DISRUPTIVE! You might be hearing this term a lot lately in the sustainable living industry. At first, you may be thinking of something troublesome or unsettling, but let’s dive into what it can also mean. Maybe you thought this meant to be a pain in the butt! But what does it really mean? 

Stand out from the crowd…

Be proactive…

Think outside the box…

Make a difference…

Here at Hillgrow Inc, we consider our Dirt Locker® product to be as disruptive as they get! The Dirt Locker® is ecologically friendly in several ways, but at its core, is constructed from 100% recycled, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Where single use plastic gets recycled, repurposed, and reused to grow your garden, not our landfills! 

1- Introducing the Dirt Locker®

So how does it work? Well, we’re glad you asked. The Dirt Locker® is a patented hillside terracing and erosion control system made from 100% recycled HDPE plastic manufactured in the USA. Your plants will grow successfully within the nurturing aid of the Dirt Locker® that will lock in moisture, soil, and nutrients. Together, the Dirt Locker® and your plants become a cohesive stabilizing force, protecting your entire hillside from nature’s destructive elements and providing erosion control that improves over time. As your plants increase their root structure, the hillside is constantly increasing in strength AND beauty! So you want at least 30% of your Dirt Locker system planted, but 50%-70% is ideal as the more plants, the bigger and stronger the root system! Check out the chart below to get a sneak peak inside the Dirt Locker® system at work.

2- Go Green! 

At Dirt Locker®, we're committed to environmentally responsible, green living – both on and off the clock – from the products we produce, to the employees we hire, to the companies and organizations we support. We take green initiatives very seriously as they are the touchstone that we strive for. Mark, the owner and inventor of the Dirt Locker®, volunteers at various causes throughout California while the rest of the team works with the local entities of Salt Lake City, UT including Draper City and Wheeler Historic Farm. Something we continuously strive for is increasing our green efforts across the globe. You can learn more about Mark’s travels to East Africa in the Group of Nations online publication and our pledge to stop erosion, save water, recycle plastic while growing trees, plants and food all at the same time!

We are also incredibly proud to partner with Eden Reforestation Projects in 2022 to plant 6 trees for every 10 Dirt Lockers sold! Eden Project's tree planting initiatives are impacting our environment in a positive way by tackling deforestation and providing millions of people with employment opportunities throughout Central America, Indonesia, Haiti, Madagascar, Kenya, Mozambique, and Nepal! As of 2023, we have helped contribute to planting 22,793 trees.

As we continue to plant trees, each Dirt Locker® added to your garden saves the equivalent of 13 plastic milk jugs from entering our landfills and oceans. Each month, HillGrow Inc., owner of Dirt Locker®, helps recover nearly 100,000 plastic milk jugs monthly. Goodbye single use plastic, hello final use plastic! This is just the product Purgula Magazine said they’ve been looking for: 

“There have been few innovations in hillside landscaping technology that have provided both a sound structural solution with an aesthetically pleasing design element in the last few decades.

Hillside homeowners have had few cost-effective options for insuring that dirt and debris from shifting soils, ground movement, rain, or wind did not erode the foundations of their homes, and subsequently cause damage to the structures of their properties.

Thanks to the ingenuity from Dirt Locker, however, homeowners now have an innovative and cost-effective option to strengthen and beautify their surrounding sloped landscapes.” Purgula. February 24, 2023. Design, Gardening, Inspiration, Landscaping, Sustainability.

3- Application

If you’ve ever considered terracing a hillside, you know it’s no easy task…at least by most conventional methods. Hillside terracing is a great way to create usable space on a steep slope, but it can require a lot of planning and hard work, especially when you feel like your only option is a retaining wall. Here are some of the most common challenges you may face when terracing a hillside: 

1. Slope Stability: The most important factor to consider when terracing a hillside is slope stability. The terraces must be properly constructed with the right materials, and built in such a way that they can withstand the forces of gravity, erosion, and water runoff.

2. Accessibility: Building terraces on a hillside can be difficult due to the steepness of the slope. It’s important to plan for easy access to the terraces, as well as through the terraces for regular maintenance. 

3. Soil Quality: The soil on a hillside is often poor in quality, making it difficult to grow plants and crops. It’s important to consider how you can improve the soil quality when planning a terrace.

4. Cost: Building terraces on a hillside can be a costly endeavor, as it often requires specialized equipment and materials. It’s important to factor in the cost of materials, labor, and machinery when planning a terrace. 

Alternatively, the Dirt Locker® system helps prevent soil erosion, stabilize slopes, and relieve these common challenges of hillside terracing with one simple solution. “The concept of capturing rainwater, locking in topsoil and nutrients, and blending seamlessly into a micro-environmental ecosystem, with an FDA approved food-grade plastic, is the genius of Dirt Locker®. An added benefit is that the interlocking system creates convenient and safe access to steep hillsides once installed.” Purgula. February 24, 2023. Design, Gardening, Inspiration, Landscaping, Sustainability. Whether you’re a large scale commercial contractor working to design mudslide-free communities and developments, or a simple homeowner looking to maximize your hillside property or perhaps, grow your own organic food, the Dirt Locker® is here to help disrupt the narrative on hillside terracing!

4- Our Mission 

Dirt Locker® is dedicated to designing and manufacturing environmentally positive products used in agriculture and landscaping that save water, stop erosion, and protect plants, all while made domestically from 100% recycled plastic. We strive to increase the total count of plastic milk jugs recovered from over 100,000 on a monthly basis in the USA, to a proportional global scale, and collectively decrease our plastic footprint. The company’s core values are to be environmentally involved, and to provide high-quality affordable products made in the USA, (domestically.) They are easily assembled, and require no special skills or tools. The Dirt Locker® system creates a series of level, terraced cells for plants, as well as individual hillside planters that will:

CAPTURE rainwater - reducing irrigation & saving water 

LOCK in topsoil & nutrients - stopping erosion & loss of fertilizer

PROVIDE optimal ecosystem - plants get more robust over time

CREATE a series of steps - allowing safe hillside access

So what are you waiting for? Put a spring in your step this Spring, and protect your hillside from further erosion with our DIY modern and affordable landscaping solution. It’s time to ‘Cope with your Slope!’

The Dirt Locker® is a hillside terracing and erosion control system made in the USA from 100% recycled HDPE plastic. Together, the Dirt Lockers® and your plants become a cohesive stabilizing force, protecting your entire hillside from nature’s destructive elements. As your plants increase their root structure, the hillside will increase in strength and beauty! For more information, please visit our website or contact us today! 833-MYSLOPE