Ortensi Farm Open Gate a Draw for Beginning and Experienced Farmers

The Ortensi Farm Open Gate event took place in Richfield Springs, NY on November 11.  The day was cold, but sunny, and the crowd small, but enthusiastic.  Participant experience ranged from beginner to experienced practitioner.   A panel discussion began the day, with farm owner Berni Ortensi, farmer Elizabeth Collins, and HMI Certified Educator Sarah Williford participating.  The panel participants spoke about their experience with Holistic Management, and how it’s been used on their farms and in their lives. The panel discussion was followed by two brainstorming activities; brainstorming a list of values and a list of enterprises that interested the participants.  After lunch, participants were introduced to Farm Service Agency (FSA), with an emphasis on FSA loans.  Two program participants shared their experiences with the loans, and why they were beneficial for their farms.

The panel then presented enterprise budgets from their personal farmers, later doing a group enterprise budget. Afterwards, the group headed over to Ortensi Farm for a hayride tour of the farm.  Owner Berni Ortensi shared her practices with the group, including that a monitoring system is built in, so they are always paying attention to what is working and what is not.  Because of Holistic Management, they have a goal for their lives and their farm, and make decisions based on both quality of life and financial success. A special thanks goes out to FSA for providing funding for this program. Here are some of the results of the Ortensi Open Gate: Intend to change management practices     100% Expanded network     100% Would recommend event to others     100% Satisfaction with the event     100% More confident in ability to complete a gross profit analysis     83%      _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

A Season of Giving

At this time of the year, we often find ourselves counting our blessings while appreciating the gifts that we’ve been given. Here at Holistic Management International, we’re no different. Here are just a few of the gifts that we’re grateful for:

The Gift of Healthy Land

Your gifts have put us on track to reach our 20/20 vision of 20 million additional acres of healthy land by the year 2020.

The Gift of Healthy Food

We have seen the Holistic Management community grow, supporting the work of creating healthy lands while producing the nutritious food that will feed communities across the globe.

The Gift of Knowledge

Your generous gifts have also allowed us to provide over $50,000 worth of scholarships since 2014.

Will you help us train more farmers and ranchers in regenerative agriculture? Together, we can change the world one farm and ranch at a time!

 Thank you for your support, now and always.