Improve your bank balance by working with nature

I recently visited Fernhill Farm and spoke with Andy Wear, a livestock farmer, about his experience with Holistic Management and Ecological Outcome Verification, now approaching its fifth year. While I was eager to learn about its impact on his business, what stood out most was how this approach has positively transformed his mental health and sense of fulfilment.

Farmers face immense mental health challenges due to financial pressures, long working hours, and isolation, with studies showing that 36% of UK farmers may be depressed. Conventional farming often exacerbates these struggles by disconnecting farmers from the rhythms of nature and locking them into rigid, debt-inducing systems. In contrast, Holistic Management restores a sense of agency, reconnecting farmers to their land, animals, and purpose, fostering resilience and well-being.

Andy shared how this way of farming has reinvigorated his connection to nature and his animals, turning farming into a deeply rewarding and meaningful vocation. Through holistic practices, he has found a balance between profitability, sustainability, and personal happiness—proving that farming with nature can truly nurture both land and soul.

Glen Burrows

For more details, see the article on the 3LM website.

Or click on the image above to see the short film where Andy explains how Holistic Management has improved his happiness and well-being.

Image credit : Luca Link - Picture shows Marcus Link and Edmund Sutcliffe in deep conversation

Taken from Burntwood Farm gathering September 2024 - immersive workshop for the merger of New Foundation Farms and 3LM

Nature enables blue sky thinking

3LM has recently merged with New Foundation Farms to create a unified organization that is greater than the sum of its parts. It is focused on driving large-scale transformation in regenerative farming and land management worldwide. We knew that planning this merger required the best our minds could offer, so we decided to create a retreat-like environment. This allowed us to function optimally, by breaking our patterns, and moving away from the dopamine-stimulating distractions of modern life to be immersed in nature.

Humans tend to think better in nature, a fact supported by scientific evidence from cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Studies show that time spent in natural environments enhances cognitive functions, particularly attention, memory, and problem-solving. This effect is attributed to Attention Restoration Theory (ART), which posits that nature provides a break from the directed attention demanded in urban settings, allowing the brain to recover from mental fatigue. Moreover, exposure to natural scenes reduces stress by lowering cortisol levels and activating the parasympathetic nervous system.

The presence of fractal patterns, prevalent in nature, is thought to engage the brain in a way that promotes relaxation and creativity. Together, these factors make natural environments conducive to clearer, more focused, and innovative thinking. Even your local park, with its open spaces and soothing natural elements, might offer a far better setting for true blue-sky thinking and the emergence of ideas with genuine depth and meaning.

By stepping away from the sterile, uninspiring settings of traditional workspaces, individuals and teams are more likely to experience restorative mental clarity that encourages innovative, purposeful outcomes—it certainly worked for us.

Glen Burrows

Head of Knowledge Exchange

New Foundation Farms

The gateway to a new perspective

Since our merger with 3LM, we at New Foundation Farms have been studying Holistic Management Fundamentals (HMF), and I’ll admit, it’s been a surprising journey. Like many in the regenerative food and agriculture space, I initially thought Holistic Management was primarily about cattle movement. I knew there was more to it than that, but I didn't realise how deep it goes. Holistic Management isn’t just about agriculture; it can be considered a framework for personal growth and transformational thinking.

HMF is more than a set of principles; it’s a programme that rewires the way you think. For me, it’s created a gentle but significant shift in how I see the world, bringing a mindset of interconnectedness, acceptance, and gratitude. These are ideas I’d admired from afar, but I feel that I’ve started to truly integrate them into my life. Rooted in systems thinking, it has helped me step back and view the bigger picture, recognising how actions, consequences, and contexts are deeply interconnected.

This approach has also transformed how I face day-to-day challenges. By aligning with principles of positive psychology, Holistic Management has shown me how to approach difficulties with curiosity and flexibility rather than resistance or oversimplification. I feel like difficult interpersonal relationships are no longer as difficult. Nothing feels insurmountable anymore because I can see even the tough moments as part of a larger, meaningful context. This mindset has reduced my anxiety and built a sense of resilience I didn’t fully realise I was missing.

One of the most powerful shifts has been the subtle way that gratitude now flows more naturally into my life. Looking through a holistic lens, I’ve started noticing the often-hidden contributions of others, of nature, and of time in everything I do. This awareness brings a sense of appreciation and humility. Neuroscience backs this up—practising gratitude activates the brain’s reward centres and boosts well-being. But what matters most is that this gratitude doesn’t feel forced; it’s a natural result of seeing the interconnectedness of it all.

Holistic Management, as taught by 3LM, introduces Clare Graves’s Spiral Dynamics, a psychological model that describes the evolution of human values, beliefs, and thinking systems through different stages of complexity and worldview, ranging from basic survival to integrative, systemic perspectives. The crazy thing about Spiral Dynamics is that just having some knowledge of it can change the way your mind works. If you're unsure about this bold statement, just try it!

So, who is Holistic Management for? Honestly, anyone who wants to think differently. If you’ve ever practised yoga, meditation, martial arts, or any creative discipline like music, writing, or art—or if you simply work with the rhythms of nature in any way—perhaps if you're a farmer!

Glen Burrows

Humble Student of HM

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