I would be honored to have the chance to work with Mr. Doherty. Not allowing livestock un-managed access to waterways is important, HOWEVER livestock can actually REDUCE erosion from streams, creeks, and rivers when their access to those waterways is properly managed. Allan Savory of Holistic Management does a wonderful job of this, and his methods have been well proven on about 40 million acres worldwide under his management, going back as far as the 1950s. It is worth looking into - but if one thinks about it, the large herds of Africa or the bison (75 million+) had unrestricted access to waterways and they were BUILDING the soil, not eroding it. Food for thought.
Access is restricted by predators like lions in the case of africa or wolves in the case of yellowstone, its been shown that the reintroduction of wolves has changed the behaviors of the elk and deer so that they do not linger in valleys as they are easy prey, this behavioral change has also changed the course of rivers due to preservation of the river banks
I was reminded last night watching this most recent presentation how I may give the impression that some projects are 'ours' when they are actually those of our clients & alumni. Its a lazy trap that some of us advocates, including myself, sometimes fall into where when we say 'we' we actually are meaning those who we've worked to inform, advise & develop around the globe. Its important to remain vigilant & revise the tools with which we choose to broach the challenge of our charter...
Darren Dohrty is, IMHO, a genius. It is wonderful to see someone making use of a wide range of techniques and approaches, bringing them together instead of fussing over which is 'best'. He says that Holmgrenis able to live on his plot 'as an enlightened peasant'. This may not sound appealing to many Americans, unless they think back to Jefferson's ideal of the 'independant agrarian'. ('Interdependant' might be a better term, but in Jefferson's day, a small farmstead could and did produce most of their own needs. If well planned, it could be a great lifestyle, not drudgery.)
If you are not familiar with his work, check out Mark Shepard. He's in your region. He wrote 'Restoration Agriculture' and a couple videos featuring his approach are here on UA-cam. All the best to you!
We did have a soil building period in agriculture here in Europe. It created the famous 'essenlandschap' (i have no way of translating this) It was created by small family farmers who brought the winter supply of deep litter from the stables and barns onto the small fields, resulting in higher, rounded fields over the centuries, compared to the surrounding roads, coppice lanes and landscape. Of course this rare landscape is now severely threatened by deep plowing and erosion, leveling and land consolidation in the later part of last century. They are still being plowed and farmed in this destructive way today, unless it is located in one of these, what i call 'museum landscapes'. That is what is left.
I would be honored to have the chance to work with Mr. Doherty. Not allowing livestock un-managed access to waterways is important, HOWEVER livestock can actually REDUCE erosion from streams, creeks, and rivers when their access to those waterways is properly managed. Allan Savory of Holistic Management does a wonderful job of this, and his methods have been well proven on about 40 million acres worldwide under his management, going back as far as the 1950s. It is worth looking into - but if one thinks about it, the large herds of Africa or the bison (75 million+) had unrestricted access to waterways and they were BUILDING the soil, not eroding it. Food for thought.
Access is restricted by predators like lions in the case of africa or wolves in the case of yellowstone, its been shown that the reintroduction of wolves has changed the behaviors of the elk and deer so that they do not linger in valleys as they are easy prey, this behavioral change has also changed the course of rivers due to preservation of the river banks
that was such an extremely informational video on restorative farming. thank you so much Micah for uploading this.
I was reminded last night watching this most recent presentation how I may give the impression that some projects are 'ours' when they are actually those of our clients & alumni. Its a lazy trap that some of us advocates, including myself, sometimes fall into where when we say 'we' we actually are meaning those who we've worked to inform, advise & develop around the globe. Its important to remain vigilant & revise the tools with which we choose to broach the challenge of our charter...
Darren Dohrty is, IMHO, a genius. It is wonderful to see someone making use of a wide range of techniques and approaches, bringing them together instead of fussing over which is 'best'.
He says that Holmgrenis able to live on his plot 'as an enlightened peasant'. This may not sound appealing to many Americans, unless they think back to Jefferson's ideal of the 'independant agrarian'. ('Interdependant' might be a better term, but in Jefferson's day, a small farmstead could and did produce most of their own needs. If well planned, it could be a great lifestyle, not drudgery.)
Thank you for pictures and split sceens
Great concise presentation mate. Inspiring stuff =)
This guy is legit. For some reason you Aussies are just amazing at permaculture lol. Hopefully I can get this lifestyle started in Iowa!
If you are not familiar with his work, check out Mark Shepard. He's in your region. He wrote 'Restoration Agriculture' and a couple videos featuring his approach are here on UA-cam. All the best to you!
We did have a soil building period in agriculture here in Europe. It created the famous 'essenlandschap' (i have no way of translating this) It was created by small family farmers who brought the winter supply of deep litter from the stables and barns onto the small fields, resulting in higher, rounded fields over the centuries, compared to the surrounding roads, coppice lanes and landscape. Of course this rare landscape is now severely threatened by deep plowing and erosion, leveling and land consolidation in the later part of last century. They are still being plowed and farmed in this destructive way today, unless it is located in one of these, what i call 'museum landscapes'. That is what is left.
i wonder if Holmgren built that house and excavated those ponds with loans that he had or has still to pay back. Anyone know?