From the outset, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ in Plymouth, Indiana, asked Hoffman a short question: How healthy are our 1,200‑plus acres, and how do we prove it over time? A process that began from scratch has quickly evolved into an ongoing partnership that now offers a replicable model for any organization with land who wants to align day to day management with climate, biodiversity, and legacy goals.
During the first year, Hoffman worked side‑by‑side with the Ancilla Domini Sisters (ADS) land managers and Sisters to translate academic soil‑science protocols into something both rigorous and pragmatic for the farm crew and community to implement. The team produced a tiered monitoring framework that pairs a “full” option—meter‑deep soil cores, full‑column water sampling, and detailed flora/fauna transects—with a pared‑down “reduced” option aimed at keeping annual costs in check. By documenting when each level is appropriate, the protocol allows the Sisters to begin modestly and scale up without losing continuity or scientific credibility. That design choice proved decisive: ADS opted for the reduced tier, yet still captured enough data to surface clear management signals.