Promoting healthy watersheds through sustainable land management
In early November, more than 200 people celebrated healthy lands and a sustainable future during Rendezvous 2014 at Dixon Ranches Leo Unit. The sold-out weekend included the Josey Pavilion Grand Opening, HMI’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, and two Open Gate Ranch Days at Dixon Ranches Leo Unit and the Running High Ranch in Bowie. Enjoy a recap of the event in the image gallery below:
The Dixon Water Foundation and Holistic Management International are co-hosting the Holistic Management Rendezvous November 7 – 9 at Leo Unit in Cooke County and the Running High Ranch in Bowie.
Learn, grow and connect as we get out on the land, learn from each other, swap stories, and share ideas on how best to manage land for a sustainable future. This unique event will include the Josey Pavilion Grand Opening, HMI’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, and two Open Gate Ranch Days at Dixon Ranches Leo Unit and the Running High Ranch in Bowie.
While we are expecting a large contingent of land stewards, ranchers and organic farmers from Texas, we’ve already got a number of confirmed producers flying in from around the US and several continents. While there will be plenty of time to network with your peers, enjoy fine dining and live entertainment, we’ve also got a number of in-depth learning opportunities for you to expand your skills and knowledge of Holistic Management. This includes an optional post Rendezvous workshop following the main events.
To register, view the schedule, or learn more about this event, visit HMI’s website.
“Borderland Conservation: Two Countries, One Cause,” the 65th Annual Meeting for the Texas Section of the Society for Range Management, is being held in Alpine and Marfa October 7-9. A ranch tour of Dixon Ranches Mimms Unit is scheduled for Wednesday, with presentations on field recognition of ecological sites, soil interpretation, map unit design, and soil inclusions.
The Overlook at Dixon Ranches Mimms Unit will be the site of Ballroom Marfa’s second performance by Austin-based composer Graham Reynolds on Saturday, October 4. More information on this event is on Ballroom Marfa’s website.
“The Desert is a solo performance for layered piano, a production that uses means both digital and site-specific to process the acoustic instrument’s sounds. With The Marfa Triptych, Reynolds is composing three musical portraits of West Texas. While the first and last parts examine people and their place in this part of the world, The Desert focuses on the natural world itself. In researching the piece, Reynolds has been exploring the landscape and the natural history of the area. When he performs the concert, the hope is for the audience to focus a bit less on the performer and more on being part of nature.” — Ballroom Marfa
Open Gate at Dixon Ranches Mimms Unit to focus on improving rangeland in drought
Registration is now online for an Open Gate at Dixon Ranches Mimms Unit from 9am to 4pm on Sept. 13 in Marfa.
Agricultural producers, wildlife managers, local agency representatives, and anyone else interested in sustainability, drought mitigation and biological research findings: this is a day for you. Learn about “Improving Land, Animal, and Water Health in a Drought” through short presentations and small group exercises.
Our speakers will share ranching techniques that improve rangeland productivity, water-holding capacity, wildlife habitat, and soil health. Participants will improve their land-monitoring skills, while learning about key soil-health indicators and ways to improve their soil. How to mitigate wildfire’s impact on soil health will also be covered.
Presenters include Robert J. Potts, president and CEO of the Dixon Water Foundation; Casey Wade, assistant general manager of Dixon Ranches in Marfa; Dr. Bonnie Warnock, associate professor and chair of the Sul Ross State University Department of Natural Resource Management; Dr. Lisa Bellows, Holistic Management Certified Educator-in-Training and chair of math and science initiatives at North Central Texas College; and Peggy Cole, Holistic Management International program manager.
This event at Dixon Ranches Mimms Unit is part of Holistic Management International’s Open Gate Learning Series of peer-to-peer, action-based field programs, during which participants share discoveries and management techniques with guidance from experienced facilitators and producers. Holistic Management® enables producers to better manage risk, make better decisions, and enjoy the benefits of sustainable agriculture.
Advance registration before Sept. 9 is $20 per person, including lunch. If space is still available, walk-in registration on Sept. 13 is $30 per person. To register or find out more, visit http://holisticmanagement.org/mimms/ or call 505-842-5252.
HMI hosted an Open Gate at Mimms Unit in 2011.
Join drylands permaculture designer and educator Brad Lancaster for “Beyond Rain Barrels” in Alpine and Marfa September 19-21.
Lancaster will give lectures about rainwater harvesting at the Granada Theater in Alpine at 7pm on Friday, Sept. 19 and at the Crowley Theater in Marfa at 7pm on Saturday, Sept. 20. Lectures will be followed by workshops at the Alpine Public Library from 8am – 2pm on Saturday, Sept. 20th, and at the Marfa International School from 9am – 3pm on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Space is limited in these free workshops. Reserve a spot by emailing bigbendrainwater@gmail.com.
Holistic Management International will host an Open Gate at Mimms Unit on September 13, 2014 and at Leo Unit on November 8, 2014. These educational events offer participants an opportunity to see from the ground up how producers are using Holistic Management to better manage risk, make better decisions, and reap the benefits of sustainable, profitable ranching. Visit HMI’s website for more information.
HMI last hosted an Open Gate at Mimms Unit in 2011.
The Ogallala Commons and Dixon Water Foundation are hosting a Playa Field Day on Tuesday, June 24, near Nazareth.
The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning at the Home Mercantile Building, 101 Second St., in Nazareth. Texas Tech researchers will lead the tour of two playas, and those attending should dress appropriately and bring bug spray. There will be opportunities to wade in ankle-deep water to observe species like tadpoles, fairy shrimp, dragonflies and damselflies. The second playa is enrolled in the USDA-NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program and demonstrates improvements conservation efforts make, according to a news release.
There is a $10 fee for a sandwich lunch and refreshments. RSVP to Darryl Birkenfeld at 806-945-2255 to ensure an accurate lunch count.
The Marfa International School will be having a student art and media festival at 6:30 p.m. on June 5 at the Crowley Theater in Marfa. Their nature films, soundscapes and paintings all have ties to Mimms Unit. There will light refreshments and art on display starting at 6:30 p.m., with the the soundscapes and films starting at about 7 p.m.
The Nature Conservancy’s Jim Eidson will be leading wildflower tours at Bear Creek Unit on May 4, and at Pittman Unit on May 24. Visit the Native Prairies Association website for more information about the Pittman tour, and this Facebook post to learn more about the Bear Creek tour.
