Judi has been in partnership with Lewis Kahn operating the consultancy Agricultural Information & Monitoring Services (AIMS) since 1998. AIMS provide training and project management to the grazing industries in elements of the agricultural ecosystem such as grazing management, plant identification, conservation, animal production, soil fertility, water quality and pasture production. In addition, she was Managing Director of Holistic Management International / Australia Ltd from 2005 to 2010 and served as an international Director on the Board of Holistic Management International (HMI) from 2010 to 2013. HMI is not for profit company providing education and associated services to agricultural and natural resource managers in the holistic decision process with the ultimate objective of enhancing biodiversity and regenerating land.
‘Glen Orton’ - 'the GO' - provides the perfect opportunity to put Judi's skills and knowledge of grassland ecology, grazing management and holistic decision making into practice and demonstrate the capacity of grazing animals to regenerate land.
‘Glen Orton’ - 'the GO' - provides the perfect opportunity to put Judi's skills and knowledge of grassland ecology, grazing management and holistic decision making into practice and demonstrate the capacity of grazing animals to regenerate land.
PHILOSOPHY
- retaining at least 2000 kg DM/ha residual herbage mass
- allowing desirable pasture species adequate time to recover from a graze event
- Cattle grazing in tune with natural cycles are used to regenerate the land, increase biodiversity and improve soil health.
- Cattle are moved based on three main principles
- retaining at least 2000 kg DM/ha residual herbage mass
- allowing desirable pasture species adequate time to recover from a graze event
- Soil nutrient deficiencies are addressed by providing supplements to livestock. Stock have a range of mineral supplements available at all times.
- Biodynamic preparations have been applied on small areas
- Permaculture ethics and design principles are applied across the whole area.
- Low stress stock handling is used and animal health issues are addressed first using homeopathic remedies. Antibiotic treatment is a last resort.
- Organic principles are followed as far as possible. The primary exception is the provision of urea to supplement nitrogen for the stock.
- There is a no kill policy in place, mostly. Feral animals are not in large enough numbers to be a concern although any fox that threatens the chickens is on notice. Only plants that threaten the health of the cattle are removed. Patches of blue heliotrope, St Johns wort and mother of millions occur in a few places. These patches are small enough to control by physical removal.
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HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT
All decisions made on Glen Orton consider the effects on the land, the financial impact and the people involved, in the short and long term toward our holisticgoal. it is intended that the land will become an effective demonstration of the potential to regenerate a degraded landscape with the application of the principles of Holistic Management. |
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