State Healthy Soils Map
Healthy soil is the foundation of thriving farms, resilient communities, and a stable climate. But until recently, the policies supporting soil health were fragmented, hard to track, and often invisible to the people most affected by them.
In 2018, The Carbon Project joined forces with the volunteer technologists at Nerds for Earth and leading soil health advocates Steven Keleti and Isabelle Jenniches to find a solution.
Together, they launched an ambitious collaborative effort to map the landscape of state-level soil policy that brings transparency, clarity, and momentum to a growing national movement.
The result was the State Healthy Soils Policy Map: A first-of-its-kind interactive tool that illuminates the landscape of soil health legislation and programs in all 50 U.S. states.
Designed for farmers, lawmakers, advocates, and funders alike, the map offers detailed policy summaries, highlights legislative trends, and connects users to organizations advancing soil health in their region.
Since its launch in 2019, the map has:
- Powered grassroots efforts from New Mexico to New York
- Informed campaigns like Regenerate America
- Connected organizers and policy writers to real-world examples and data
- Supported equity-forward advocacy for regenerative agriculture
Now fully integrated into People, Food and Land Foundation’s bioresources program, the map is part of a broader strategy to democratize access to data and policy tools that grow a regenerative future.
Meet the Mapmakers
- Steven Keleti – Legislative strategist and soil policy advisor behind successful soil bills in multiple states
- Isabelle Jenniches – Organizer and co-founder of the NM Healthy Soil Working Group and national network builder using soil as a community organizing tool
- Calla Rose Ostrander – Strategic advisor, climate communicator, and longtime advocate for climate-beneficial agriculture and composting
- With special thanks to: David Krevitt, Cora Swanson, and Josie Watson
Donor Support
This project is made possible by generous support from:
11th Hour Project, CalCAN, ILSR, US Composting Council, and the Jena & Michael King Foundation
