$99K Grant to Advance Soil Health Covered by Greenfield Recorder

The Greenfield Recorder recently featured Regenerative Design Group (RDG) in an article celebrating the $99,900 grant awarded to our firm by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The grant will fund the development of a guide to implement the state’s 2023 Healthy Soils Action Plan, with a focus on translating its recommendations into practical strategies for the design and construction industries.

The article, written by Chris Larabee, highlights the vital role of soil health in addressing climate challenges. It explains how our work will help promote carbon drawdown, improve water management, and protect critical ecosystems through better land-use practices. Senior Designer Rachel Lindsay shared insights into how RDG plans to “fill in the gaps” of existing regulations by creating actionable guidelines for professionals.

Lindsay also emphasized the potential of soil organic carbon (SOC) to deliver environmental benefits. As the Recorder noted, increasing SOC by just 1% can enable soil to retain up to 20,000 more gallons of water per acre, reducing runoff and bolstering resilience to drought and heavy rainfall.

The Recorder coverage showcases not only the ambitious goals of this project but also the collaborative approach RDG is taking to bring together contractors, designers, policymakers, and other stakeholders for roundtable discussions. These conversations will inform the guide’s recommendations, which are expected to be released in spring 2025.

Read the full article in the Greenfield Recorder here. For more information about the Healthy Soils Action Plan and RDG’s guide, visit masshealthysoils.org/guide.