Deceased, Decomposed and Nutritious: a sequel to Wild, Lush and HAPPY

As the extreme Florida summer heat waned and the annual rainy season provided hydration, the Earth Impact (Ei) Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots (Pilots) flourished. With exceptionally healthy soil, the garden cover crop, food forest ground cover, infill plants, and volunteer foliage thrived and achieved unprecedented growth.

A wild & happy garden
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

When harvested, the sugar cane stalks reached nearly 12 feet in height, sunn hemp plants towered over the garden at 8 to 10 feet, and a plethora of cranberry hibiscus shrubs displayed delightful blossoms. Closer to the ground, robust mustard and arugula plants reseeded themselves without regard to garden boundaries. Three-year-old fennel and scallions provided ample food for both wildlife and humans.

The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, Wild, Lush, and Happy, showcased the impressive abundance through a compilation of social media updates published by Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore. As the rains subsided and fall segued into winter, the Earth’s digestive cycle claimed the mainly annual plants as food for the next generation.

Taming the Wild Yard
Within the closeout of 2025, Holly spent nearly two hours daily for several weeks taming the once wild, yet now mainly deceased yard. The process involved tedious, strenuous, and rewarding tasks. After removing the decaying foliage, access was regained to the vegetable, herb, and edible flower garden, which was promptly weeded.

Tamed food forest path
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Next, mulch was spread over the cleansed garden area; the mulch was a compliment of local neighborhood tree trimming. Upon request, contractors deposited the ground tree-trimming remnants on the Pilot's gravel driveway. The arrangement saved a trip to the landfill for the contractors and permitted the nutritious foliage to feed the yard—a definitive "win-win" accomplished via simple awareness followed by a request.

With the garden-area taming complete, the work segued to the food forest and the remainder of the backyard. Paths were weeded and cleansed of overgrowth. Once complete, mulch was transported by the wheel barrowful and spread on the path labyrinth. Within days of welcoming 2026, the taming project was complete.

Mission Accomplished: Retaining the Nutrition
Traditional "yard waste" disposal was avoided in favor of a regenerative approach. Instead, 100% of the deceased foliage was retained within the Pilots to decompose and share nutrition with the perennial plants and the next generation of annuals. Weed remnants and light plant debris were placed in the banana-compost circle; the sunn hemp, beauty berry branches, and other bulky debris were staged for on-site mulching.

Managing debris according to Nature’s Protocol creates a curated banquet for the soil. The process ignites the annual foliage seeds to emerge into a delightful collage of food and habitat for wildlife.

Rewilding Urban Landscapes: Cultivating Food and Habitat
The success of the Pilots served as the foundation for Holly’s December 2025 presentation to the local Sierra Club: Rewilding Urban Landscapes: cultivating food and habitat for wildlife.

A primary focus of the presentation was the Insect Apocalypse and the far-reaching ramifications for the food chain. By choosing an evolution toward Soil Integrity—moving beyond organic and regenerative labels to focus on native plants and "rewilding"—urban landscapes become vital conservation corridors.

Polka dot wasp in backyard
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

To align work with Nature, Ei defines The Principles of Nature within three broad categories:

• Diversity & The Right to Flourish
• Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Cycles
• Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam

Healthy, balanced water and soil microbial communities are the foundation of life and integral to these Nature Prevails principles. As featured in the Bigger than Us podcast, Holly is known for the following quote:

"In order for life as we know it to survive and thrive on planet Earth, we must—absolutely must—get our soil and water microbial communities back to a healthy, balanced state."

The presentation emphasized that every yard can serve as a refuge. By providing the "Necessity of Cover" and a "Diversity of Species," the Pilots demonstrate how urban dwellers may directly reverse habitat loss while establishing sustainable food sources for urban wildlife.

The Sierra Club PPT presentation is available for viewing or downloading at this LINK.

The Earth’s Digestive System: A Preview
While the "taming" of the physical landscape is complete, the true work has only just begun beneath the surface. Retaining 100% of the deceased foliage ensures that the Nutrition Cycle remains intact, fueling a biological transformation that turns yesterday's growth into tomorrow’s vitality.

Alchemy of the Surface
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Subsequent articles will provide a technical deep dive into the Earth’s Digestive System. This series will explore the Alchemy of the Surface, where the "Brown Phase" of decomposition initiates the nutrient transfer. The narrative will then descend into the Subterranean Engine Room, revealing the Invisible Workforce of microbial communities and fungi networks that transform yard debris into new life.

Through the lens of the Conscious Steward, these upcoming installments will demonstrate how aligning human activity with Nature’s Protocol secures the healthy, balanced soil and water foundations essential for life to survive and thrive.

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About Earth Impact:

Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024). Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the  primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era focus areas carry over into the Era of Impact.

With the publishing of the March 2025 RiA Magazine article, Water Security: a pending to realized crisis, the Water Use | Toxicity platform evolved into the Water Security platform.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org.