Didi Pershouse is the founder of the Land and Leadership Initiative, and the author of two books: The Ecology of Care: Medicine, Agriculture, Money, and the Quiet Power of Human and Microbial Communities, and Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function. As a respected soil health advocate, she has dedicated her career to revealing the connections between healthy soil systems and resilient human communities. Through her pioneering work on the “soil sponge” concept, Pershouse demonstrates how soil functions as a living ecosystem capable of retaining water, filtering contaminants, and supporting diverse life. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges agricultural science, ecology, public health, and community development. Pershouse leads workshops internationally, teaching farmers, land managers, and policymakers about regenerative practices that build soil health while addressing climate change and food security challenges.