The soil is alive, or at least, it should be. Healthy soil can be injured in countless ways; Toxic sprays and runoff, hardpan and erosion are common culprits. With the help of volunteers, our team at Engler Canyon Ranch is continuing the work to repair the soil and restore habitats for our wild friends. Seeing the results of this hard work may take years, but every positive action helps to bring us closer to our goal!
At ECR, our soil has been damaged primarily through erosion and overgrazing. Volunteers have been busy backfilling large ditches with a compostable product from the coffee industry, burlap! These bags were generously donated by Coffee Holding in La Junta, and Allegro coffee outside of Denver. A huge thank you goes to both of these groups for helping us restore this critical location.
These used burlap bags will act like filtered sponges, collecting and holding moisture while preventing the loss of precious topsoil and the loss of the soil seed bank. Layers of old fence posts, waste wood, and eventually soil will be added to aid in the decomposition process. As the burlap and wood break down, this area will transition into a reclaimed habitat.
Thank you to our volunteers and soil restorers everywhere!
You’ve got this covered!! Thank you for your good work!!!!!!
Thanks Rande! I took some photos yesterday of the progress, it’s amazing how quickly the burlap is working! I expected it to take years, some areas are 50% filled with captured soil. We already have a second location marked to start backfilling. Updates coming soon!