Did you know that a percentage of every order you place with Ned is donated to a nonprofit of your choice? For Earth Month, we’re highlighting Kiss The Ground, one of the organizations you’re able to support with every Ned purchase.
Kiss The Ground is an audience-supported nonprofit promoting regeneration and healthy soil as a viable solution for our wellness, water, and climate crisis. We sat down with Karen Rodriguez, Chief Operating Officer of Kiss The Ground to learn more about the work she’s pioneering, how we help support that mission here at Ned, and how you can, too!
Can you tell us how Kiss the Ground started?
Kiss the Ground is a nonprofit based in the U.S.that promotes regeneration and soil health as a solution to our wellness, water, and climate crises. We've been around since 2013.
Our mission is to awaken people to the power of regeneration. When we first heard about regenerative agriculture, most people weren’t even calling it that — terms like carbon farming or sustainable farming were more common. But once we learned how soil functions when it’s properly cared for, it was mind-blowing.
At the time, we were in our late 20s, working in restaurants and very involved in the organic and clean eating movement — vegan diets, juicing, almond milk, and all that. We were living in Venice Beach and had access to these trends early on, but we noticed that most people our age weren’t really connecting with them.
Everything changed when we learned from soil scientist Graham State how soil actually works. We realized that if soil is restored to its natural healthy state, it increases the nutritional value of food, improves water retention, restores water cycles, and ultimately supports human health. It felt urgent — especially after reading the IPCC reports on climate change. We knew this was the work we had to dedicate ourselves to.
As city people, this was a big shift. I’m a Mayan woman, born in Guatemala, but I grew up far from that culture. We were pavement-pounders — city kids — but we realized that if soil health was the key to human survival, we had to act.
We started with a small community garden — a third of an acre on city property. We soil-tested it and found high levels of lead, so we planted sunflowers and barley to help clean and regenerate the soil. We kept that garden for about five years, using it as a public demonstration of what soil regeneration can do.
Through that process, we connected with farmers and scientists who were already doing this work. We also recognized that indigenous cultures have practiced these methods for generations. That ancestral wisdom has been lost in modern culture, and we wanted to help reclaim it.
More than anything, we realized the power of storytelling. If we didn’t know this — and we worked in food — how could we expect others to know? We had to tell this story in every way possible.
Where did the name “Kiss The Ground” come from?
It’s from a Rumi quote: "May the beauty that you love be what you do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground."
What are some of the biggest threats to soil health?
Carbon isn’t bad, but the amount in our atmosphere, caused by human activity and waste, is too high, which disrupts the system. Another issue is leaving soil bare. If you don’t cover it with plants or cover crops, it becomes too hot and breaks down.
Disturbance is a major issue. Tilling or aerating the soil is like a massive claw tearing through our home — it’s highly disruptive. Biodiversity is also crucial. If you only grow one type of crop, you only have one type of root, which limits the ecosystem. But with a variety of crops, you attract different types of insects and wildlife, which enhances the health and balance of the soil. Just like in human communities, diversity creates strength — mixing ages, backgrounds, and experiences enriches culture.
Chemical agriculture is another challenge. I'm not a farmer, and I’m not here to criticize farmers. But leaning into natural health rather than relying on artificial inputs creates a more sustainable system. Chemical inputs may increase yield and shelf life, but they don’t work well in our bodies. Studies have found chemicals like glyphosate in breast milk. We begin life building cells, microbiota, and an immune system — all dependent on bacteria and viruses. Introducing chemicals early disrupts that balance.
I had cancer as a child and was saved by chemotherapy, but the gut issues I’ve faced since then have been difficult. I've been in remission since I was 12, but at 42, I’m still working to repair the damage. Food and soil health have been key to my healing. If soil creates nutrient-rich food from the start, health begins at the root.
People are starting to understand how their health is connected to what they put in their bodies, but they don’t always make the connection that what they eat comes from the soil — and the health of that soil directly impacts the nutritional quality of their food and their gut health. I really love helping people connect those dots. Can you help define some of the differences between organic farming and regenerative agriculture in user-friendly terms?
Organic farming is incredible — it’s the foundation of a lot of this work. But regenerative agriculture goes deeper. Regenerative farming isn’t just about growing food — it’s about growing soil and organic matter. Organic certification doesn’t always require practices like building carbon levels, improving water retention, or avoiding tilling. Organic farming allows for organic pesticides, but regenerative farming focuses more on building long-term soil health and environmental resilience.
Regenerative and organic farming can work together, but regenerative agriculture pushes further. It’s not just about avoiding chemicals — it’s about improving soil nutrition and increasing the amount of healthy soil.
What are some small shifts readers could make in order to support healthier soil?
We named the organization, like I said, after that Rumi poem, and it says there's hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground. And what that meant to us is that everybody can participate in their own unique way. Maybe you’ll be a farmer, but maybe you’ll go to the farmer's market and get to know a farmer and make a relationship with them. Maybe you’ll donate to a nonprofit. Maybe you’ll make a piece of art that celebrates soil and shows the magic of this underground life. There are so many ways to be in reverence and so many ways to participate — especially in this time that we're living today.
You could start small — talk to your family about soil, grow something with your kids or cousins. Engagement matters. We're overwhelmed with information these days, but if we slow down and reconnect with what matters, it can give us life.
Find your way to engage — whatever inspires you. Farmers are the true heroes doing this work every day. If you’ve never been on a farm, we have a map on our website showing the farmers we've worked with. Or you could visit a farmer’s market, join a community garden, or volunteer.
There’s a lot happening in the world, but this isn’t the time to disengage. It's time to ask: What do I care about? Where do I want to put my energy? For me, it’s soil. The only place life has ever made sense to me is on a farm or a piece of land. That’s why I chose to serve the earth.
How can people support your organization other than shopping with Ned?
Of course, donations are always helpful. You can donate through our website or Ned — every bit helps keep these initiatives running. We also have some exciting initiatives this year. We launched a coffee product that supports our mission. It tells the story of coffee from planting to processing, and it’s certified regenerative by Regenify.
We also introduced a new 90-minute course, Regenerative Agriculture Essentials. It’s a short but informative course that covers the basics of regenerative agriculture. It’s designed for both professionals and businesses, and it’s packed with valuable insights.
We’ve also made significant contributions to the farming community. This year, we awarded $500,000 in grants to farmers for regenerative projects and education. We regularly update our website with impact stories — following and sharing those stories is a great way to support us.
