Forty Years Working with Systems. Now Learning from Soil.

For four decades, I worked in industrial automation, helping build and support complex manufacturing systems. Those years instilled a deep appreciation for precision, interconnected systems, and the people who keep them running.

During the COVID lockdown in 2020, I watched the documentary Kiss the Ground. Its message was simple but profound: healthy soil has the power to restore ecosystems, strengthen food systems, and improve human health. That idea stayed with me.

In 2023, I traveled to Nebraska and experienced regenerative agriculture firsthand. Meeting farmers, educators, and innovators who had dedicated their lives to restoring the land opened the door to an extraordinary community. Everywhere I went, I found people willing to share what they had learned, answer questions honestly, and encourage others to keep learning. Their generosity continues to shape my own journey.

That same year, I realized there were 27 years remaining until 2050, a milestone often associated with the future of our climate and food systems. The number carried personal meaning and eventually inspired the name 27 Sols—a reminder that meaningful change begins with the time we have today.

As I continued exploring regenerative agriculture, I became convinced that no single person, farm, or organization holds all the answers. Progress happens because people share ideas, test new approaches, challenge assumptions, and build on one another's successes. That spirit of collaboration is what drew me to this movement, and it's what I hope 27 Sols can help strengthen.

I don't claim to be the expert in regenerative agriculture. My role is to keep learning, connect people with trusted resources, and make it easier for others to discover the remarkable work already happening across this growing community.

Because healthy soil is the foundation of healthy food, healthy people, and resilient communities.

A memorable moment with friends and mentors in regenerative agriculture whose work continues to inspire the mission of 27 Sols. L-R, Merideth Garrigan, Curt Wilkerson, Marlene Wilkerson, Ray Archuleta and Tucker Garrigan.

One lesson I've learned is that meaningful change rarely happens in isolation. The people restoring land, questioning old assumptions, and building stronger communities often begin their journeys independently, but over time they find one another, share what they've learned, and accomplish more together than they ever could alone. That realization continues to shape the vision behind 27 Sols.

Today, 27 Sols exists to connect the people, ideas, and organizations working to regenerate our food system. By sharing trusted resources, practical tools, meaningful partnerships, and real-world stories, my hope is to help accelerate the regenerative movement—one connection at a time.