Rooted in Science. Guided by Biology. Tailored for Your Soil.

About Us

Rewild Soils is a holistic soil health company focused on addressing the root causes of plant and ecosystem decline. We help plants thrive by restoring soil biology using principles of permaculture and organic soil amendments.

Our work centers on rebuilding living soils through the reintroduction of the complete soil food web. We do this through soil diagnostics, consulting, and biologically active treatments—including compost, compost extracts, and compost teas. We also support individuals and organizations in improving their own compost, compost extract, and compost tea systems

Our Goals

To educate people about soil life - through workshops, presentations, and consulting,
To test and publish data on microbial life in soils, composts, and compost teas/extracts, bringing transparency and quality-control to the industry,
To produce some of the finest quality compost available,
To make compost extracts and teas more available to the public,
To rewild soils with microbes!

Testimonials

My plants are absolutely incredible this year - thriving like I've never seen in 17 years of growing food on this property. And while part of that is my increased knowledge and skill, I attribute this year specifically to your compost. WOW. I am so so impressed. You have made me a lifelong customer.

Carly McDougal, Bounty from the Boonies

I met Colleen from Rewild January of 2024. She is knowledgable, open to sharing her knowledge and a good teacher. ... She shared a sample of the compost she made last fall and spent over an hour with me looking at a few samples under her microscope. She has a great set up, a powerful microscope and a good quality camera. ... It was helpful to meet her and spend this time together.

Rachel Holmes, Soil Food Web School Student

... Colleen is a leader in the regenerative compost movement. She has a deep understanding of the science behind healthy soil and biologically rich compost and she has the ability to make it sound easy. The thing I love though is Colleen can tell you what quality compost is and why but she can also show you with her microscope, why your compost or soil is healthy. She is one of the few practicioners I know that can back up her work with proof.

Joseph Durand, Soil Foodweb Student,Compost Toronto

... Colleen was friendly, professional and easy to work with, taking the time to ensure we got the most from our report and giving recommendations tailored to suit our specific needs. We are looking forward to our next visit and seeing the evolution of our soil over time."

Anna Durante, Happy Yards

Colleen Dempster, Owner/Operator

Credentials

Master of Science - Environmental and Life Science

Bachelor of Science - Biology and Environmental Science

Post-Graduate Certificate - Ecosystem Restoration

Certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician

About Colleen

Colleen Dempster is a soil health practitioner with a background in environmental science and a passion for restoring ecosystems from the ground up. Her graduate research involved microscopic analysis of algae, which laid the foundation for her transition into soil microbiology and the study of soil food web organisms.

Since 2018, Colleen has been producing high-quality compost and compost teas and conducting microbial analyses of soils, composts, and biological amendments. She applies microscopy-based diagnostics to understand soil function and guide restoration strategies rooted in biological principles.

Colleen is a graduate of Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School Foundation Courses and is a certified Soil Food Web Laboratory Technician. Her work integrates laboratory analysis, field observation, and practical application to support living soils across a range of land-use contexts.

Selected Experience

Co-Chair and Scientific Director, Compost Toronto
Soil health and compost consulting for Erin Common Ground
Former instructor in the Arboriculture Program at Fleming College

Collaborations and Research

Research collaboration and Member with Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario on soil health and biological amendments
Core team member of the Just An Acre demonstration program
Research collaborations with Humber College and Toronto Metropolitan University

Organization names are listed for descriptive purposes only and do not imply endorsement or formal partnership unless explicitly stated.