The Carbon Project

Recognizing the central role of soil health in earth’s climate and food systems, the Carbon Project supports communities; agricultural producers; and individual leaders in practice, science, and advocacy to further the adoption of soil health practices and the creation of high-quality compost. The project is adapted from the Marin Carbon Project and works to foster “communities of practice” throughout California and the western United States. The development of communities of practice is an effective and holistic way to change systems from the ground up by supporting scientific research, knowledge exchange, economic sustainability, and political power through the resourcing and organizing of key stakeholders.

The Carbon Project is unique in its ability to provide as-needed in-person support for communities of practice, including flexible and first-in funding coupled with development services to secure matching funds, technical assistance and organizational development, strategic planning, and facilitated cross-organizational collaboration, community organizing, and provision of as-needed resources to ranchers, farmers, community leaders, researchers, and communicators. 

The project was made possible by foundational five-year sponsorship from the Jena & Michael King Foundation and individual project grants from John Wick & Peggy Rathman, The Rathmann Family Foundation, One Earth, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Rahr Foundation, Community Foundation for San Benito County, and the Mental Wellness Foundation.