Harvesting Nature’s Intelligence
A working ranch and learning center advancing regenerative agriculture, soil health, and whole-systems education.
At its heart, Sustainable Settings is an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization advancing whole-systems sustainable development — integrating regenerative agriculture, land stewardship, green building, and community solutions that harmonize people with the biosphere.
Rooted on a working ranch and Whole Systems Learning Center in Carbondale, Colorado, we reconnect soil to society, research to practice, and culture to ecology.
“Assuming we grasp the importance of soil health to our health we might also understand that soil cannot be nurtured or regenerated by heroic feats of enormous techno-miracles, but only by millions of small acts of humble reverence in accord with Nature.”
– Brook LeVan, Co-Founder Sustainable Settings
OUR WORK & IMPACT
Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Innovation
We combine Biodynamic practices with organic, no-till, permaculture and rotational grazing strategies to improve soil life and fertility — validated by multi-year USDA/NRCS lab results showing significant gains in biological soil health.
Our practices produce:
• Grass-fed A2 dairy & beef
• Heirloom vegetables and herbs
• Nutrient-rich farm products prized by chefs and communities
Whole Systems Learning Center
A hands-on educational environment where participants explore, collaborate, and apply regenerative principles across agriculture, land design, energy systems, and community resilience.
WHO WE ARE
For nearly three decades, Sustainable Settings has demonstrated how land stewardship, ecological design, and community engagement can work together as one integrated system.
Rooted on a historic ranch in Carbondale, Colorado, we research, practice, and teach regenerative solutions that reconnect soil to society and learning to living systems.
We are:
A nonprofit educational ranch
A Whole Systems Learning Center
A regenerative agriculture demonstration site
A community hub for ecological literacy
WHY IT MATTERS
Healthy soil. Resilient communities. Regenerative economies.
Industrial systems have separated food from soil, buildings from ecology, and communities from land stewardship. We exist to reconnect them.
Our work strengthens:
Soil biology and carbon sequestration
Local food systems
Ecological design literacy
Intergenerational knowledge transfer
Immersive Learning Experiences
We offer hands-on, real-world sustainability education for:
Students
Volunteers
Interns
Community members
Emerging land stewards
Participants engage directly with:
Regenerative farming systems
Biodynamic and no-till practices
Rotational grazing models
Ecological site design
Green building principles
Seasonal Events & Community Gatherings
From ranch volunteer days to educational workshops and seasonal festivals, our events bring together farmers, students, families, chefs, and landowners.
Measurable Regeneration
Our multi-year soil testing and USDA/NRCS lab data show significant increases in biological soil health through integrated management practices.
We produce:
Grass-fed A2 dairy and beef
Heirloom vegetables and herbs
Nutrient-dense farm products
We demonstrate that ecological stewardship and economic viability can coexist.
Consulting & Ecological Design
We provide consulting rooted in whole-systems thinking for:
Regenerative ranch planning
Permaculture master planning
Native habitat restoration
Green building systems
Sustainable micro-enterprise strategy
If you steward land and want to align ecology with productivity, we can help.
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!