Our Story

Carbon Roots began with a simple question asked by our founder, Shivali Sethi, when she was just 15 years old: "What can I do in my own community to help fight climate change?" After researching carbon sequestration and sustainable gardening practices, Shivali realized that specially designed gardens could serve as effective carbon sinks while providing numerous other environmental and community benefits.

What started as a school project quickly evolved into a passion and then a mission. With support from her family, particularly her father who helped establish the organizational structure, Shivali began reaching out to local officials, environmental experts, and community leaders in Monmouth County.

Today, Carbon Roots works with multiple towns throughout the county, providing resources, expertise, and support for the development of carbon sink gardens. Our comprehensive guidebooks have helped hundreds of residents create their own carbon-absorbing gardens, and our community projects have transformed unused spaces into thriving green areas that benefit both people and the planet.

While we've grown significantly since our founding, we remain true to our original vision: empowering ordinary people to take extraordinary action for our environment.