Soil for Water

Working to catch and hold more water in our soil

About Soil for Water

Soil for Water, a program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology, is building a dynamic community of people curious about water and soil practices that create resilient, profitable agricultural systems 

We seek and welcome collaboration with groups and individuals that share our mission. Please join us in catching and holding more water in the soil. 

Keep reading about Soil for Water…

REGENERATOR’S ATLAS

Plant your flag on the Regenerator’s Atlas of America to share your story. Commercial producers only, please.

FORUM

Join a wide-ranging conversation about the power and potential of the “soil sponge.” All are welcome.

JOIN THE NETWORK

Get news, discounts, invitations to members-only educational events, and free help setting up a “safe-to-fail” trial on your farm or ranch.  Commercial producers only, please.

The Latest

Carbon Farm Planning

By Elise Haschke, Climate and Agriculture Program Manager, and Darron Gaus, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist It’s early Fall on New Leaf Agriculture, a USDA-certified organic, diversified, specialty crop farm in Central Texas. New Leaf…
A man counting plants in his field

Counting Plants Is Fun and Easy—And It Helps Track Your Regenerative Grazing Practices

By Lee Rinehart In the summer of 2004, I was a cooperative Extension agent in southwest Montana. A county agent’s job description is as big as the Montana sky… almost infinite. Sometimes organizing educational events or visiting remote…
Chelenzo Farms logo

Chelenzo Farms: A High Mountain Desert Oasis

By Darron Gaus  Chelenzo Farms began from the unique relocation of a physician and a writer from New York during the height of the pandemic. Health concerns and a need for a cleaner lifestyle motivated Chelsea Hollander and Lorenzo Dominguez…

Regenerator’s Atlas of America

“Water retention is paramount for us. We need to be able to capture as much water as we can and, if it all comes at once, we need to slow it down.”

“Even under the hardest drought conditions, there are management steps that people can take that will allow them to stay on their ranches and be sustainable over the long haul.” 

“Your soil health is going to keep you in business. If you take care of your soil, the land will give back to you in terms of the productivity.” 

“The Soil for Water program offers a chance to learn new things and to apply it to your land and to improve.” 

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Don’t miss a thing. Sign up for the Soil for Water mailing list, and we’ll keep you informed about project news and events. 

Kara Kroeger and Peggy Sechrist

Soil for Water Forum

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Regenerative Journeys

Erik Tucker

Reflections from a Shortgrass Prairie 

Erik Tucker has been ranching in Southeast Colorado since his early 20s, and although he didn’t grow up on a ranch, he has long felt  that the old way of ranching just wasn’t working. He likes to observe the sunshine, rain, and natural…

YMCA Roberts Ranch: Providing a sustainable natural Hill Country Area for the education and enjoyment of all

Roberts Ranch was donated to the YMCA by Bob Roberts of Comfort, TX in the 1990's. Since then it has served as a place where families and children can gather to explore the outdoors in a beautiful Hill Country setting. The pristine habitat,…

Texastopia: A permaculture dream come true

Texastopia is located outside of Blanco, TX along the Blanco River. It is the property of Pete Van Dyke and his wife Elenor Goode. Pete owns Van Dyke Earthworks & Design, a permaculture consulting business. They started managing a 10 acre…