Soil Solutions
Our approach
We work with nature to create living soil systems. We utilize methodologies from natural farming (knf), Jadam, permaculture, and many long standing practices that bring us into closer relationship with nature and apply them to Gunnison Valley’s unique landscape. Living soil systems allow for greater water retention, less water run off and soil erosion, the ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, and work as a living network entirely. It has become more critical as we experience severe drought, increased wildfire risk, and flooding to implement practices to help us better adapt to a shifting climate. Living soil is a solution for many environmental imbalances we face today. We make 100% of our inputs ourselves in valley. From fertilizer, to natural pesticides, surfactants, pre and probiotics, microbial solutions, we make or harvest them, therefore, we know exactly what is being applied to the earth. No long distance shipped inputs, no lab-made microbes, no genetically modified or treated seeds, and absolutely no synthetics used ever. We trust natures intelligence.
Natural Farming
Our soil program is a regenerative, long term solution for plant health including lawns, gardens, vegetables, house plants, native landscapes and more. Local living biology is harvested and cultivated as the foundation of our program. Harvesting native microbes and producing natural fertilizer inputs has been in practice for over 1,000 years. By utilizing native sources, we are able to get the most adapted living biology available. Using living biology has become a popular practice with the rise of organic gardening and farming practices, however, microbes produced in a lab aren’t suited for, or adapted to specific areas. Lab made microbes are grown in optimum conditions, they aren’t exposed to factors like extreme temperature’s or varying altitudes, for example. By using indigenous microorganisms, we are able to offer acclimated strong life to depleted soil, helping to restore optimal health and balance. Our method of harvesting and cultivation doesn’t require a lab, and instead allows nature to do the work. The entire process is beneficial to every living being involved. Additional inputs such as LAB’s (lactic acid bacteria), herbal nutrient tinctures, fish amino acids, and micronized compost teas are used to increase life, add nutrients and minerals, aerate soil, and support nutrient cycling. The microbes contained in healthy living soil aid in processing carbon and ground pollutants, sinking them into the ground to be integrated, a natural function of living soil. Our program is great for soil that has been disturbed by construction or prior pesticide use, as it aids in restoring the natural ecosystem and habitat, while also detoxifying soil of residues left behind by various components.
All of our fertilizer inputs are water soluble and available in an organic form the plants and soil can process naturally.
If you're a DIY’er who is interested in using the best available products for your soil and plant life, we have just what you need from all purpose solutions to ingredient specific inputs. We can offer advice and help create a care plan based on your current soil conditions and growing needs. We’re happy to take care of everything for you or give you what’s needed to be a Colorado Natural Farmer/Gardener! From start to finish and anything in between, we’re here to assist with any projects you have in mind.
Lowered carbon footprint
1/3 of all carbon that is in the atmosphere today comes from loss of organic soil and soil erosion. Our program helps reduce the need for transporting large amounts of fertilizer long distances. We utilize as many local materials as possible. All of our inputs are sold in concentrated form with dilution rates between 100-1000 parts water to 1 part solution. We also utilize food and organic waste from compost helping to reduce landfill impact. Recycled materials are used whenever possible for items such as worm bins & solution containers which are often donated by our local water company.
Lawn fertilization
We offer a lawn specific solution designed to help build your soil with beneficial microbes and nutrients aimed to create a green, healthy lawn. By utilizing native microbes and creating an ideal pH and environment in the soil for grass to grow, we help you achieve a beautiful lawn free from harmful chemicals. As your soil becomes the ideal environment for grass to grow, unwanted weeds will be discouraged from taking over. Naturally, weeds such as dandelions grow in unhealthy soil. Many lawns exist on disturbed soil that has never been restored back to a natural state. Products such as weed and feed, round up, chemical fertilizers, and the heavy use of herbicide + pesticides cause further depletion to soil, leaving behind many compounds plants can’t process. The lack of microbial life in such disturbed soil leaves these compounds unintegrated and the soil continues into an environment ideal for weeds to grow since they are often plants that require less nutrients and less ideal growing conditions. By focusing on the health of the soil and the grass we are able to reverse this process and create an environment that will continue to enhance the growth of lush, healthy, green grass. By using native microbes, we are also able to help lawns with frost and drought tolerance. The increased life in the soil helps to create air and space in the soil -in turn helping with water retention as well as aeration.
Hydro-Seeding
Popular for berms and homesites post construction. We blend a microbial solution, our Vermicompost Extract +, native wildflower and grass seed, pre + probiotics, and a dye free paper mulch to apply to designated areas. Our unique mix helps seed germinate strongly while regenerating the soil it was applied to.
Tree fertilization + care
We offer tree specific formulas for treating and feeding trees. By harvesting and cultivating native microbes from healthy native forests, we create a specific nutrient blend aimed at treating, and ensuring continued growth of trees. By introducing our formula to both the tree itself, and the soil around the tree, a living network of beneficial fungi, and microbes is created to enhance the continued health of trees. This formula is especially beneficial for newly planted trees and those suffering from a variety of ailments.
Native landscape management
By utilizing and encouraging the thriving nature already around us, we are able to make a living nutrient solution to help encourage native plants to thrive over threatening invasive plant species. We utilize living biology from healthy areas similar in nature to the areas we’re treating in order to enhance the soil and plant life with locally harvested microbes plus important trace elements giving native plants an advantage over invasive, non-native plant species. Creating an environment favored for indigenous plants allows them to thrive and regenerate whats often killed off when conventional methods are used. Our liquid solution is concentrated and diluted in water at a ratio of 1:1000. The solution is sprayed onto soil and plants.
How it works.
We show up on site with our solution ready to be diluted and sprayed. Application absorbs quickly and efficiently, leaving behind no mess, and allowing lawn or garden area to be used the same day. One application begins the amendment process, however, more may be needed depending on soil composition. We also have natural farming products available in various sizes HERE if you’re interested in applying yourself. Please contact us for larger quantities or guidance to make and mix inputs independently.
What are IMO’S?
“IMO’S are indigenous microorganisms that have lived in harmony with the soil in that particular region, who have contributed to establishing the environment that they live in. IMO purify the soil water, provide various nutrients, and have the ability to decompose complex organic materials breaking them down into simpler compounds or elements that undergo ionic interactions. Even diverse inorganic matters decomposed by IMO increase their effectiveness and are converted to a form readily absorbable by plants. IMO have the ability to convert weak soil into healthy soil by solubilizing trace minerals and enhancing the circulation of nutrients. IMO bring diversity back to the soil in which the balance among microbial population has been broken due to the abuse of chemicals. IMO are strong survivors that cannot be languid even in extreme conditions. The recovered diversity of microbes can, then, reduce the occurrence of diseases rapidly. It is the goal of Natural Farming to revitalize the earth that is growing increasingly desolate by reinstating these organisms back to their original design.” An excerpt from Natural Farming Agriculture Materials written by Cho Ju-Young.