Holistic Management Canada Field Days - 2015 

Holistic Management Canada invites you to attend one or more of our field days across Western Canada. Learn how to better manage your animals, land, finances, and people as part of these experiential, peer-to-peer field days. The gate's open, come on in!

These events are co-sponsored by
Holistic Management International’s Open Gate Program

The Gate’s Open. Come On In.

Our Open Gate on-farm learning days consist of farm/ranch days that are held on the land. Each day is hosted by an experienced Holistic Management® practitioner and features numerous innovative and sustainable agricultural topics and practices.

Grass Roots Learning – A chance to ask questions, share experiences, get answers

Learn how to to better manage risk, make better decisions and reap the benefits of  sustainable, profitable farming and ranching. You’ll share ideas and experiences with other producers and presenters that are facing similar issues. Both management issues and production techniques may be addressed. Topics may include: holistic biological monitoring, holistic grazing planning, sustainability assessments, succession planning, direct marketing, improving farm management — just to name a few.

The Format

Attendees have the opportunity to identify common challenges and discuss creative solutions in a friendly atmosphere. With experienced facilitators and producers on hand, the goal of the day is to  create a forum for sharing practices, ideas, advice,
and solutions. When you leave at the end of the day, you’ll take away practical ideas you can use.

Agenda & Registration

While each day’s agenda may differ slightly, we usually begin around 10:00 with introductions and an orientation.  We then kick off our educational presentations and small group activities so producers can learn from each other.  We follow with lunch, an afternoon land tour, more small group work, and a sharing of lessons learned – wrapping up  around 4:00pm.

Farmers, ranchers, and all land stewards are welcome to attend. Whether you are raising cattle, broccoli, or wheat, you’ll find helpful advice, tips, and techniques to build a profitable, sustainable operation. Online registration is $35.00 per person including lunch, and is non-refundable. At the gate registration is $40.00 per person. Space is limited at each event, so please register.

 

2015 Schedule in Detail
PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR TOUR(S) AND CLICK REGISTER AT BOTTOM 

DATE:  June 29, 2015
TOPIC: Planned Grazing Using High Stock Density to Improve Profit 
FARM: Day Spring Farms, Art & Leslie McElroy - LOCATION: Frontier, Saskatchewan

DATE:  July 3, 2015
TOPIC:  Nurturing Healthy Land, Growing Wholesome Food and Practicing Enduring Stewardship
FARM: Ruzicka Sunrise Farms, Don and Marie Ruzicka    -  LOCATION: Killam, Alberta

• How to use biological monitoring procedures 
• Concepts of regenerative agriculture 
• The importance of biodiversity and how the Ruzickas have improved it 
• Why management practices are important to sustainability 
• Ways the Ruzickas are connecting consumers to their food READ MORE

DATE: July 7, 2015
TOPIC: Passing the Farm to the next Generation
FARM: Tamara Ranch, Tom and Margaret Towers  -  LOCATION: Red Deer, Alberta

• Transitioning: value based vision, committment, communication
• Legal and technical info  READ MORE

DATE:  July 22, 2015
TOPIC: Regenerating Land Through Livestock and Improved Soil Fertility
FARM: Sunnybrae Farm, Neil & Barbara Dennis - LOCATION: Wawoda, Saskatchewan

• How to use biological monitoring procedures 
• Concepts of regenerative agriculture 
• The importance of biodiversity and how Sunnybrae Farm has improved it 
• Why management practices are important to sustainability  READ MORE

DATE:  July 28, 2015
TOPIC: Planned Grazing Using High Stock Density to Improve Profit 
FARM:  Lucends Ranch,  Brian and Gale Luce - LOCATION: Ponoka, Alberta

• How does grass grow and what is recovery time?
• The importance of litter on the surface
• Solar collection the first step
• What makes an effective water cycle?
• Our most important ally- the microbes below our feet
• Why diversity is critical to success?
• Why do we want to increase stock density? READ MORE

DATE:  August 4, 2015
TOPIC: Educating Young People about Soil Health and Regenerating Land with a Pasture Plan and Cover Cropping
FARM:  Pogson Ranch, Dave and Val Pogson Farms - LOCATION: Clearwater, Manitoba

• How to use cattle for – grazing to improve grass 
• Planned grazing (timing) to increase plant diversity and reseed pastures 
• How to stabilize creek banks 
• How to reduce tree and shrub encroachment 
• How to use cover crops for soil health and structure 
• How to extend cattle grazing into fall and winter READ MORE

DATE:  CANCELLED - August 26, 2015
TOPIC: Regenerating Land through Livestock and Improved Fertility
FARM:  Breault Ranching Ltd., Clayton and Shauna Breault Farms - LOCATION: Toutes Aides, Manitoba

• How does grass grow and what is recovery time? 
• The importance of litter on the surface 
• READ MORE

DATE:  October 9, 2015
TOPIC: Profitable Small Farms/Ranches while making Healthy Soils
FARM: Richards Family Farm and Livestock Ltd., Gary and Lynn Richards - LOCATION: Bangor, Saskatchewan

• How to use biological monitoring procedures 
• Concepts of regenerative agriculture 
• The importance of biodiversity and how Sunnybrae Farm has improved it 
• Why management practices are important to sustainability READ MORE

DATE:  NEW DATE - Oct 13, 2015
TOPIC: Capturing Carbon through Cover Cropping
FARM: SG&R Farm, Ryan and Sarah Boyd - LOCATION: Rapid City, Manitoba

Register Now!