MINING

     We supply seed for reclamation at open pit and strip mine projects. Our clients need to satisfy post mining land use plans as well as stabilize the over burden materials. These projects usually need permanent vegetation established that will not need future inputs. We are creating seed blends that mimic nature's ecological healing process beginning with colonizing species that promote the development of advanced seral stages and permanent ecological communities.

UTILITY CORRIDORS

     We have provided seed and custom collection for gas, water, and power corridors extending several hundred miles. Some corridors pass through multiple political jurisdictions as well as variable ecotypes. These projects required specialized harvesting, seed cleaning and testing, and blending of the species to reflect these various ecotypes.

SKI RESORTS

     Our ski resort clients need durable, drought tolerant low growing vegetation to stabilize their ski slopes. They have learned that many cultivar species can only be sustained with continual fertilization and irrigation. These nutrients concentrate in the watershed and enhance eutrophication. We are challenged to supply increasing amounts of low growing native species that are durable and require less water and no long term fertility inputs. Native species are outperforming all others.

HIGHWAY CORRIDORS and other cut and fill projects

     These projects have special concerns regarding physical stability of the soil due to the radical disturbance of the original soil profiles. Our networking provides specialists to make recommendations regarding soil amendments and structural tackifiers that give temporary stability prior to germination. These projects often have an aesthetic consideration that require particular attention to acquiring species that are both functional and aesthetic.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

     Urban projects typically have both a functional erosion component and an aesthetic component as well. Our cities in the arid western U.S. are mandating that common areas and cut and fill banks be revegetated such that long term problems do not arise and that maintenance and water demands are not created for these areas. These mandates point towards restoration to a native plant community that alleviates the above concerns. We have been able to borrow from our mining experiences to develop similar restored conditions within an urban context.  

RIPARIAN PROJECTS

    Healthy riparian communities filter sediments, nutrients, and toxics that can make their way into our lakes, rivers, and the ocean. Many of our industrial and urban projects contain wetland elements and our clients are learning to appreciate the value of these healthy communities. We are continually increasing our inventory of riparian species as well as our experience with propagation.

GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENTS

    These developments are becoming quite common throughout our desert and mountain ecotypes. We are seeing a growing trend within these developments towards more environmentally friendly routes that reduce turf areas and related maintenance and water consumption. These "roughs" are proving to be low cost in terms of water usage, maintenance, and fertility inputs. This design concept is becoming especially important in our arid western cities. We are supplying seed blends that combine shrub, grass, and flower species that grow into plant communities with aesthetic dynamic qualities. Seed blends can provide architectural functions that define space, direct traffic, maintain the speed of play, act as barriers, etc. Stable native communities enhance the bottom line by removing maintenance dollars from the budget. Also, the open space provided by these native communities is improving the quality of life that is so attractive to potential homeowners.

FOREST AND RANGE FIRE RESEEDING

     Fires may result in catastrophic ecological instability that allows for massive wind and water erosion that can threaten communities, water supplies, etc. Reseedings are typically performed to prevent massive erosion and to hopefully accelerate successional development back towards stability. We may combine short-term aggressive colonizing species with long term advanced seral species. Many of these projects are aerially seeded due to size and inaccessibility.