Who We Are

We are a Chicago-based nonprofit that works with historically marginalized urban neighborhoods to test, monitor, and improve the health of their soils. As a BIPOC women-led organization, we understand the struggles of the communities we serve through the lens of lived experience. By improving the soil health of public and home gardens, green spaces, and local farms, we aim to reduce exposure to toxins in produce and soil while increasing access to healthy, locally grown food. In doing so, we center long-term impact rather than quick fixes, working to prepare generations of people to continue this work.

What We Do

Suelo Sano believes that community empowerment is the best way to create change. When it comes to the health of our local environment, we can’t wait for someone else to take action — the stakes are simply too high. The long-term health of our families, neighborhoods, and soil depend on what we do today.

That’s why in 2022, we began providing soil lead screenings and monitoring assistance, soil health education, and help with soil regeneration to underserved and overlooked communities of color in Chicago. 

Through soil education, advocacy, resources, and guidance in implementing regenerative practices, we support these neighborhoods in taking the health of their soil into their own hands. By doing so, we are working to improve the health of our foodshed for all residents of Chicago while also making public spaces safer for kids to play in and all community members to enjoy.

Our Vision

Our work is motivated by a land-based perspective in relation to the soil, water, air, natural cycles, and our relationship to all living things. We’re not just making yards, gardens, and farms safer for Chicago residents today — we’re also improving the health of our soils for future generations. 

We envision a world where parents can let their kids play outside without worrying about exposure to lead or other toxins. We imagine a Chicago where industrial sites have been steadily remediated, year after year, so that heavy metals no longer leach into soils. And we envision a city with fresh produce growing abundantly in every neighborhood — a place where food deserts have become a thing of the past.

This world isn’t just possible — it’s already taking form, as community gardens begin springing up in greater numbers around the city. In neighborhoods with less access to fresh produce, community gardens are starting to act as a vital source of healthy food. But due to the risk of exposure to lead, gardeners and farmers need to test, monitor, and often take action to improve the health of their soil. By supporting them in this effort, Suelo Sano is helping to restore the health of our local foodshed.

Our Approach

We follow a two-part approach of providing soil education along with practical resources to assist in transitioning to a raised-bed system. By doing so, we equip people to improve the soil health of their own yard, farm, or garden. Through resources and education, we seek to enhance local soils where urban growers work, as well as establishing safe green spaces. 

Our soil health education workshops cater to all age levels, including K–12 students and adults. Since 2022, we have provided educational workshops throughout the South and West sides of Chicago. We’ve collaborated with a variety of organizations to host these workshops:

• King Conservation Leadership Academy at the Brookfield Zoo
• Malinalli Gardens
• Mexican Fine Arts Museum
• Jardincito Garden
• The #LetUsBreatheCollective
• Chicago Lights Farm
• Tiahui Bilingual Programming
• Trickster Cultural Center

These partnerships have allowed us to reach diverse audiences in overlooked communities across the city. Our workshops leave participants feeling empowered to take clear next steps to improve the health of their own soils.