Drylands Agroecology Research

Background Statement

In 2015, a farmer named Nick DiDomenico embarked on a journey to revive 14 acres of severely degraded land near Lyons, Colorado. Nestled against the base of the foothills, the desertified plot posed a significant challenge; It had limited access to water, hardly enough to irrigate 1 of 14 acres. Nick sought guidance regarding how to restore the land from conservation and regenerative agriculture experts, only to be told it couldn't be done without traditional irrigation. Instead of shying away from what seemed like an impossible undertaking, he along with his partner, Marissa Pulaski, transformed this barren expanse into Elk Run Farm, a living experiment in regenerating arid land in a semi-arid climate without irrigation and DAR’s pilot project.

Today, thanks to Nick and Marissa’s unwavering dedication, Elk Run Farm is a thriving oasis in the high desert. Using innovative techniques like passive water harvesting contour swales, designed to catch and absorb run-off, allowing the water to deeply infiltrate into the earth, 1000 trees and shrubs have been planted. Four years in, 79% of those trees and shrubs have survived, all without irrigation. Through the use of intensive rotational grazing of livestock, what once was a gravel parking lot has been transformed into a forest garden buzzing with life and biodiversity and boasting five inches of rich topsoil that now sustains regional crops like blue corn, dry beans, amaranth, and grain sorghum. In a matter of a few years, a desertified plot is now supporting an average of 10 interns and residents year-round, with 90% of their diet coming from the integrated forest garden, staple grain, and silvopasture systems on-site.

When Nick and Marissa founded Drylands Agroecology Research (DAR) in 2017, their goal was not simply to regenerate land – it was to find a new way of living in relationship to the earth. The culture shift this represents is a hard thing to quantify, change, or even describe. Yet, the vortex of energy and hope that has formed around the nucleus of Elk Run Farm leaves no doubt that it is happening. Every member of our team – five directors, four program managers, eight apprentices and interns, and a dozen contracted supporters – believes wholeheartedly in this mission. Through the magnetism of the project and their belief in it, we attract over 1500 visitors annually to tree plantings, farm volunteer days, workshops, classes, tours, and events. The experience we have developed over the past seven years places us in a prime and singular position to leverage this energy and hope for change into real tangible action – not only through directing it ourselves but through empowering the next generation of land stewards and innovators.