High Altitude Nature and Gardens – A Colorado calendar, seed rolls, and Effective Microorganisms (EM)

• Windowsill sprouting strategy
• Effective Microorganisms
• Core applications

By Janet Sellers

In the Tri-Lakes area, unpredictable weather makes phenology—nature’s calendar—the best planting guide. It tracks seasonal cycles like blooming and migration to determine the perfect timing for your garden.

Windowsill sprouting strategy

DIY snail pack:

1. Waterproof paper, bubble wrap, or corrugated card (best choices), feed bags, even Amazon packages cut to 3 to 6 inches wide and 1 to 2 feet long.
2. All-purpose potting mix to support the sprout and the growing plant (DIY is a mix of 6 parts garden soil (rob some mole or vole hills—they’ve pre-sifted the soil for you and it’s perfectly textured for this), 3-4 parts garden compost (last year’s leafy stuff, etc.) and some grit for drainage (sand, tiny pebbly sand, breeze/road base size), mix these three and moisten if needed. If the mix dries out easily, increase the organic matter, which will hold moisture. Some gardeners add perlite or vermiculite for drainage and micronutrients. Sift if needed. Moisten the whole batch so it just barely holds a fistful in a ball.
3. Lay out the strips and add the soil mix to about an inch deep along the strip.
4. Roll the strip like a sushi snail, tie or rubber-band it, set vertically in the tray; drizzle seeds along the top edge and top off with a thin coat of sand to keep seeds in place; moisten. Some add a light sprinkle of cinnamon to deter pathogens.
5. Set the roll on a dish or tray, mist or water lightly, and tent with a sandwich bag or larger to retain moisture. Be sure to check the moisture daily. This mimics nature’s leafy mulch.

Effective Microorganisms

My research experience in Japan exposed me to the bridge between ancient respect for the land and the modern microbial technology used today. Traditional Japanese farmers have long recognized the power of forest leaf litter (o-fuchi) and rich “black soil” to jumpstart compost, which is the ancient wisdom EM sought to standardize and offer for today’s agriculture.

The microorganisms are a non-toxic blend of beneficial bacteria, yeast, and fungi developed to naturally boost soil and plant health. By enhancing nutrient availability and suppressing pathogens, EM improves soil structure and accelerates organic decomposition.

Core applications

• Gardening: enhances soil aeration, water retention, and crop yields. Used as a seed soak, soil drench, or foliar spray.
• Composting: speeds up breakdown and eliminates odors in waste.
• Pest control: creates a microbial barrier that protects plants from disease.
• Livestock and environment: acts as an animal probiotic and treats wastewater or ponds.

You can buy EM concentrates or create a traditional Japanese version made of cooked rice in a mesh bag, buried under leaf litter in a healthy, undisturbed forest for 1–2 weeks.

Janet Sellers is a researcher and columnist specializing in Natural Aesthetic Landscaping and Phenology. Her “lazy gardening” methodology focuses on low-intervention, nature-led ecological design. For inquiries, nature walks, lectures, or collaborative research, contact JanetSellers@ocn.me.

Other High Altitude Nature and Gardens articles

• High Altitude Nature and Gardens – Attracting hummingbirds the safe and beautiful way (4/1/2026)
• Palmer Lake Historical Society, Feb. 19 – Ranch owners discovered Cherokee Trail artifacts (3/4/2026)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardens – Rooting out crime: How our community’s flowers protect more than just plants (2/4/2026)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardens – Mini outdoor greenhouses, cinnamon to protect soil and seedlings (12/31/2025)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardens – Festive stuff: winter beauty outdoors, indoors, and holiday acorn bread (12/4/2025)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardens – November tips, paper-bagging geraniums, compost poles (10/30/2025)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardens – Cornmeal in the garden; sweet potato leaf greens (10/1/2025)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardens (HANG) – Fall and the forest: creating soil beds and a blue spruce kitchen treat (9/3/2025)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardens – Wild Horse Fire Brigade: successful fire mitigation since the beginning of…plants (7/31/2025)
• High Altitude Nature and Gardening (HANG) – Gardening with nature’s beautiful bouncers (7/3/2025)