Whole
New Concepts
Training and Development Services for Today's World
See the Big Picture ~~ Respond to Change
Become Sustainable
Holistic Management
Family Farms & Ranches
Sustainable Agriculture
Ecosystem Services
Triple Bottom Lines
Local Food
Beginning Farmers
Holistic Management®
Framework -
Core Courses
This learning program is ideal those who want to improve their ability to take in the big picture, respond to change, and become sustainable. Our program is based on curriculum suggested by Holistic Management International. People who benefit from implementing Holistic Management include:
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Experienced and beginning farmers and ranchers who want to improve manageability, explore new possibilities, restore health and productivity to the land, create viable operations for the next generation, develop new markets, achieve a triple bottom line, decrease inputs, shift to grass based production, diversify, participate in a local food system and adopt sustainable practices.
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Families and people from all walks for life who seek to improve their quality of life, reduce their carbon footprint, live a lifestyle of health and sustainability.
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Entrepreneurs who desire to manage for a triple bottom line: becoming sustainable us of resources while also being financially sound and socially conscious.
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New and experienced landowners and land managers.
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Non-profit organizations who wish to get everyone on the same page, improve ownership in their purpose, and seek solutions that are socially, economically and environmentally sound.
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Community leaders who would like to improve decision making skills in relation to sustainable community development, land use planning, agriculture, problem solving and policy making.
The following courses are offered by Whole New Concepts as a distance learning program or in-person training workshops.
1. Introduction to Holistic Decision Making
This workshop covers all the basics you need to start practicing holistic management. You will gain skill in the use of the Holistic Management ® Framework with added instruction in action planning. Upon completion of this course you will:
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Know how to identify decision makers, inventory available resources, establish a purpose statement, and get everyone on the same page with a goal as you create and maintain a clear focus.
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Have improved your capacity to observe ecosystem processes and evaluate land health, understand the tools of management.
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Practiced using testing guidelines to make choices that honor what is important to you, and at the same time are socially, economically and environmentally sound.
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Know how to implement decisions, prioritize actions, develop monitoring criteria, reduce waste, diagnose the root cause of problems and complete your feedback loop.
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Have gained confidence and consistency in they way you make decisions about the human, natural and economic resources you manage.
2. Holistic Management® Financial Planning
This workshop covers all the basics you need to start using a holistic approach to management and allocation of money, resources, labor and time to achieve your best possible outcomes. Includes instruction, workbook and planning sheets. Requires that you have completed an introduction to Holistic Management as a prerequisite.
This workshop covers all the steps necessary to preparing annual financial plan that includes gross profit analysis of enterprises, budgeting, and cash flow management using the Holistic Management ® Framework to guide your decisions.
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Discover how to plan for a profit, not just hope for one.
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Make the most of the resources you have available.
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Learn how to respond to change and take advantage of opportunities.
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Build confidence in your decision making as you complete the feedback loop with monitoring.
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Honor your quality of life and family needs.
Completion of a suitable introduction to holistic decision making is a prerequisite for this course. Note: This course does NOT include instruction or advice relating to investments, retirement or estate planning, or taxes. Request more information.
3. Holistic Management® Grazing Planning
This workshop covers all the basics you need to
start using a holistic approach to create grazing plans. You will
learn:
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How to plan to be in the right place, at the right time for the right reason with your animals.
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Use your animals as a tool to restore health and productivity to the land.
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Minimize overgrazing and maximize productivity.
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Build confidence in your decision making as you complete the feedback loop with monitoring.
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Increase biodiversity.
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Manage for wildlife, drought, floods, fire and hard winters.
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Honor your quality of life and family needs.
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Plan for enhancement of animal performance, improved livestock management, right-sized stocking rates.
Your investment Includes instruction, workbook and planning sheets. Completion of a suitable introduction to holistic decision making is a prerequisite for this course. Request more information.
4. Holistic Management® Early Warning Biological Monitoring
This workshop covers all the basics you need to start using a holistic approach to land monitoring. You will learn how to select monitoring criteria and use monitoring techniques. Includes instruction, workbook and planning sheets. Completion of a suitable introduction to holistic decision making is a prerequisite for this course. Request more information.
5. Holistic Management Land Planning
This workshop covers all the basics you need to start using a holistic approach to land and infrastructure planning for ranching and farm operations. You will learn how to "think outside the box" and make best use of available resources as you layout short and long term projects to improve the efficiency, profitability, productivity, biodiversity and quality of life. Completion of a suitable introduction to holistic decision making is a prerequisite for this course. Request more information.
Putting Holistic Management Into Practice
This program is designed to assist holistic managers in applying what they have learned in the Holistic Management® Framework Core Learning Program courses listed above to their specific situation.
The following are offered as a distance learning
program
or in-person training workshops.
1. The Ecosystem that Sustains Us
A highly adaptable introduction to land stewardship, biological monitoring & eco-literacy. There are no prerequisites for this course. This is ideal for new landowners, beginning farmers, small farmers, educators and land managers. May be taught at a distance, in-person. Can be set up as a land monitoring "walk-about" with hands on training. It is also great for children and adults from all walks of life. No prerequisites. Request more information.
2. Action Planning for Holistic Managers
Fill your tool box up in this workshop with
tools to help you develop enterprises and create plans based on
objectives identified in your goal. Take your holistic goal to heart
and learn how to honor your commitments with a step by step action
planning process. You will learn how to create enterprise
descriptions for your lifestyle, farm and ranch operations,
employment, small business and other activities your are engaged in.
Excellent for developing new products, markets, making transitions,
improving your lifestyle and allocating resources. Great for those
who want to polish their skills using testing guidelines .
Completion of a suitable introduction to holistic decision making is
a prerequisite for this course.
Request more
information.
3. Introduction to Grazing and Pasture Management
Are you new to livestock production, grazing, and pasture management? This course covers basic information and concepts necessary to apply the tool of grazing and manage forage for your best possible outcomes. May include basic irrigation water management if applicable. You will need to complete either "The Ecosystem that Sustains Us" or an "Introduction to Holistic Decision Making" as a prerequisite for this course.
4. Mentoring for Holistic Managers
Are you looking for professional guidance in
applying the Holistic Management Framework in your situation?
Take advantage of Cindy's experience an network of resources. Enjoy
the structure of a mentoring program developed specifically with you
in mind. Sometimes having another person to bounce ideas off of,
help with testing decisions, getting people on the same page with a
goal, solve problems, and explore possibilities is just the ticket
to making progress. An introduction to holistic decision-making is a
prerequisite for this course. Completion of a suitable introduction
to holistic decision making is a prerequisite for this course.
Request more
information.
Cindy
Dvergsten is available as a speaker and presenter for events,
conferences, and workshops. She speaks on any
number of topics related to sustainability, holistic management,
local food systems, family farming, land and ecosystem healthy, land
use policy, and a variety of farm enterprises she has personal
experience with such as grass-fed meat production, Navajo-Churro
Sheep, pastured chicken egg production and more.
Please contact us to request more information.
"Your talk has inspired me to learn more about supporting our local family farms. Would you be interested in mentoring me in my college course?" Michelle V., Community Organizer, Steamboat Springs CO
"This Holistic Management workshop was so inspiring! Thank you Cindy.” Trudi K., Organic Farmer, Alamosa CO
Quick Links
Holistic Management Framework: Core Courses
1. Introduction to Holistic
Decision Making
2. Holistic Management
Financial Planning
3. Holistic Management
Grazing Planning
4. Early Warning Biological
Monitoring
5. Holistic Management Land
Planning
Putting Holistic Management Into Practice
1. The Ecosystem That
Sustains Us
2. Action Planning for
Holistic Managers
3. Introduction to Grazing
and Pasture Management
4. Mentoring for Holistic
Managers
Start
today with personalized
Distance Learning
or
Contact us About
In-Person Training
Host A Land Monitoring
Walk-About
This field workshop focuses on developing your ability to observe and evaluate the health of the land with easy to learn techniques. You will have an opportunity to:
Observe and evaluate the four ecosystem processes that sustain life Gain insights on how to establish a monitoring program to fit your needs.
Apply biological monitoring techniques such as photo points and transects.
Use land monitoring data to manage grazing animals Complete the feedback loop in your decision making process.
Enjoy your land in a new way Invite friends, family, and neighbors to join you on a walkabout.
This is a great way to share your experiences and open your eyes to possibilities.
Use this as a springboard to establish your biological monitoring program.
We will customize this workshop to fit your needs and deliver valuable information about the land you manage if you so desire.
Our neighbors are jealous because we are
doing pretty
good in a tough year.
Jonathan K.
Organic
Dairy Farmer, NY
I like using the Holistic Management
Testing Guidelines. They get me thinking about so many possibilities.
Everything is coming together for me.
Todd P., Grass Based
Farmer, Nebraska
"This (Holistic Management) is so
complete and well rounded. I do not have to guess anymore."
Pam S., Landowner, CO
More About Holistic Management
The concept of a holistic approach to land stewardship was coined in 1980 by Allan Savory as "Holistic Resource Management". Since then many early adapters have contributed through their experience using holistic principles to create what is known today as "Holistic Management: A New Framework for Making Decisions."
The Holistic Management® Framework is a practical whole-systems approach to management for many situations. The framework helps us arrive at choices that are socially, economically and environmentally sound. This is accomplished by implementing a robust feedback loop as a part of the management and decision-making process.
Applicable in nearly all situations where decisions
are being made, the
Holistic Management® Framework has been most used in farming,
ranching, natural resources and land management situations.
Cindy Dvergsten is a Holistic Management® Certified Educator trained by Allan Savory in the early 1990's and currently certified by Holistic Management International. She has over fifteen years of personal and professional experience to offer her clients.
See More About Cindy Dvergsten and Whole New Concepts LLC.
Article Links
Irrigation Water: Handle with Care.
When The Thistle Wilts at Fat Sheep Farm
Learn how to observe and evaluate the health of your land and establish an early warning biological monitoring program.
Learn how to plan to be in the right place at the right time for the right reason with your grazing animals.
"Thank you SO MUCH for all you are doing for these guys. Never has the mentoring been done so well before, with grace, style, efficiency & quality!" Kelly White, Education Director, The Savory Center, ABQ NM