What do urban farms in Denver, ranchettes near Colorado Springs, or vast ranches in Kit Carson all have in common? The principles that make their soils healthy, productive, and resilient are all the same.

The art of stewarding land at any scale, however, lies in finding the tools that work in your context. In this workshop hosted by Quivira Coalition, Rafter W Ranch, and United Ecology, you will learn what “soil health” actually looks like in the field (psst…we’re digging holes!), what tools are out there to achieve it (grazing, compost, keyline design, chickens, etc.), and how mentorship can help us achieve many of our own and broader-scale goals in this movement for regeneration. See below for a tentative agenda.

A lunch of a Rafter W Ranch beef burger and veggie sides will be provided for free to all attendees. If you have food allergies, let us know in your registration and we will do our best to accommodate. If you have severe food allergies, it is advised to bring your own lunch.

We welcome anyone who is interested in exploring these topics, whether you are a gardener, small property owner, rancher, farmer, student, agency/non-profit employee, or general soil enthusiast!

Questions? Contact Rebecca Baldwin-Kordick at Rebecca@quiviracoalition.org

Rebecca Baldwin-Kordick

Rebecca is a soil scientist and educator who has loved helping passionate farmers and ranchers improve and monitor their soil health and crop/pasture quality since 2016. Rebecca helps producers write grants for their soil health projects, and provides guidance and practical and customized recommendations to address agricultural production challenges and reach their soil health goals. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and her M.S. in Soil Science from Iowa State University, where she researched soil health in conventional and alternative cropping systems. She works as a Project Manager for the Carbon Ranch Initiative at Quivira Coalition, and her soil health coaching and consulting business, Red Dog Soils, is based in Denver, CO. Rebecca has completed rigorous agro-ecology training through the Integrity Soils CREATE Program to improve her capacity to guide producers in addressing production challenges. When she is not talking about soil health, she is fly fishing, gardening, and hiking on the weekends.

Lance Wheeler

Lance Wheeler owns Rafter W Ranch near Simla, CO, raising grass-fed cattle, laying hens, and broiler chickens for their direct-to-consumer meat business. He is passionate about regenerative agriculture, healthy food, trying out wild and crazy ideas to improve soil health, and supporting others who want to manage land with intentionality. Rafter W Ranch meat is American Grassfed Association and Audubon Certified, and Lance was a New Agrarian Program mentor during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

 

Avery Ellis

Avery is a sustainability specialist and ecological designer focusing on designing regenerative ecosystems that serve humanity through natural processes. He has a Masters degree in Ecological Design through SFIA and a BS in Biology & Sustainability through Stockton College. He is also a Certified Permaculture Designer and Teacher. From broad scale land management, restoration, and property potential to small scale residential landscaping and urban farming solutions, and from local community activism to statewide input on sustainability plans, Avery hopes to facilitate a smooth transition to a new era of regeneration for the earth.