Ecological Land Planning & Design
Practical design solutions
for gardens, farms, & ranches
Services
Regenerative Agriculture Planning and Consulting
Land & Soil Mapping
Soil testing & Analysis
Grazing Plans
Crop Planning
Irrigation & Hydrology Engineering
Invasive Species Management
Landscape & Garden Design
Project Management
We design and plan farms and ranches, food forests, edible and medicinal gardens, and native drought resilient landscapes that nurture the health of the land and people.
We pride ourselves on the relationships we build with our clients and our commitment to fostering reciprocity in relationship with the land.
Our process is educational and transformative for all people involved to develop land stewardship skills and ecological systems awareness.
Our vision is to support a culture of global ecological citizenship, where people are an essential part of evolving unique bioregional relationships with the land they inhabit. We envision a world where people are dedicated to being responsible custodians of the land to nurture abundant and healthy landscapes for generations to come.
We start with an in-depth stakeholder survey, land survey, and soil test analysis to support clients' understanding of their place in the regional ecosystem. Through education, designing efficient irrigation systems, and selecting regionally adapted plants we help clients mitigate risks of investing in their land.
We work with clients to tap into the regenerative processes of the land and to see the potential in their land they may not have identified. We plan, develop, and manage projects to evolve with the changing climate and the unique lifestyles of our clients. We work with landowners and developers of residential properties, farms and ranches, and travel the globe to support regenerative agriculture and design.
Join us on a mission to cultivate a network of people who value and are actively working to enhance soil health, foster drought resilience, support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and produce local food.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
We operate with the definition of Regenerative agriculture offered by Understanding Ag that focuses on soil health practices - 6 principles, 3 rules of adaptive stewardship, and 4 ecosystem processes.
Six Principles of Soil Health:
All successful regenerative agriculture efforts start with and hinge on the degree to which farm managers implement the Six Principles of Soil Health. Developing a solid understanding of these principles and how best to apply them within your specific farming/ranching context is crucial.
The Six Principles are:
1. Context – Context is the most important principle and must be defined before applying the other principles. Context includes your production and financial goals and objectives, historical production factors, ecological parameters (both current and historical), community dynamics (family, neighbors, friends, vendors, lenders, etc.), and philosophical beliefs.
2. Minimize Disturbance – This includes minimizing disturbance of all types: tillage, synthetic, chemical, and manure applications. All forms of disturbance have the potential to harm our soil biology and physical structure. For example, all tillage damages soil structure, reduces water infiltration, reduces soil organic matter and carbon, and increases weed pressure. At times, one or more of these disturbances may be unavoidable, so a plan must be in place to minimize the impact of that disturbance in order to continue regenerative progress.
3. Armor on the Soil – Principally, keep the soil covered at all times. Nothing good happens when we have bare, exposed soil. Think of bare soil as our own skin. If we have exposed skin when it is very cold, we suffer. When we have exposed skin when it is hot, we get sunburned. Keeping the soil covered with a combination of living plants and plant residue protects soil temperature and moisture, keeps the soil microbes functioning and cycling nutrients, and progresses the regenerative process.
4. Diversity – Diversity is essential to making regenerative progress. Diversity includes diversity in plant species, soil microbial species, insects, birds and other wildlife. Monoculture and low-diversity systems significantly limit regenerative progress. It is simply not possible to make large strides in progress when diversity is greatly limited.
5. Living Roots Year-Round – Keeping living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible supports soil microbial life and heightened activity. Living roots help build soil organic matter, enhance water infiltration and carbon sequestration. Living roots support all life, both below and above the soil surface. A lack of living roots will produce only negative compounding effects.
6. Livestock Integration – Virtually all land-based ecosystems in the world evolved through the influence of grazing, browsing and foraging ruminants. For the past several thousand years, this included a combination of wild and domesticated ruminants in many areas of the world. The very act of grazing or browsing stimulates heightened effects in soil biology and sets in motion a series of positive compounding and cascading effects.
Learn More at: https://understandingag.com/the-6-3-4tm-explained/
Destructive
Sustainable
Regenerative
Matt Vogt, 1 acre residential food forest
- Cortez, Colorado
We really enjoyed the design process – the pacing, depth, and particularly the historical perspective of our small lot. It helped place the landscape we occupy in a larger context – as part of a regional biome...
We really appreciate Michael’s passion for his work. He lives his passion and its palpable and infectious. We also appreciate his ability to “be available” via text for short/simple questions. We look forward to working with him more going forward and feel what started as a professional relationship is now a friendship.”
Forrest Sloan Wright,
RoFo Ranch, 35 acre Holistic Land Plan
- McElmo Canyon, Colorado
Within just a couple of meetings, Michael expanded our vision from beautifying a patch of flatland, to reconsidering the vitality and vibrance of the entire ecosystem. He introduced us to the ideas of regenerative farming, watersheds, terraforming and erosion management. He painted a vivid vision for what the land could be when stewarded properly and the impact this could have for not just us but the wildlife and the broader canyon community...
Within five months, he had transformed a barren plot of dirt with poor mineral content into a lush garden filled with over 30 varieties of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Best of all, this was designed to be a self-propagating system that could be replicated annually and self-manage for everything from pest control to wildlife.
If you’re looking for someone with a true reverence for nature, a passion for creating lasting environmental and social change, a person who sees nature as a gateway to community, and someone who respects the responsibilities of land stewardship you have found that person in Michael.
Kathy Hobson, Residential Forest Garden
-Mancos, Colorado
"Thank you for making my dreams a reality. You heard me and created my longed for sanctuary space with, not just incredible knowledge, but also heart!"