Senator Tom Udall visits the site of our current design project and gives us the nod of approval. He said "this is what we need to do, design in harmony with nature".

2010-08-27T22:11:00.000-06:00

Senator Tom Udall payed a visit to the Arco Iris institute where we are currently wrapping up our master planning process. Senator Udall, accompanied by USDA officials, awarded Daven Lee of Milk and Honey a grant for her value added products. Daven's milk goats are an integral part of the work force at Arco Iris. Aside from the milk, soap and other value products(among other functions), the goats are also on site to build soil.
The goats are rotated through the broad scale landscape on an intensive grazing program. After the goats have eaten the top portion of vegetation they are rotated into the next micro paddock. We then lay down a layer of alfalfa hay and soak it with aerated compost tea. The crew of chickens follows the compost tea application. The chickens do an excellent job of incorporating the alfalfa hay (teaming with microbial life from the compost tea application) into the soil.
This broad scale soil building program is in its early stages of development. We continue to test and assess the efficacy of the program. On going qualitative assessments of the soil biology are being performed through direct microscopy methods. We will report back soon with more details and results.

Site Design and Master Plan for the Arco Iris Institute

2010-07-25T22:57:00.000-06:00

In March of 2010 our team initiated the design process for the Arco Iris Institute in Santa Fe, NM. The Arco Iris institute is a place for nature based learning. The fruition of our design will see the restoration of previously degraded soils, an increasingly effective water cycle, bio-diverse gardens of nutrient dense superfoods, a haven for pollinators, localized energy systems, a community center and demonstrative learning place, a source for up and coming enterprises, an example of regenerative design.

Harmonic Ecological Design

Senator Tom Udall visits the site of our current design project and gives us the nod of approval. He said "this is what we need to do, design in harmony with nature".

Site Design and Master Plan for the Arco Iris Institute