Many friends of Very Edible Gardens know that something called holistic management decision making floats our boat just as much as permaculture design.
Dan even wrote a series of articles about how we use holistic management decision making as VEG’s operating system.
Here we don’t want to focus on holistic management (which you can read about in the articles) so much as one of the best holistic management educators we are aware of – a fellow who goes by the name of Brian Wehlburg.
Alongside Helen Lewis, Brian co-directs Inside Out Management and was recommended to us and as a result a couple of us VEGetables have attended some of his workshops. Sometimes you happen across a teacher of such quality that you want to let others know. Especially when they are just quietly doing their thing without a great deal of fuss or promotion.
Brian is one of these. Sure, his expertise is on a topic that itself is valuable to anyone interested in permaculture, decision making, or land management. But his teaching style is about as good as we’ve seen. Brian goes the full hack in terms of preparation, props, interactive games and exercises, and is a master of leading you to reach the key insights for yourselves rather than just telling you about them.
We picked up a lot from Brian that we now use in our permaculture design courses and other places, and we continue to be inspired by his commitment to excellence in workshop facilitation. He sets a high bar and one that we’ll continue to strive for in our own educational offerings.
So, thumbs up Brian Wehlburg. Thanks for existing, and let it be known that VEG thinks you’re all right.
For any Victorians interested in a bit of holistic management action with Brian, check out his website and contact him (02 6587 4353 / 0408 704 431) for details or a chat about an 8-day, spread-out workshop starting in Seymour in September (yup – quite soon). Note this workshop covers not only holistic management decision making, but a holistic management approach to understanding ecosystems and livestock & business management. Here’s the course dates and content:
| Session 1
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1/2 September | Introduction
History of Holistic Management Paradigms and how we think Ecosystem function – how nature functions holistically Tools for making positive change to the environment Holistic Diagnosis of environmental problems Root cause Biodiversity loss The change process Personal profiling Conventional decision making
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| Session 2
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14/15 October
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Review ecosystem and tools
Holistic Context formation and goal setting Time management Testing questions Testing decisions using a testing matrix Testing decisions – personal examples Improving communication Generic non-growing grazing planning Feed budgets and plant monitoring Paddock walk and practical feed budgeting Biological monitoring theory Paddock walk – set up a bio-monitoring site
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| Session 3
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11/12 November | Review and photos
Introduction to Holistic Financial planning Generic small business financial plan example Review Individual non-growing grazing plan Generic growing season grazing planning Individual grazing planning for growing season Bruce Ward’s computer aid for grazing planning Review individual bio monitoring results
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| Session 4
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15/16 December | Review and photos
Financial planning actual individual plans Review grazing plans and growth monitoring Holistic Land planning process group exercise Management groups, continued learning, learning contracts Review, assessment, evaluation
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