Boulder County Soil Health Initiative

Grama Grass & Livestock – $59,525

Grama Grass & Livestock aims to improve ecosystem health on degraded lands. Aligned with this mission, this project will increase herd size and speed of rotational grazing across 450 acres, create soil management plans for four properties, and share regenerative ranching practices via educational videos.

Colorado Camel Milk – $46,500

Colorado Camel Milk will use funds to purchase a Esch no-till drill that is equipped with a liquid application system. This tool limits soil disturbance when planting cash crops and contributes compost tea and natural biofertilizer, creating an environment that improves soil biology. Furthermore, a portable milking parlor will increase rotational grazing on 20 acres of erodible dryland.

Laughing Coyote Project – $40,000

The Laughing Coyote Project will implement bioswales to increase water distribution and retention. 4,000 hardy fruit and nut-producing trees will be planted along the bioswales to provide alternative livestock feed and food for humans, creating a robust and resilient system. The funding will also be used to purchase infrastructure to increase the creation and application of quality compost, contributing to a highly biodiverse ecosystem.

MetaCarbon Farm – $38,000

MetaCarbon Farm will improve soil health and structure through the implementation of biofertilizers, compost, biochar, and rotational grazing on 40 acres. These additions will increase vegetable and livestock production, reduce costs, and expand the availability of nutrient dense food in our local community.

Jacob Springs Farm – $33,389

Jacob Springs Farm will use funding to transition away from traditional tillage methods and implement a polyculture, low-tillage system that better protects soil. They will purchase equipment to improve manure fertilizer management and build extra fencing infrastructure for rotational grazing on 280 acres of private land, which will help to close the fertility loop between the livestock and grain fields.

Farmette Flowers LLC DBA Artemis Flower Farm – $57,000

Artemis Flower Farm will expand compost application, low tillage farming practices, nontoxic weed management, and cover cropping to all 17 acres of their flower-growing farm. Equipment will be shared with up to 7 neighboring beginning farmers, ensuring that the implementation of soil health practices is advanced equitably throughout the community.

Father Earth Organic Farm – $14,248

Father Earth Organic Farm will reduce soil compaction by downsizing equipment impacts and improve soil health through organic amendments, compost materials, and cover crops on a market garden. These efforts to enhance soil health and fertility will increase plant diversity and production on those clay areas.

Boulder Mushroom – $50,000

Boulder Mushroom will utilize locally generated biological methods for improving soil health at the field scale. The project aims to promote sustainable land management practices while creating a sustainable and productive use for the large quantities of unmarketable forestry biomass generated in Boulder County. This project will include the inoculation of forestry and on-farm woody biomass to speed the decomposition of litter cover and will increase the available organic matter through 8 farm partnerships and 107 acres.

Light Root Community Farm – $43,800

Light Root Community Farm will use funds to support a regenerative grazing system and micro-dairy operations with draft horse powered hay baling equipment. By maximizing hay production to allow for higher rates of rotational grazing and enhancing water impacts on 37 acres of dairy production, the farm will be able to better support overall soil health.

Wild Nectar Farm – $69,551.52

By purchasing electric fences, a working chute system, and a livestock trailer with 80 sheep capacity, Wild Nectar Farm will increase operational efficiency and growth. This partnership project will improve soil health on 70 acres of silvopasture through high rotational grazing of sheep.

Buckner Family Ranch – $47,072

Buckner Family Ranch, in partnership with neighboring DeBruyne and Dorfman ranchers, will improve soil health by repairing a ditch that brings water to 60 acres of unusable ranch lands. Once reestablished, the lands will be utilized for high rotational cattle grazing.