by Charles Zelhof

Over the three day course Darren Doherty has brought the students of the carbon farming class not only good humor and a thick Australian accent, but also invaluable wisdom in farming. Darren could be considered the inheritor of P.A Yeoman’s entrepreneurial spirit and his drive to spread the techniques of soil building and rehydrating. When Darren played what seemed like an ancient video from the 1950′s of Yeomans giving tours of his land, the class thought it was a little humorous.

However it was surprising to see that thousands of people flocked to Yeoman’s properties to observe his techniques even in the postwar boom of chemical agriculture . Darren told the class “This is crazy. Nobody does stuff like this anymore” and went on to say how farmers would show up by the thousand in their Sunday best, even on a rainy day to get a look at this new keyline method.

And the keyline method must have seemed well worth going out on a limb for as some of  pastures of Yeoman’s neighbors were bone dry in comparison to his lush pasture. Though the most well known part of the keyline method is the use of the Keyline Plow, the construction of ponds, or “dams” as Darren calls them are just as important in the design strategy.

Darren criticizes the over-enthusiasm of some Permaculture practitioners who enjoy digging tons of swales as a water catchments strategy, a.k.a “Reconstructive Earth Surgery”. As a sensitive man, Darren prefers a gentler “Massage Therapy” technique of improving the land without earthworks as a primary tool.

It was refreshing to see a man who has been out planting thousands of trees, pruning many hectares of forest, and who has surveyed thousands of varying landscapes from Australia to California.  What aspiring carbon farmer does not wish they had the repertoire of experience and knowledge that he posses? From cattle to the keyline plow, Darren knows what tools will both be economically profitable and regenerative for his clients.

Darren reminded us that the whole point of regenerative farming is to keep the family farmers on the land. The reason that farmers tell their children to make a better life for themselves, to get out and go to the city; is that a farmer in debt means that the whole family is in stress. There is no reason why you can’t improve pasture growth each year and simultaneously increase profit . There is no reason why you can’t improve water retention and organic matter content each year and still stay afloat. Any strategy that involves investing in a two hundred thousand dollar coop-house essentially cannot help the farmer

Darren hopes that profits from dairy, meat, nuts, fruits and forestry products produced using keyline methodology, silvopastures, mob grazing or any other carbon friendly method may be complimented with money from carbon credits. Though carbon credits may sound unappealing and exploitable, Darren makes the excellent point that farmers should be paid for the clean water and clean air they produce. Such a revolutionary idea is sure to have faults, but with carbon credits the impetus to produce food in closed-loop energy systems may reach a tipping point to be adopted by mainstream. Wouldn’t it be great if practices of treating the land and water as something of high value were mainstream?

Darren Doherty Consults with Participants at the Carbon Farming Course

by Kevin Brennan, a High School Student on Scholarship at the Carbon Farming Course

After attending the Keyline Farming Workshop with Darren Doherty I am fascinated by the scale of Keyline farming. Prior to the Keyline workshop I was intimidated and unclear about large scale regenerative agriculture systems, but Darren showed how large scale Keyline systems have tremendous carbon sequestering abilities and can be fairly simple to design and manage.

Perennial Grasslands can sequester more carbon than any other ecosystems and can be managed on a large scale. Most grasslands and pasture are currently overgrazed, compacted and dry but by using Keyline plows and intensive rotational grazing the land can be re-hydrated and topsoil can be built quickly. Darren Doherty has used Keyline principles to design more than a thousand  properties, many larger than a thousand acres.

Darren’s work shows that Keyline farming is regenerative and profitable on a large scale. His approach to teaching is refreshing because he does not focus solely on Keyline but also uses other practices like permaculture, holistic management, and biodynamics.

Although Keyline farming works very well on a large scale, it can be practiced on even the smallest scale. The effect of the Keyline plow can be achieved using hand tools like pitchforks and shovels and all farmers can adopt the principles. There are no excuses, build some soil and come to the Carbon Farming Course!

Packed Keyline Farming Workshop at the Carbon Farming Course

El Manejo Holístico inició con el trabajo de Allan Savory en el África.  El observó que el movimiento de las manadas herbívoras a lo largo y ancho de los continentes jamás degradaron el ambiente, entonces como es posible que el ganado tenga tantas consecuencias desastrosas sobre el ecosistema que lo sustenta?  La diferencia se encuentra en la relación entre las manadas de herbívoros y sus depredadores.  La presencia del depredador obliga a la manada a abultarse para protegerse, lo cual causa cambios en los patrones de pastoreo y en el tipo de impacto sobre el suelo. 

En comparación con un pastoreo relajado y voluntario que se da sin la amenaza del depredador, el pastoreo de la manada es menos selectivo por lo cual no se sobrepastorean y degradan las plantas mas palatables, el ciclaje de nutrientes en forma de estiércol es mas parejo y completo, y el impacto animal sobre el suelo causa disturbios en la superficie e incorporación de materia orgánica tanto por pisoteo como por la muerte de las raices correspondientes a las hojas ingeridas.  

Cuando el ser humano juega bien el papel de depredador usando herramientas como el alambrado eléctrico móvil, rotaciones frecuentes, y períodos de recuperación adecuados según la zona, el efecto neto sobre el suelo es de captura de carbono por incremento en la materia orgánica en lugar de pérdidas y degradación de suelo.

El Manejo Holístico es una metodología para la toma de decisiones en la finca (aunque los principios son aplicables a cualquier situación) y coloca la decisión en su debido contexto económico, social y ecológico.  El primero de estos principios es que la naturaleza funciona en enteros.  Cada “todo” en la naturaleza es  parte de un todo mas grande.  El segundo es el conocer el ambiente que nos rodea.  La herramienta que usa el Manejo Holístico para esto es la escala de friabilidad, en inglés “Brittleness Scale.”  Los ecosistemas friables son aquellos en los cuales la degradación biológica de la materia orgánica es muy reducida por escasez de agua o condiciones climáticas extremas. 

El manejo del ganado cambia totalmente de un extremo de la escala al otro y el dominar esta diferencia lleva al tercer principio del Manejo Holístico: El ganado puede aportar a la salud y el bienestar del terreno.  Por ejemplo, los largos períodos de recuperación del potrero que benefician a los ecosistemas no friables, pueden ser desastrosos para los ecosistemas friables.  El cuarto principio nos exige poner atención mas al tiempo que a los números.  El daño producido a los terrenos es menos por carga animal que por el tiempo excesivo que se dejan los animales en el potrero.  El quinto principio exige definir cual es el “entero” bajo manejo.  Cualquier entero de los muchos que componen un sistema o una operación ganadera está compuesto de Tomadores de Decisiones, una Base de Recursos, y Dinero.  Sexto Principio: Declarar lo que uno quiere.  Tambien conocido como ‘establecer el norte,’ este principio nos recuerda que si uno no establece claramente que es lo que se quiere, uno vive la vida entera reaccionando a y evitando lo que no quiere.  Y como nos lo señaló la Doctora Adams, lo que no queremos es mucho mas grande e inmanejable que lo que si queremos. 

El problema es definir eso, especialmente cuando es algo que debe ser meta común para varias personas.  El Séptimo Principio es sorprendente pero realmente destaca al Manejo Holístico como un sistema de Administración con Ciencia y Conciencia:  El Enemigo Público Número Uno es El Suelo Desnudo.  Esto es lo que hace del Manejo Holístico una verdadera arma para el Cultivo de Carbono, toda decisión que se tome en este sistema debe pasar la prueba de si va a contribuir a la degradación y pérdida de suelo o si ayudará a regenerarlo.  Octavo Principio: Juegue con una baraja completa.  El Manejo Holístico nos ayuda a identificar todas las herramientas a nuestro alcance y da las armas para escoger entre herramientas por medio de 7 filtros conocidos como las 7 Preguntas de Prueba, Principio 9.  Las preguntas examinan en terminos generales y específicos con respecto a los ámbitos económico, social y ambiental, para lograr un resultado que realmente esté en linea con la Meta Holística propuesta.  Finalmente con el décimo principio se implementan ciclos activos de retroalimentación para monitorear los efectos de nuestras decisiones.

El Manejo Holístico nos dá una metodología para tomar decisiones de manera juiciosa e informada según las Metas Holísticas que nos proponemos en nuestras fincas y proyectos.  Nos ayuda a considerar claramente nuestras opciones analizando todas las herramientas a nuestro alcance, sin despegarnos de los contextos económico, social, y ecológico; ámbitos que nuestra cultura reduccionista, o nuestra falta de holismo nos incita a tratar de separar, y como nos recalcó la Doctora Adams en estos tiempos de cambios tan drásticos, la separación es puramente artificial y todo lo que hagamos en un ámbito afecta a los demás.

Visiten www.holisticmanagement.org y www.savoryinstitute.com para mas información

Jorge, Fernando y Camilo

Manejo Holístico – Enero 17 – 19 

La Doctora Ann Adams facilita este curso introductorio al Manejo Holístico a través de una serie de ejercicios prácticos enfocados en el planteamiento de objetivos, utilizando la linea de cuestionamiento de la Manejo Holístico, para obtener una triple línea base en la cual la ganancia es tanto social y ecológica como tambien económica, logrando así una vida verdaderamente sostenible. En este taller se enmarca Manejo Holístico en un contexto gerencial de toma de decisiones resaltando cómo este proceso puede mejorar la dinámica de grupo y la comunicación mientras promueve e incita al liderazgo.  Finalmente se busca profundizar la comprensión de los procesos de los ecosistemas y cómo es que los principios claves y las enseñanzas del Manejo Holístico ayudan a replantear las necesidades de una agricultura regenerativa.

Cada participante concluirá el curso llevándose consigo una meta holística (lo que implica definir el “todo” que se busca administrar) y la habilidad para someter a prueba las decisiones orientadas a alcanzar la meta holística, con clara comprensión de cómo desarrollar ciclos activos de retroalimentación para  reconocer desviaciones de curso y corregirlas. De la misma manera, habrá oportunidad de realizar un análisis de ecosistemas a manera de reforzar conceptos y principios de cómo las diferentes herramientas a nuestro alcance afectan a los procesos naturales.  Solo entendiendo cómo funciona la naturaleza podemos asociarnos con ella para desarrollar una agricultura regenerativa y paisajes resilientes.

La Doctora Ann Adams ha diseñado e implementado programas de capacitación para entrenadores y practicantes, incluyendo un programa de tres años para agricultores novatos, realizado con $800,000 auspiciado por USDA.  Da clases (presenciales o a distancia) y ofrece consultorías en Manejo Holístico para granjas familiares y ranchos con enfoque en fijación de metas y planificación financiera. Ha sido mediadora para el Sistema Judicial Metropolitano de Albuquerque, Nuevo México, y también ha tenido experiencia en resolución de conflictos, la cual incluye en sus cursos. Ann recibió su título de Licenciada en Ciencias Educativas de la Universidad de Ohio y un Doctorado en Literatura Americana de la Universidad de Indiana. Ha sido certificada como educadora en Manejo Holístico desde 1998 y ha escrito innumerables artículos, ayudó a desarrollar un programa agrícola para computadora, con herramientas para planificación financiera y de pastoreo, y escribió un manual llamado “At Home with Holistic Management: Creating a Life of Meaning” (En Casa con el Manejo Holístico: Creando una vida con Sentido), en 1999. Es propietaria de una pequeña finca en las Montañas Manzano, al sur este de Albuquerque, Nuevo México donde cría cabras y gallinas. 

Queremos extenderles una cordial invitación al Carbon Farming Course (Curso de Cultivo de Carbono), una serie de talleres en Agricultura Regenerativa que se llevará a cabo en las afueras de la ciudad de Nueva York desde el 17 de enero hasta el 5 de febrero, 2012.  Tenemos una selección increíble de conferencistas y temas incluyendo a Joel Salatin, Wes Jackson, Elaine Ingham, Darren Doherty, Dave Jacke, y mas.  

Wes Jackson, Trainer at the 2012 Carbon Farming Course

In this Carbon Farming Course exclusive interview, Dr. Wes Jackson of the Land Institute tells the story of carbon and the promise of Natural Systems Agriculture. In collaboration with WHDD Robin Hood Radio, this interview is the fourth in a series that highlights the trainers of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and digs into the fundamental issues of agriculture and economics faced by all communities today.

Listen now! Wes Jackson Interview

Dave Jacke will be co-teaching the Perennial Agriculture workshop from January 24-26 with Dr. Wes Jackson at the Pfeiffer Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY as part of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course. Learn more and reserve your spot at www.CarbonFarmingCourse.com

Other workshops include:

• Jan 17-19: Holistic Management: Dr. Ann Adams, Holistic Management International
• Jan 20-22: Keyline Farming: Darren Doherty, Australia Felix Permaculture
• Jan 27-29: Tree Crops & Agroforestry: Eric Toensmeier, Perennial Solutions
• Jan 31 – Feb 1: Living Soils: Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb International 
• Feb 3: BioChar Colloquium: Re:Char, Biochar NE, Encendia Biochar, & more! 
• Feb 4: Financing Regenerative Agriculture Conference with Ethan Roland
• Feb 5: Local Food Systems: Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms

Interviewer Laura O’Reilly is the Station Manager for WHDD, Robin Hood Radio, “the smallest NPR station in thenation”.  She has interviewed Guatemalan Consul Oscar Padilla Lam and Yi-Wen Jiang, violinist for the Shanghai String Quartet, aside from many other equally interesting and accomplished individuals.  Initially she was attracted to working with Robin Hood Radio because of their “locavore” approach to media.

WHDD Robin Hood Radio provides all your favorite NPR shows and local news programming to their community. They are a Media Sponsor for the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and can be streamed live  24 hours a day, 7 days a week at robinhoodradio.com.

Dave Jacke, Trainer at the Carbon Farming Course

In this Carbon Farming Course exclusive interview, Dave Jacke digs into the details of ecosystem mimicry and perennial agriculture. In collaboration with WHDD Robin Hood Radio, this interview is the fourth in a series that highlights the trainers of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and digs into the fundamental issues of agriculture and economics faced by all communities today.

Listen now! Dave Jacke Interview

Dave Jacke will be co-teaching the Perennial Agriculture workshop from January 24-26 with Dr. Wes Jackson at the Pfeiffer Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY as part of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course. Learn more and reserve your spot at www.CarbonFarmingCourse.com

Other workshops include:

• Jan 17-19: Holistic Management: Dr. Ann Adams, Holistic Management International
• Jan 20-22: Keyline Farming: Darren Doherty, Australia Felix Permaculture
• Jan 27-29: Tree Crops & Agroforestry: Eric Toensmeier, Perennial Solutions
• Jan 31 – Feb 1: Living Soils: Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb International 
• Feb 3: BioChar Colloquium: Re:Char, Biochar NE, Encendia Biochar, & more! 
• Feb 4: Financing Regenerative Agriculture Conference with Ethan Roland
• Feb 5: Local Food Systems: Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms

Interviewer Laura O’Reilly is the Station Manager for WHDD, Robin Hood Radio, “the smallest NPR station in thenation”.  She has interviewed Guatemalan Consul Oscar Padilla Lam and Yi-Wen Jiang, violinist for the Shanghai String Quartet, aside from many other equally interesting and accomplished individuals.  Initially she was attracted to working with Robin Hood Radio because of their “locavore” approach to media.

WHDD Robin Hood Radio provides all your favorite NPR shows and local news programming to their community. They are a Media Sponsor for the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and can be streamed live  24 hours a day, 7 days a week at robinhoodradio.com.

Dr. Elaine Ingham of the Rodale Institute

In this Carbon Farming Course exclusive interview, Dr. Elaine Ingham of Soil Foodweb, Inc. and the Rodale Institute explains the history of compost, the importance of biological organisms in the soil, and the benefits of biochar. In collaboration with WHDD Robin Hood Radio, this interview is the third in a series that highlights the trainers of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and digs into the fundamental issues of agriculture and economics faced by all communities today.

Listen now! Elaine Ingham Interview

Dr. Ingham will be leading the Living Soils workshop from January 31 – February 2nd at the Pfeiffer Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY as part of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course. Learn more and reserve your spot at www.CarbonFarmingCourse.com

Other workshops include:

• Jan 17-19: Holistic Management: Dr. Ann Adams, Holistic Management International
• Jan 20-22: Keyline Farming: Darren Doherty, Australia Felix Permaculture
• Jan 24-26: Perennial Agriculture: Dr. Wes Jackson, The Land Institute & Dave Jacke, Edible Forest Gardens
• Jan 27-29: Tree Crops & Agroforestry: Eric Toensmeier, Perennial Solutions
• Jan 31 – Feb 1: Living Soils: Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb International 
• Feb 3: BioChar Colloquium: Re:Char, Biochar NE, Encendia Biochar, & more! 
• Feb 4: Financing Regenerative Agriculture Conference
• Feb 5: Local Food Systems: Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms

Interviewer Laura O’Reilly is the Station Manager for WHDD, Robin Hood Radio, “the smallest NPR station in thenation”.  She has interviewed Guatemalan Consul Oscar Padilla Lam and Yi-Wen Jiang, violinist for the Shanghai String Quartet, aside from many other equally interesting and accomplished individuals.  Initially she was attracted to working with Robin Hood Radio because of their “locavore” approach to media.

WHDD Robin Hood Radio provides all your favorite NPR shows and local news programming to their community. They are a Media Sponsor for the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and can be streamed live  24 hours a day, 7 days a week at robinhoodradio.com.

Ethan Roland, Organizer of the Carbon Farming Course

In this Carbon Farming Course exclusive interview, Ethan Roland introduces the Carbon Farming Course and explains why Regenerative Agriculture is essential for local economies. In collaboration with WHDD Robin Hood Radio, this interview is the second in a series that highlights the trainers of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and digs into the fundamental issues of agriculture and economics faced by all communities today.

Listen now! Ethan Roland Interview

Ethan Roland will be hosting the Financing Regenerative Agriculture Course on February 4th at the Pfeiffer Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY as part of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course: Workshops in Regenerative Agriculture. Learn more and reserve your spot at www.CarbonFarmingCourse.com

Other workshops include:

• Jan 17-19: Holistic Management: Dr. Ann Adams, Holistic Management International
• Jan 20-22: Keyline Farming: Darren Doherty, Australia Felix Permaculture
• Jan 24-26: Perennial Agriculture: Dr. Wes Jackson, The Land Institute & Dave Jacke, Edible Forest Gardens
• Jan 27-29: Tree Crops & Agroforestry: Eric Toensmeier, Perennial Solutions
• Jan 31 – Feb 1: Living Soils: Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb International 
• Feb 3: BioChar Colloquium: Re:Char, Biochar NE, Encendia Biochar, & more! 
• Feb 5: Local Food Systems: Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms

Interviewer Laura O’Reilly is the Station Manager for WHDD, Robin Hood Radio, “the smallest NPR station in thenation”.  She has interviewed Guatemalan Consul Oscar Padilla Lam and Yi-Wen Jiang, violinist for the Shanghai String Quartet, aside from many other equally interesting and accomplished individuals.  Initially she was attracted to working with Robin Hood Radio because of their “locavore” approach to media.

WHDD Robin Hood Radio provides all your favorite NPR shows and local news programming to their community. They are a Media Sponsor for the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and can be streamed live  24 hours a day, 7 days a week at robinhoodradio.com.

Ann Adams of Holistic Management International

In this Carbon Farming Course exclusive interview, Dr. Ann Adams explains Holistic Management and its role in creating sustainable and profitable enterprises. In collaboration with WHDD Robin Hood Radio, this interview is the first in a series that highlights the trainers of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and digs into the fundamental issues of agriculture and economics faced by all communities today.

Listen now: Ann Adams Interview 

Dr. Ann Adams will be presenting a three-day workshop on Holistic Management from January 17-19 at the Pfeiffer Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY as part of the 2012 Carbon Farming Course: Workshops in Regenerative Agriculture. Learn more and reserve your spot at www.CarbonFarmingCourse.com

Other workshops include:

• Jan 20-22: Keyline Farming: Darren Doherty, Australia Felix Permaculture
• Jan 24-26: Perennial Agriculture: Dr. Wes Jackson, The Land Institute & Dave Jacke, Edible Forest Gardens
• Jan 27-29: Tree Crops & Agroforestry: Eric Toensmeier, Perennial Solutions
• Jan 31 – Feb 1: Living Soils: Dr. Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb International 
• Feb 3: BioChar Colloquium: Re:Char, Biochar NE, Encendia Biochar, & more! 
• Feb 4: Financing Regenerative Agriculture Conference 
• Feb 5: Local Food Systems: Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms

Interviewer Laura O’Reilly is the Station Manager for WHDD, Robin Hood Radio, “the smallest NPR station in thenation”.  She has interviewed Guatemalan Consul Oscar Padilla Lam and Yi-Wen Jiang, violinist for the Shanghai String Quartet, aside from many other equally interesting and accomplished individuals.

WHDD Robin Hood Radio provides all your favorite NPR shows and local news programming to their community. They are a Media Sponsor for the 2012 Carbon Farming Course and can be streamed live  24 hours a day, 7 days a week at robinhoodradio.com.