The Tierra Buena Soil Systems Framework
Every landscape operates within a set of soil driven dynamics that determine its function, resilience, and trajectory.
Our Soil Systems Framework is a disciplined, iterative process for understanding those dynamics, designing appropriate interventions, guiding implementation, and verifying outcomes through measurement.
It is not a product and not a one-time project. It is a repeatable method for restoring and managing soil systems responsibly through time. Each phase builds on the last. Each cycle deepens understanding. Every decision is grounded in data and system behavior.
Our framework in four phases
Soil Management Is Iterative
Soil systems are dynamic and continuously evolving. Our framework reflects this reality.
Diagnosis informs design. Design guides delivery. Delivery is validated through demonstration. Then the cycle begins again. Each iteration strengthens system stability, increases predictability, and deepens alignment between land use and soil function.
Responsible soil management is not linear. It is adaptive, measured, and long horizon.
Diagnosis reveals how a soil system is functioning beneath the surface. We analyze physical structure, chemical balance, biological networks, hydrology, and landscape history to identify the forces driving current conditions. The goal is not to collect data, but to understand cause, trajectory, and constraint. Diagnosis establishes the baseline for all future decisions.
Core Practices:
- Soil, water, and microbiome testing
- Field assessment & photo documentation
- Baseline ecological performance data
Design translates understanding into strategy. Using diagnostic insights, we develop site-specific soil system designs that address structure, energy flow, water movement, and biological interaction. Each design is tailored to the land’s history, pressures, and intended use. Design defines how soil dynamics should be guided, not forced.
Core Practices:
- Ecological & hydrological mapping
- Mineral and biological balancing plans
- Regenerative landscape and infrastructure design
Demonstration confirms whether the function has been restored. We measure soil response through time to verify changes in structure, infiltration, biology, nutrient cycling, and resilience. Monitoring allows systems to be adjusted as conditions evolve. Demonstration closes the loop between understanding and outcome.
Core Practices:
- Seeding, planting & biological applications
- Hydrology and contour implementation
- Field management and restoration services
Delivery ensures design intent becomes reality. We support or oversee implementation to confirm that interventions are applied correctly, at the right scale, and in the proper sequence. Precision matters. Soil systems respond to how actions are performed, not just what is applied. Delivery protects the integrity of the design.
Core Practices:
- Seasonal monitoring & stewardship programs
- Carbon and water storage verification
- Data reporting & visualization dashboards