ByDesignSoil provides biology-first consulting and education for market gardens, farmers, ranchers and landowners seeking to restore soil function and reduce long-term dependence on chemical inputs. Services are designed to meet you where you are-whether you’re just beginning to question your system or ready to make intentional changes.

Primary focus areas include:

• Market Gardens and Specialty crop producers

• Pasture-based livestock and grazing operations

• Row Crop systems (limited availability)

Purpose: Help growers start improving soil biology on their own, with guidance.

Includes:

• Soil Succession Field Manual (Compost Systems and Crop Specific)

• Soil biology introduction guide

• Fact Sheets (Nitrogen forms, manure effects, succession reset

• Cover crop starter guide

• Compost management basics

Plus 1 hour of phone consultation

$295

1️⃣ Local / Half-Day Educational Talks

(1–2 hours, minimal prep, within ~50 miles)

$500 – $750

Use this for:

• conservation districts

• grower groups

• schools / municipalities

• extension-style events

👉 This feels very reasonable and professional.

4️⃣ Travel (Separate Line Item – Important)

Charge actual travel costs, or:

• Mileage at IRS rate (.65 per mile)(First 50 each way free)

• Lodging + meals

• Travel day fee (optional): $300–$500

2️⃣ Half-Day Workshops (3–4 hours)

$1,000 – $1,500

Includes:

• deeper education

• Q&A

• possibly field discussion

Purpose: Help the grower understand their soil and see if working together makes sense.

Includes:

• 3-4 hour farm walk

• Soil structure and biology evaluation

• Management discussion

• Succession stage evaluation

• Basic transition recommendations

• Soil Succession Field Manual (Crop Specific)

$800.00 Consultation

.70/mile travel

3️⃣ Full-Day Workshops / Field Days

$2,000 – $3,000

Use when:

• multiple sessions

• hands-on discussion

• travel + prep involved

On Site Consulting

Hands on evaluation focused on management decisions that influence soil biology, water movement, and plant performance.

• Best suited for Market Gardens and diversified farms

• Pasture and grazing systems

• Select row-crop operations seeking biological transition

  Includes:

• Field or pasture walk

• Soil function evaluation

• Review of inputs and practices

• Biology first recommendations

• Direct, practical Q & A

  $1200 per day (plus travel)

Biology-First Transition Planning

A customized, phased roadmap for restoring soil biology while protection productivity, cash flow, and management flexibility. Transition planning is designed to help producers move away from chemical dependency by rebuilding soil function first-using measured biology, not ideology.

Plans are practical, realistic, and built around your operation.

What’s included…..

• Review and interpretation of soil biology assessments

• Biology-first transition roadmap

• Phased input reduction strategy

• Timing, priorities, and risk management

• Education built into every recommendation

  Optional On-Site Compost Integration

  For operations ready to actively rebuild soil biology, on-site compost making may be integrated directly into the transition plan.

  This option provides hands on guidance using materials already available on your operation whenever possible, helping biology become managed process rather than a purchased input.

  May include

• Evaluation of on-farm compost materials and resources

• Guidance on building biologically complete compost

• Hands-on compost pile setup and management

• Education on matching compost biology to soil needs

• Recommendation for use within the transition timeline.

Fees based on size and complexity of operation Negotiated

Soil Biology Assessment

The foundation of all work with ByDesignSoil-especially valuable for market gardens and pasture systems where biology drives productivity.

Includes:

• Initial intake conversation

• Soil sampling guidance

• Soil biology interpretation (Soil Food Web based)

• Clear summary of findings

• Practical next steps

  $350 (typically 3-4 samples)

Find Out What Your Soil Is Missing