White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia is a 2015 Savory Institute (SI) Hub Candidate www.whiteoakpastures.com. The farm is completing the process of becoming a regional training center and demonstration site in Holistic Management for Savory Institute. The staff at White Oak Pastures raises and markets grass-fed cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, chicken, duck, geese, guinea, turkey, rabbit, and a variety of products from their market garden and orchard.
In late August 22 key employees of White Oak Pastures along with 5 individuals representing local farm and watershed groups completed training in Holistic Management on site at the farm facilitated by Savory Institute Senior Program Director and lead trainer, Byron Shelton. All individuals attended training that included the Foundations of Holistic Management, Holistic Financial Planning, and Holistic Grazing Planning. They made much progress in completing the planning for 2016 for their various departments. Seven individuals also completed training in Holistic Land Planning and Ecological Monitoring. They are well along the path to become SI Accredited Professional trainers.
What made the learning most meaningful was that all of the employees of White Oak Pastures had completed Savory Institute’s Online Courses on the Foundations of Holistic Management before the face-to-face workshop time.
The common understanding among the employees at White Oak Pastures of Holistic Management and the increased communication surrounding the Holistic Context they are all working within is cause for great excitement. Increased progress in developing and growing an already successful business is to be expected with their company wide use and commitment to Holistic Management as a Whole Farm Planning, Decision-making, and Management Tool.
