When it comes to the topic of holistic practices, it’s going to be hard to top what Holistic Management International (HMI) has going on Friday through Sunday at Paicines Ranch. HMI is holding its yearly conference, which this year is entitled, Cultivating Community: Land, Food, Health.
Holistic management is basically managing land for ecological, social and financial sustainability. Practices and principles in holistic management include improving wildlife habitat and the quality of life for a community.
“Holistic management is the impact of the ecology of the ranch and how it affords you a financial living, and working within a community at large,” said Elaine Patarini, who is the director of education at Paicines Ranch.
This weekend’s gathering is broad-based in nature, showing the vast array of contacts in the HMI community. Farmers, ranchers, conservationists, authors, and natural food/health professionals will be present to talk about their areas of expertise during conference sessions.
“There’s going to be a little bit of everything at this conference,” Patarini said. “There will be a lot of choices in terms of speakers, and you can create your day to fit your interests.”
For example, some of the conference session topics include health, diet and natural cures; harnessing the power of livestock through holistic planned grazing; connecting the producer and consumer through cooking; kombucha camp 101; holistic management benefitting agricultural entrepreneurs; and mindfulness and mindful eating.
The keynote speaker of the event, Joel Salatin, is regarded as America’s most famous farmer. Andrea Lieberstein, who teaches mindful eating across the country and has clients worldwide, will be speaking on Sunday about the principles, research and how to practice mindful eating.
Lieberstein is a mindful eating expert, mindful-based stress reduction instructor, registered dietitian nutritionist, and registered yoga instructor.
Lieberstein has a private practice in Novato and trains health professionals from around the world. She was one of the leaders who spearheaded Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Mindfulness and Mind Body Spirit programs.
Lieberstein said she’s looking forward to the HMI Conference because of its uniqueness.
“I have not talked to a group of people working the land,” she said. “I’m excited to talk to this group and on the subject of farm to table and how that awareness can nourish our bodies more.”
For more information or to register for the event, go to: holisticmanagement.org/cc/
