Water doesn't flow where we tell it to. It follows the shape of the land. And if the land is shaped well, water slows, spreads, and sinks rather than rushing downhill and carrying topsoil with it.

This is the ancient wisdom behind contour planting, practiced for millennia, from the terraced hillsides of ancient China and Mesoamerica to the modern movements of regenerative agriculture and permaculture.

On March 13, the Contour Lines team arrives to put it into practice here.

Working along the natural topographic lines of our pasture, they'll dig swales, lay berms to slow runoff, and begin planting legume trees whose roots will fix nitrogen in the soil. Research suggests this approach can reduce soil erosion by up to 50 percent while significantly increasing long-term fertility.

You’re invited to learn with us.