D&M Ranch

Few photos from the last couple weeks at our farm.

Finished building the chicken coup this weekend.

Life on D&M Ranch.
We are blessed.
Saint James City.

Welcome to D&M Ranch 🌴🐄

We’re Denise & Mark Houghtaling — longtime Southwest Florida entrepreneurs, outdoorsmen, and the former owners of MW Horticulture Recycling.

While D&M Ranch may be our “side gig,” it’s truly our passion project and the lifestyle we love most.

Denise is a Business Broker and M&A Advisor, helping business owners buy and sell companies throughout Florida, while Mark owns and operates a site work and land clearing business serving Southwest Florida.

After years of building businesses, working the land, and raising a family, we’ve created D&M Ranch in Saint James City as a place centered around faith, family, hard work, stewardship, and enjoying the beauty of ranch life.

Here you’ll find a little bit of everything we love:
🌅 Southwest Florida sunsets
🐄 Ranch life & livestock
🌴 Native plants & growing projects
🚜 Land clearing & country living
❤️ Family & legacy
🙏 Faith-driven living

We’re excited to share the journey as we continue building something meaningful for future generations — one sunset at a time.

Welcome to D&M Ranch.
Faith • Family • Land • Legacy

If you are responsible for the upkeep of a Florida property – whether residential or commercial – you are familiar with the annual need to mulch around your trees and flower beds and in your gardens.

While you may understand that mulch makes these areas appear fresh and clean every spring, you may not truly understand the significant benefits of mulch, or why utilizing organic mulch is so important for our local and global ecosystems.

5 Reasons to Choose Organic Mulch If you are responsible for the upkeep of a Florida property - whether residential or commercial - you are familiar with the annual need to mulch around your trees and flower beds and in your gardens. While you may understand that mulch makes these areas appear fresh and clean every spring, you may n...

Under the subtropical Florida sun, each tree species exhibits unique pruning needs, dictated by divergent growth processes and climates. Optimal pruning for deciduous trees falls in late winter or early spring while flowering and fruit trees should be pruned post-bloom or before new growth respectively. The ever-present palms afford flexibility in pruning schedules. Weather patterns like hurricane seasons, heavy rainfall, and temperature changes inform these practices further. After pruning, consider sustainable waste disposal options, such as creating compost, arranging curbside pickups, or using recycling centers. Trust Veransa Group to transform your yard waste into beneficial resources for Florida's environment.

What is the Best Time to Prune Trees in Florida? Trimming or pruning is essential for effective tree maintenance. However, you may wonder when the best time is to perform this particular yardwork. Before we explore the specific details of pruning trees in the Sunshine State, we should review what tree pruning is and why it’s necessary. When you ...

Understanding green waste management is key to sustainability. Green waste, including organic items like hedge cuttings and vegetables, can be composted to regenerate soil without harmful chemicals. Mismanaged, it can harm our environment, causing issues like methane emission and water pollution. Composting, thermal treatment, and creating quality topsoil are some effective ways to manage this biological waste. At the Veransa Group, we work towards reducing landfill use, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting sustainable waste management. Visit our website for potential collaboration in implementing sustainable waste management protocols.

Understanding Green Waste Management Sustainability is important in all aspects of our daily lives, and new concepts have been introduced over the last several decades to ensure the comprehensive wellness of the planet. Green waste refers to biodegradable waste mainly generated from gardens and kitchens. Understanding effective green w...

Looking to transform your garden’s health? Start from the ground up - consider the pH level of your soil. The availability of essential nutrients for your plants hinges on this often-overlooked detail. Plants thrive in different soil environments and failing to understand your plant's needs could impact their ability to absorb nutrients. Veransa custom soil blends are designed to optimize plant growth, keeping the needs of the professional landscaper, home gardener, and agricultural professional in mind. Visit our website to learn more about maintaining healthy pH levels and the impact on your garden's vitality.

How Soil pH Affects Your Plants and Trees Gardening and landscaping can be a tricky business. From insects to root rot, there are many reasons why your plants and trees may be suffering. In our last article, we examined the various types of soil. In this installment, we dive deeper into soil pH. Many people underestimate the importance of s...

Understanding the composition, varieties, and importance of soil can greatly improve your agricultural efforts. From organic surface layers rich in nutrients to common types like clay, sand, and loam, each type of soil plays a crucial role in successful gardening. That's why soil amendments are key to enhancing its quality, and Veransa's custom blends offer sustainable, all-natural solutions. Get to know more about soil, its layers and types, and how to improve it for your garden or farm.
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Just like compost, mulch is a thriving hub for beneficial microbes. Veransa’s organic mulches contribute to a lively micro-ecosystem in your soil that helps break down organic material into nutrients your plants can use.

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