools you use, test your decisions with questions, and monitor proactively. Additionally, Holistic Management relies on four principles. These are: that nature functions as a holistic community, that any agricultural practice must be adaptable to nature’s complexity, animal husbandry of domesticated species can be used as a substitute for a lost keystone species, and that time and timing is the most important factor in planning land use.