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It's Not Far Out and May Be In
THERE'S nothing hippy or way out about holistic management. For those
farmers who have embraced the concept it's all about applying common sense
and thinking outside the square.
Allan and Carol Gorton became interested in holistic management about eight
years ago after reading about it in a national farming publication.
"We were interested because of its emphasis on the sustainability of farming,"
Mr Gorton said.
The Gortons have a lifestyle block at Mabel Bush where they run bull beef
and are developing an export hydrangea business.
Mr Gorton also works full time at AgResearch's Woodlands Research Station
and is studying towards a diploma in agribusiness management through AgITO.
"People might have the impression that holistic management is long hair,
beads and sandals but it's far from that. "Once you've got the knowledge
you can apply holistic management principles to any activity. " Mr Gorton
was intrigued to see other groups including the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry starting to go down the same path.
A MAF publication on sustainable business growth, for example, quotes: "Sustainable
agriculture is where, over time, sufficient income is generated for growth
after maintaining existing environmental, human and financial resources.
"The dilemma for farmers and their advisers is how to balance financial sustainability
with environmental and social sustainability." And that's where holistic
management comes in.
Last year, the Gortons attended three, three-day courses run by holistic
management educator John King. "It was pretty intensive but we learnt
all about defining personal goals and then how to test every decision you
make against that goal." Most people focused on single issues in isolation
without regard as to how decisions might impact on other aspects of their
business, he said.
"The focus is always on going in the right direction and if you're always
heading in that direction then you tend to achieve your goals. You
find you are making decisions for the right reasons. "You start to
look for new opportunities and better ways of doing things and then question
why you are doing things.
If it's not taking you towards your goal you don't go there," he said.
"Farmers can often get bogged down and go doggedly down a path that might
take them in the wrong direction and they can't see there might be other
options.
"You start thinking beyond the obvious." Holistic thinking enabled
people to take their management skills to a higher level, something especially
important in difficult economic times, Mr Gorton said. "You come to
realise that if something you do isn't wealth generating, then why do it.
"It (applying holistic management principles) can be quite difficult sometimes
but definitely worthwhile." Mr Gorton said.
John Cutt, Southland Times, Friday, February 28, 2003. Reprinted here
with the kind permission of John Cutt and the Southland Times.
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