Plant People Heal

05/30/2026

Let's talk dirt(y) today!

I got a message from a friend last week asking me about dirt.
Well, soil... the kind you want to just run your fingers through for several hours and get under your nails.

The kind of soil that makes everything thrive. What's the difference between "good" soil and "bad" soil? Let's dive in!!!

Good soil should:
✅ Hold water AND allow drainage (a tricky balance)
✅ Contain vital nutrients for plant growth at all stages (but not burn them up)
✅ Supports life and allows roots to spread (loosey goosey!)
✅ Tailored to the plants you are planting (this is key!)

We think of a "one-size-fits-all" approach to our garden soil, and that is the wrong mindset. We need to understand plants' needs at each developmental stage so we can give them the best opportunity to thrive.

Some of the main components in "good" soil that are universal (but in different quantities depending on your plants' needs) are:

💚 High-quality compost, rich in organic nutrients like food waste and biomass.
💚 Manure, animals digest plant matter and offer it back in high-nutrition "pellets."
💚 Perilite holds water and also creates space for water to move fluidly through the soil, so it doesn't get soggy.
💚 Leaves and Wood chips, these little time capsules create an environment for microbes to thrive in, and time-release nutrients to plants over time as they decay, also inviting tiny organisms to enter the "biome" and work hard for you and your plants' health.
💚 Coconut Coir has the ability to retain high amounts of water and slow-release it to plants in metered doses. It has even worked great as a standalone planting medium with nothing else added!
💚 Sand, it seems weird, but some plants thrive in sandy conditions because coarse sand allows water to move through the substrate without getting stuck and rotting roots. (great for stratification!)
💚 Peat moss. This resource is widely OVERUSED! It is becoming endangered, and is one of the most common ingredients in pre-made garden soil from the store, also one of the reasons they are so expensive. Use sparingly, and for seed starting!
💚 Cardboard and shredded paper (dyes and plastics are a no-no, though, so be careful!) are the underutilized superheroes of garden soil. When placed near or at the bottom of planters and pots, it creates a "water pocket" that the roots want to run towards. When applied properly, you water less often, and the plants can hold water for longer periods of time. This is best for raised beds.

Bad soil has some issues:
❎ It stays soggy and rots roots
❎ It dries out too quickly and plants become "dehydrated".
❎ It isn't feeding your plants when they need nutrition.
❎ It attracts bugs, fungus, and spores that can breed diseases.

To determine what is good or bad soil is all about what your plant needs and when!
When you use the 💚 list to decide which ACTION your plants require, you can build the right soil for your needs. If you're experiencing any of the issues listed above👆, adjust your measurements and try again.

Was there anything in this article that surprised you today?
What do you like to grow the most?
What would you like to experiment with growing?
If you have any questions about anything in this post, leave a comment 👇and let's talk about dirt!

🏡OH! Where are you from??? Are you reading this from the White Mountains of Arizona, or has this post reached you in some other state?
Drop your location 📌 so we know who is seeing our content!
📣If you love our tips and advice, follow the page for more deep dives into land stewardship, ecosystem health, and how we can best support the life around us.

05/24/2026

Last year, I posed a challenge to my FB Patrons. I am doing it again!

Want to see your Fb banner get a cool update?
Need a social media ad for your service?
Do you need a logo or branding?

Drop me a comment and see what's possible when you get a professional digital designer behind your projects!
This is a reciprocal offer. One FREE project for a Google Review. When I finish yours, I will send you the link to leave a review for my work.

And... go! What can I make for you??? 👇👇👇👇👇

Want to see your Fb banner get a cool update?
Need a social media ad for your service?
Do you need a logo or branding?

Drop me a comment and see what's possible when you get a professional digital designer behind your projects!
..AND GO!

05/24/2026

We promised during our last Christmas Giveaway in 2024 that we’d do another one when we reach 500 followers.
We are so close to that goal!
If you love our informative content, invite your friends to follow our page.
When we reach that 500 follower milestone, we will GIVE BACK to you, our loyal patrons by doing ANOTHER fantastic giveaway.
It was so rewarding to see our winners jump for joy with their prizes.

Here’s how it works:
You engage with our content by using the emotes, comments section and sharing features.
Invite your friends to follow Plant People Heal so we can get this giveaway rolling!

We tally your participation with our analytics metrics and the 3 winners will be those who have the highest engagement with our content.

Now, we need a total of 178 followers to reach this GIVEAWAY GOAL.
In the next week, I will post about the prizes so you know what you’ll get as the first, second, and third place winners.
NOTE: New followers will also be able to participate in this giveaway. So the faster they join, the quicker we can start tracking their metrics.

05/24/2026

The truth about planting trees from seed:

❎️ Its not for the impatient. Thats the first thing to know.

✅️ The best time to plant a tree was yesterday, the next best time is today.

I'm not here to drop some fortune cookie wisdom on you and leave. I'm here to make an impact on how you think about trees. 🌳😎

You've visited a forest before. It has had lifetimes to get established (much longer than ours of course), and when you see that, you marvel at the incomprehensible perfection of it, the cycles of decay and the life it breeds. Nature is a miracle.

🛑 Now here's a truth bomb. It didnt get that way by chance or accident.

You are a temporary feature here on Earth and get to choose how your existence influences the generations to come. This is something that many think about, but don't act on.

The power you possess for real, lasting, meaningful change starts with the faith of a mustard seed. Or in this case, an acorn (see the image below of the oak sapling started 2024)

Up to 473 trees can fit on one acre of land. Can you even imagine that? So how many trees make up an entire forest? Hundreds of thousands!

One man, acting alone planted an entire forest (I forget what part of the world now) over the course of his lifetime. It is still alive today.

One couple in China planted 10,000 acres of forest on sand dunes that became recognized by the Chinese government. They deemed it a conservation effort, fundamentally changing the way they think about reforestation efforts and their environmental practices.

My mother and I started in 2023 with a vision and goal of planting 100 trees. We know the importance of future forward thinking, even though we have become stupid through social norms and conditioning. We'll chance failure over doing nothing.
3 years later, we have over 300 trees.

Every year, more trees are added to our collection.
Yes, you can buy trees from nurseries, Home Depot, Lowes, etc... and you should! But there is something you can do right now, that takes no money and is easier than you think.

Look around you.
🌳 In your town, wherever youre reading this from, look at the trees that grow in your area. Do they produce seed pods?
Most do. Some don't.
🌟 Even if you have no idea what you're doing, it is free and legal to collect seeds from any tree in any public location.
Nowadays we have Google. The margin for trial and error are far less than they ever used to be. You can learn what kind of tree it is, the exact method for germination, and the best way to care for it. Google is a smarties pants. 😊

Put that seed in a pot of dirt and water it. See what happens. 🌱

We are naturally stewards of the Earth. We used to know what that meant, far before we were farmers or tribal nomads. Symbiosis is cultivated, not a birthright. We have to work at it, every single day.

This year, I've planted 50 more trees starting in March, I'm about to drop more seeds in pots in the weeks to come. I plant 100 trees a year now.

Some live.
Some die.

But the part that matters, is not that I succeed or fail. But that I do it, because every single year, more trees grow by my hand.
I have 36 acres to plants them on, so I need a LOT of trees!
Even if you dont have land. You can still plant trees, just to see how it feels.
Donate them.
Sell them.
Grow them in pots.
Your children will thank you. Someone's children will take their family to see your tree well after your body has been given back to the Earth.
Your impact starts now.
Your quiet legacy rests in your hands.
Your ancestors knew you were coming and they prepared for your arrival.

Thank you for reading to the end 🌍

🌳 Plant more trees.
Blessings friends. ❤️
🫡👍😏

05/22/2026

Let's talk about ponds today!

I want to break down the myths surrounding ponds because they are an absolutely necessary asset on ANY scale!

First what the beliefs currently are:
❎️ You can't have a ponds in a small space
❎️ Ponds just breed mosquitos, bad!
❎️ You can't have a functioning pond without a pump
❎️ Static ponds create an agleal environment that wont breed life.
❎️ Ponds are "messy" and time consuming to maintain.

These beliefs are absolutely WRONG.

I will now explain what ponds do for your environment:

✅️ Ponds are a safe harbor for birds, dragonflies, frogs and other wildlife
✅️ Ponds breed mosquitos on purpose and thats a GOOD thing (keep reading!)
✅️ Ponds can be as small as a planter and placed anywhere in a room, on a patio, or outside, or as large as a small lake if you have the resources to install one at that scale. Size doesnt matter, presence does
✅️ Ponds without a pump require a little more maintenance to balance biology, but are easily flushed to maintain a stable ecological system, mirroring nature
✅️ Ponds can be hands-off and maintenence light when installed properly

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, we need to talk about what works and what doesn't.

You can't assume that a pond will be self sustaining just because it fits your aesthetic.
Meaning that, if you do not add the proper filtration plants to ensure oxygenation, you cant expect it to function without constant maintenence and care.

The mosquito trap... there are several simple ways to look at and understand this.
The easiest method for reducing mosquitos is with a pump of some kind. They are inexpensive and there are solar options to cycle water. They do require maintenance for operational optimization, because you don't want your pump to burn out if it gets clogged.
The second way is with fish, minnows can consume a staggering amount of mosquito larvae in a single season, and they add needed fertilizer to sustain the ecological system.
The third way is to allow them to grow! Sounds counterproductive, I know... however, when you set up a pond system, you must understand that the natural progression of life involves mosquitos

This is where dragonflies come in all on their own to clean up the "mess" you've made. Dragonflies are attracted to water sources that foster the "critters" they like to eat. They will lay eggs in your pond that will hatch the next season, contributing to a closed loop, ecological, self sustaining, biology that mimics nature. Its a win win.
Also, when mosquitos naturally breed in your pond other critters that live in the bottom substrate layers will explode with growth because now they have a food source!

Mosquitoes aren't an error of engineering, they are literally the engine of your ecological production chain. View them correctly and you understand their function as a major food source in the ecosystem you just created.

Lastly, many of the plants that grow in natural ponds are hardy to frost, drought, and irregular weather or ecological hardships. When you forage for these in local areas, you are using plants that are ready to support your brand new pond right from day one. Store bought plants (some of them) can be useful immediately like horsetail, but water lilies might struggle the first year while the biology establishes itself.
Remember, your pond doesnt have to be "pretty", it has to be functional.

We have 4 above ground ponds set up in our experimental proving ground right now! They all have their own ecosystem, and support different kinds of life.

If you're interested in getting a pond set up, have a ponds already, or want to learn more, please engage in the comments. We love hearing from you!!!
Drop a photo of your favorite pond, (even a fantasy pond you dream of) or a body of water in Arizona you love visiting.

Let's support our ecosystem at every level by creating environments that support life.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk today. 😆
Blessings ALL!
(And yes, I wrote this myself without the help of AI, and it is a REAL photo of our first pond established in 2023)

05/21/2026

New gallery of the semi circle of elms near the CSS building.
My mother and I planted 13 trees in a day.
We prepped the space. You can see the first phots are the raw mound we started with.
Its hard to see the tree line in the images. They are small trees, about 3-4 feet tall.
All the grass we cleared from the mound was set aside and used to mulch the bed after spreading lots of native flower seeds.
This is how oermaculture works.
The trees are planted very close together, 3-4feet apart utilizing the Miyawaki forest method.
Planting closely ensures that they will grow taller very quickly.
Within 3 years, this tree line will be over 12 feet tall.
They will not compete for space because of selective pruning of branches to thin the canopy as it grows.

In the desert where water is a precious resource, we need to establish shade as quickly as possible.
While many people are against planting Siberian elms because they are not native to the White mountains, I have learned through observing patterns within our small town of Snowflake thst they can transform a bare lot into a dense forest within 5 years time.

Why is thst important?

In a harsh climate like ours, plants struggle, the soil, when exposed to the sun for prolonged periods of time, with little rainfall becomes hydrophobic.

When that happens, even the seeds thst are in the soil do not have enough moisture to germinate naturally.
So nothing grows.

When you start planting Elms, you introduce a plant that is prepared to go for a long time without an external water source.
The roots are tenacious, they will hold the ground together in particularly hardy regions where it is difficult to establish life.
They produce leaf litter that will encourage a microbiology of critters to move in within a single season.

Planting native seeds underneath them will hold moisture in the ground longer, requiring less water over time as they become established.

By building areas with tree canopies, you create shade, and at 5-6000 ft elevation, shade is worth more than gold.

Trees attract wildlife like and birds and squirrels who will bring more seeds to your garden and feast in the native plants you habe added to the ground cover layers, creating an ecological loop that sustains itself more and more over time.

Trees also attract moisture in the atmosphere, and can bring cloud cover and rain to your area, which changes the microclimate dramatically in your favor.

I know this was a long read, but if you made it to the end, then i encourage you to leave a comment aboit your opinion of this concept.

I will post in the comments the result of this kind of project as we did an initial experiment at our Plant People Heal town lab in March of 2023. The Elms were planted, and now 3 years later, they are a bustling community of snakes, insects, birds and other wildlife and reach beyond 12 feet tall.

Blessings All. Plant more trees.

05/11/2026

Hello. My name is Salsify.

I look like a giant dandelion, but believe you me... I'm not!
We are both technically weeds, yes. This makes it very easy to grow me in adverse conditions and drought zones.

✅️ I'm a native to the White Mountains and help build soil health.

✅️ I have several health benefits, and my root is edible promoting digestive heath, boosting immunity, and regulating blood pressure.

✅️ I am a rich source of insulin, a soluable fiber and act as a prebiotic that feeds the good bacteria in the gut, aiding digestion and easing constipation.

I'm often called the "Oyster plant" what a cute nickname huh?

My root can be roasted, boiled, mashed, or used in soups and stews to add fiber, potassium, iron, copper, and vitams C, E, and B complex to any dish.

✅️ my flavor is often described as mild and sweet. Often compared to artichokes of hearts of palm.

So if you see me growing in your garden, cheer! Spread my seeds and eat my roots! Introduce me into your diet slowly because I am hugh in insulin whuch can cause mild digestive discomfort in some indivuals... and gas. Nobody likes gas.

See you in the garden friends!
🌱✨️🌻🫡

04/30/2026

The Universe knows exactly what we need.

Today I was watering these beauties (the flax) and a young lady was walking by.
I waved enthusiastically at her and said "Hi!"
She walked over to me and said...
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Of course." I replied

She asked me about what the blue flowers are. (The flax) She had driven by the previous day and saw them all blooming. (We are right next to one of the busiest hwys in town)

We talked for nearly 30 minutes and walked around the yard together. She asked, "whats this?" As we came across something else, "and this one?" ... and she is going to come back and talk with me again next week!

I learned that she lives in our neighborhood and goes to the Snowflake high school and she loves plants too. I sent her home with a flax bouquet in an old Starbucks coffee glass.

When she returns, I've dug up a flax for her to take home, and she said she'd help me pot up the sedum babies while we chat.

Blessings are everywhere! I'm so grateful for this beautiful moment shared with another bright soul!

What made you smile today?

04/30/2026

This video shows you the feeling of it.
Here’s the reality of it.

We are opening 2 residency spots on our land in Northern Arizona.
Please read this before applying.

This is:
→ Off-grid living
→ Bring your own RV/camper
→ Hands-on land stewardship
→ Ongoing projects, repairs, planting, and rebuilding

This is not:
✘ A retreat
✘ A vacation
✘ Fully set up or “done”

The land is in a phase of transition.
Some systems are working. Some are breaking. Some are being rebuilt.
Like all of us...

That’s why we’re opening this.

We’re not looking for perfect people.
We’re looking for people who can show up, adapt, and contribute because this kind of lifestyle screams out your name.

If you’ve been searching for something real
You’ll feel it when you watch this.

🌿 Details + application: https://www.plantpeopleheal.com/residencycaretaker

04/28/2026

News from the Prop Shop!
What do you do when the city comes to trim your giant cottonwood tree away fron the power lines?

Well, clone them of course! What else? 😆

We got our trays ready, the greenhouse plastic is going on, and we'll see how these new bebes respond.

We attempted this last year and it was a fail trying to root them in water.
Every year we level up our game!
Every year we try new methods.
The fails are just lessons.

What's the best part? Seeing the workers face when I tell him I want him to leave the "trash" in my yard... like, just pile it up and I'll "handle" it myself later.

Thank you!
The confusion is priceless.