About.
We help clients develop community-driven policies and programs around soil health, working lands, and natural climate solutions in the Rocky Mountain West.
Max Neumeyer and Helen Silver have played a central role in making Colorado a national leader in soil health, working lands, and natural climate solutions programs and policy. We strive to be the go-to consultants to help you with your strategic planning, outreach, and advocacy needs for these issues.
Our projects have included coordinating the Colorado Collaborative for Healthy Soils and launching the Colorado STAR Program. Max and Helen work closely with many partners and clients such as Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University and philanthropic and supply chain partners.
Helen D. Silver
Principal
Helen D. Silver is a principal of Ground Up Consulting LLC. Helen received her law degree in 2004 and her Masters in Sustainability and Environmental Management in 2017. Using her 15+ years of experience in environmental law and policy, Helen works with nonprofits, state and local government, and academic institutions to advance sustainable agricultural and natural and working lands policies and programs. Helen’s diverse experience also includes international environmental law and climate change and food systems policy. Within Harvard University Extensions School’s Sustainability Program, Helen co-instructs The Role of Soil Health in Creating Sustainable Food Systems.
Max Neumeyer
Principal
Max comes to this work after a career as a science teacher and a graduate degree in public policy focused on soil health policy for Colorado. After graduation, he worked with Mad Agriculture and several other partners to launch the Colorado Collaborative for Healthy Soils in order to explore a new direction for soil health. Max is now a principal of Ground Up Consulting LLC. Ground Up is working in close partnership with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, conservation districts and other eligible entities, philanthropic and other partners to implement the Colorado STAR and STAR Plus programs.