Kiss The Ground was founded in 2013 by Ryland Engelhart and Finian Makepeace in Venice Beach, CA.  They, along with other founding members, including Lauren Tucker and Karen Rodriquez, were inspired by the teachings of Graeme Sait, a well-known soil health expert, who shared that a major solution to healing our planet was right below our feet – rebuilding healthy soil.  The founders felt united in their vision that if their ‘awakening’ could be shared globally, humanity could begin to make a positive impact on the planet.  This shared vision led to the formation of Kiss The Ground, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing this knowledge to the world and building a movement centered on regeneration as a key pathway to healing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Today, Kiss The Ground reaches millions of people through its immersive storytelling, education, and advocacy initiatives, but its core mission remains unchanged: to awaken people to the possibilities of regeneration.

The name “Kiss The Ground” was inspired by a quote from the 13th-century Persian poet, Rumi, who urged us to: “Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” – Rumi.  Kiss The Ground holds the vision that every person has a unique way to participate in the reverence, stewardship, and regeneration of the planet.

In 2020, in partnership with Big Picture Ranch, Kiss The Ground released a groundbreaking documentary on Netflix narrated by Woody Harrelson. The film, which has been viewed by over 10 million people, explores regenerative agriculture, an innovative approach to farming that combines indigenous knowledge, holistic management, and modern science and has the potential to heal the planet, create food security, and mitigate climate change.

Kiss The Ground firmly believes that regenerative agriculture is a crucial component of addressing some of the most challenging issues facing our planet, including climate change, human health and nutrition, and water quality.