.svg)
Land Stewardship
Designing and stewarding agro-ecosystems that sequester carbon, reverse desertification, support biodiversity, and produce abundant food for humans.
Elk Run Farm
Dry and barren fields remained as a prairie dog colony grew. Little if any topsoil was present, and biodiversity was minimal. A typical example of desertification in the brittle climate of the southwest, D.A.R saw this as a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the power of regenerative design.
Read MoreOur Methodology: Ecosystem Development
Our land regeneration work is grounded in transforming lands deeply degraded by human use into new types of ecosystems that meet human needs for food, building materials, fiber, and medicine while also sequestering carbon, reversing desertification, and supporting biodiversity.
Contour swales bisect a landscape on its contour lines so that water, rather than eroding out of the system, hits swale basins, spreads out and deeply infiltrates. Mulch and compost in swale basins soak up water and act as batteries for drier times.
The moist microclimate in the swale basin makes it possible to establish fruit and nurse trees without irrigation. Even in the semi-arid grasslands of Colorado, we are tracking a 70-80% survival for our trees across 4 years.
Regeneratively grazing pastures between swales restores grassland health and diversity. We are seeing a 280% increase in soil organic matter compared to our control plots.
Integrated pig, chicken, and annual crop systems rapidly build topsoil, recycle local food waste into fertility, and allow us to breed drought-resilient, locally adapted staple crops such as amaranth, black beans, and blue corn.
Contour swales bisect a landscape on its contour lines so that water, rather than eroding out of the system, hits swale basins, spreads out and deeply infiltrates. Mulch and compost in swale basins soak up water and act as batteries for drier times.
The moist microclimate in the swale basin makes it possible to establish fruit and nurse trees without irrigation. Even in the semi-arid grasslands of Colorado, we are tracking a 70-80% survival for our trees across 4 years.
Regeneratively grazing pastures between swales restores grassland health and diversity. We are seeing a 280% increase in soil organic matter compared to our control plots.
Integrated pig, chicken, and annual crop systems rapidly build topsoil, recycle local food waste into fertility, and allow us to breed drought-resilient, locally adapted staple crops such as amaranth, black beans, and blue corn.
Contour swales bisect a landscape on its contour lines so that water, rather than eroding out of the system, hits swale basins, spreads out and deeply infiltrates. Mulch and compost in swale basins soak up water and act as batteries for drier times.
The moist microclimate in the swale basin makes it possible to establish fruit and nurse trees without irrigation. Even in the semi-arid grasslands of Colorado, we are tracking a 70-80% survival for our trees across 4 years.
Regeneratively grazing pastures between swales restores grassland health and diversity. We are seeing a 280% increase in soil organic matter compared to our control plots.
Integrated pig, chicken, and annual crop systems rapidly build topsoil, recycle local food waste into fertility, and allow us to breed drought-resilient, locally adapted staple crops such as amaranth, black beans, and blue corn.
Contour swales bisect a landscape on its contour lines so that water, rather than eroding out of the system, hits swale basins, spreads out and deeply infiltrates. Mulch and compost in swale basins soak up water and act as batteries for drier times.
The moist microclimate in the swale basin makes it possible to establish fruit and nurse trees without irrigation. Even in the semi-arid grasslands of Colorado, we are tracking a 70-80% survival for our trees across 4 years.
Regeneratively grazing pastures between swales restores grassland health and diversity. We are seeing a 280% increase in soil organic matter compared to our control plots.
Integrated pig, chicken, and annual crop systems rapidly build topsoil, recycle local food waste into fertility, and allow us to breed drought-resilient, locally adapted staple crops such as amaranth, black beans, and blue corn.
Effective Metrics That Help Accomplish Our Goals
Our research program tracks how effectively our landscapes sequester carbon, retain water, and support biodiversity. Click here to learn more.
Land Stewardship Process
Before a shovel ever touches soil, every project goes through a rigorous holistic land stewardship process. The outcome? A clear picture of where we’re going, how we’re going to get there, and why.
Clarifying goals is the beginning and arguably most important part of the land stewardship process. Together, we establish the vision of where we want to be and what we want to see in the years to come.
With our vision clear, we turn to the land. Our site assessment process gives us - and you - a holistic understanding of the land; what elements and resources are present and how this relates to the goals. This process unearths the characteristics of the land, including the flow of resources, challenges, and opportunities.
With a holistic understanding of how the characteristics of the land and the goals of the people intersect, we create a design that maximizes the regenerative potential of your site. This design is complete, from master plan, to detailed systems diagrams, to implementation strategies and timelines.
With an approved design in hand, we can move forward with implementation. Using the latest equipment and a deep knowledge of ecology, our experienced team will shape the land and fortify the soil, preparing it to harbor new life. With this infrastructure in place we turn to planting. For many clients, our tree planting events are a fun and popular way to invite community onto the land and share the important restoration work they’re doing!
For DAR, a project is never truly finished. Tracking the outcomes of our efforts takes years as ecosystems grow and evolve. All along that way, we are there, collecting data to make sure every design turns out as intended and making the little shifts needed to keep systems thriving when nature makes her own plans.
The beauty of these systems is that after an up-front investment in thoughtful design, implementation of earthworks, and planting of trees, if we stepped away and did nothing, the system would continue to regenerate indefinitely.
Moist landscapes and deciduous vegetation are both natural fire breaks. In the event of fire or other disturbance, the swales act as buffers; after a fire, when water hits a scorched slope, topsoil, water, and seeds pool in swales rather than washing away and causing flooding. In this way, “destructive” storm events become agents for regeneration.
.webp)
The integration of tree and grassland systems represents the highest opportunity for sequestering carbon, creating resilience to varying weather conditions, and providing diverse and ongoing yields for humans and nature in our dry and increasingly unpredictable climate.
The beauty of these systems is that after an up-front investment in thoughtful design, implementation of earthworks, and planting of trees, if we stepped away and did nothing, the system would continue to regenerate indefinitely.
Moist landscapes and deciduous vegetation are both natural fire breaks. In the event of fire or other disturbance, the swales act as buffers; after a fire, when water hits a scorched slope, topsoil, water, and seeds pool in swales rather than washing away and causing flooding. In this way, “destructive” storm events become agents for regeneration.
The integration of tree and grassland systems represents the highest opportunity for sequestering carbon, creating resilience to varying weather conditions, and providing diverse and ongoing yields for humans and nature in our dry and increasingly unpredictable climate.
The beauty of these systems is that after an up-front investment in thoughtful design, implementation of earthworks, and planting of trees, if we stepped away and did nothing, the system would continue to regenerate indefinitely.
Moist landscapes and deciduous vegetation are both natural fire breaks. In the event of fire or other disturbance, the swales act as buffers; after a fire, when water hits a scorched slope, topsoil, water, and seeds pool in swales rather than washing away and causing flooding. In this way, “destructive” storm events become agents for regeneration.
The integration of tree and grassland systems represents the highest opportunity for sequestering carbon, creating resilience to varying weather conditions, and providing diverse and ongoing yields for humans and nature in our dry and increasingly unpredictable climate.
The beauty of these systems is that after an up-front investment in thoughtful design, implementation of earthworks, and planting of trees, if we stepped away and did nothing, the system would continue to regenerate indefinitely.
Moist landscapes and deciduous vegetation are both natural fire breaks. In the event of fire or other disturbance, the swales act as buffers; after a fire, when water hits a scorched slope, topsoil, water, and seeds pool in swales rather than washing away and causing flooding. In this way, “destructive” storm events become agents for regeneration.
The integration of tree and grassland systems represents the highest opportunity for sequestering carbon, creating resilience to varying weather conditions, and providing diverse and ongoing yields for humans and nature in our dry and increasingly unpredictable climate.
.webp)
