“From one of the cradles of agriculture to the largest concrete apple ever built by humans—a place where apples are, ironically, tasteless—through the fumes and bears of Yellowstone, the progressive yet unaffordable California, and the kitchen table of former flower-power activists turned organic farmers in New England, Louis’s memoirs of his North American tour offer stories, life experiences, and reflections that inspire, worry, enrage, provoke questions, and motivate action.”

Miguel A. Altieri, Professor Emeritus of Agroecology at UC Berkeley.

“Louis De Jaeger shares with us his journey of understanding in his new book, SOS: Save Our Soils. We learn from his experiences as he seeks out mentors to help him understand the importance of the soil. At this crucial moment in human history, this is exactly what we must understand as a species, to survive. What we understand and what we do concerning soil will determine the quality of all life on Earth in the future. ”

John D. Liu, Ecosystem Ambassador, Commonland Foundation & Founder of the Ecosystem Restoration Camps and Communities

“Leonard Cohen once famously quipped that the trouble with humans was that they hadn’t yet worked out what to do in between mealtimes. The joke conceals a truth: we are storytelling apes fuelled by great appetites, some of which become addictions. In our hearts, we know that we are part of the natural world and that it nurtures us, but we forget. This book is a wonderful mix of science, storytelling and hope and it walks the boundary between arguing for both a spiritual thread and a rationalist one. In this, I believe Louis is walking on fertile ground. If you truly realize that your body is an exquisite machine that would make a Ferrari look like a toy, why are you putting bad oil into it? This is a book to be savoured like a good wine: roll it around your palette and feel the warm glow of understanding take over. I enjoyed it hugely. ”

Sir Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project

“SOS: Save Our Soils is the result of a journey by Louis De Jaeger searching for models of agricultural sustainability around the globe. The key principle that emerged from the myriad forms of nature-friendly agriculture explored was that by saving and revitalizing soils, we can also enhance the health of plants, animals, people, and the planet. De Jaeger’s timely book takes us on a quest for answers to our biggest questions: how do we feed the world without destroying it in the process. Full of voices from a range of perspectives, we arrive at an answer that is bigger than the sum of its parts. In saving our soils, we may also save our souls. His book is an important and powerful call to action we would all do well to listen to. ”

Sarah Langford, best-selling author

“Without soil we would all starve. And it is disappearing fast. In this globe-trotting personal Odyssey, Louis De Jaeger explores the crisis we rarely talk about. ”

Fred Pearce, science author and journalist

“This is a vast topic to address, vitally important, and Louis does a great job of explaining problems and suggesting solutions.”

Charles Dowding, horticulturalist, author, and organic no-dig pioneer

“Louis De Jaeger has an incredible gift of connecting the dots. He isn’t just a brilliant writer — he’s a gifted communicator with the rare ability to make the most vital issues of our time resonate with everyone. In SOS: Save Our Soils, Louis takes us on a powerful journey across continents in search of how we can feed the world without harming the only planet we call home. With humility, courage, and deep reverence for Nature, he challenges the status quo and invites us into a new relationship with the Earth. His words carry the potential for a butterfly effect — one that could ripple outward and help life and Nature thrive together once more. ”

Carlo Mondavi, winegrower and co-founder of Monarch Tractor

“An honest and heartfelt exploration of our modern food system—and how to fix it. There is a journey of discovery we all must undertake to understand what sustains us, where it comes from, and how it impacts the health of our planet and ourselves. How can we live in a healthy relationship with Mother Earth? Where can we take part to make a positive impact? These are the questions we must all ask ourselves to create a better, shared future. Like the explorers of a time long past, Louis sets out on a path of discovery through lived experience. A rebel armed with curiosity, common sense, and an open mind, this explorer isn’t in search of fame or riches, but something far more vital to the rise and fall of civilizations—and to the future our children will inherit: a way to save our soils. ”

Zach Weiss, founder of Water Stories

“Our current food system creates many huge societal problems and is in urgent need of rethinking. I'm very happy that Louis is part of this effort, examining the issues with an open mind and asking us to reconsider the way we eat.”

Tobias Leenaert, animal rights activist.

“Louis' passion for agroforestry and regenerative farming is truly inspiring. In SOS: Save Our Soils, Louis captures both the urgency and the hope of this movement. It’s a powerful call to action and a testament to the impact that one determined voice can have in pushing agroforestry and soil regeneration forward.”

Philippe Birker, co-founder of Climate Farmers

“Louis De Jaeger is one of the most inspiring changemakers I’ve met. His boundless curiosity, humility, and drive to listen deeply—to both people and nature—set him apart as a true bridge-builder between worlds. SOS: Save Our Soils is his urgent call to action: our health, food security, and climate all depend on restoring living soils. De Jaeger’s journey across continents reveals not only the scale of the crisis but also the practical, hopeful solutions already at hand. This book invites each of us—citizen, consumer, policymaker, or farmer—to join a global movement for regenerative agriculture and to vote for a healthy future with every meal and every choice we make. ”

Harald Friedl, circular economist

“Reading SOS: Save Our Soils is a powerful wake-up call to the vital connection between soil, food, health, and the future of our civilisation. Louis De Jaeger’s passionate investigation offers not just urgent warnings, but also tangible hope and clear guidance on how we can all take part in healing our planet.”

Oliver Bolton, CEO at Earthly, on a mission to restore 1 million hectares.

“We’ve forgotten how deeply connected we are to the soil. This book is a beautiful reminder that we can only be healthy if our soils are healthy. It’s an ode to nature and to the farmers who bring food to our tables. It’s a journey through deeply moving stories from around the world—and a practical showcase of how we can regenerate our land. Thank you, Louis, for this masterpiece!”

Elena Doms, CEO at +EARTH+

“Louis De Jaeger’s SOS: Save Our Soils is a powerful call to action, born from an eight-year odyssey that transformed his youthful rebellion into a global vision for regenerative agriculture. His personal journey—ignited by a liberating moment planting a vegetable garden as a teenager—mirrors the fire that drives paradigm shifts. Traveling from the U.S. to Mexico, he gathered wisdom from farmers, scientists like Elaine Ingham, and activists like Vandana Shiva, weaving a narrative that demands we move from fighting nature to collaborating with it. This book isn’t just a manifesto; it’s a mirror reflecting our collective responsibility to heal the planet. As someone inspired by the water cycle and natural water flows, much like Louis’s passion for soil, I see a profound synergy. His advocacy for mosaic agriculture and food forests aligns with my vision of water farming: managing local water supplies to sustain healthy ecosystems while enhancing the public water cycle to ensure rain as our sustainable lifeline. Louis’s journey fuels my own, urging us all to embrace this radical shift. SOS: Save Our Soils is a beacon for change—read it, and let it ignite your personal quest to regenerate our world, one drop and one seed at a time. ”

Ties van der Hoeven, Founder of The Weather Makers

“Food & farming are the battleground of this decade to keep our home habitable. Louis’s no BS book is the needed guide empowering us all to take action. Because we all have soil in the game.”

Oliver Dauert, Founder of Wildya

“ “Yebo!,” meaning “Yes!” in the southern African language of Ndebele, is what you might naturally exclaim when, amid a virtual desert of parched land, you behold an ocean of healthy grasses at Allan Savory’s demonstration site, the Africa Center for Holistic Management, in Zimbabwe. I’m saying it now because De Jaeger, in his excellent new environmental treatise, SOS: Save Our Soils: How regenerative food and farming can save your health and the planet, has done with words what Allan Savory has done with landscapes: create hope. He achieves this by being thoughtful, kind, and curious, attributes that are largely missing in our food and environmental discourse. His treatment of Monbiot’s and Savory’s seemingly intractable worldviews was respectful to each. De Jaeger is also a brilliant writer. Phrases like "micro-ponds" and "countless little tunnels,” used when describing hoof and beetle impacts on soil, perfectly reflect his craft. The book is a pleasure to read and ponder. Yebo!”

Seth Itzkan, co-founder of SOIL4CLIMATE

“Beyond the problems plagueing industrial agriculture, this personal journey of a permaculture enthusiast brings together stories of some of the many pioneers of regenerative agricultural solutions relevant in different climates, landscapes and contexts. Those stories provide hope and inspiration for readers wanting to find how they can contribute to saving our soils; perhaps the greatest imperative for humanity today.”

David Holmgren, Permaculture Co-originator