How Rosy Soil is Changing Gardening—and the Planet—One Bag at a Time
When you think about gardening, you probably imagine lush greenery, blooming flowers, and maybe even homegrown fruits and vegetables. But have you ever stopped to think about the soil you’re using?
I hadn’t—until I met Chad Massura, founder of Rosy Soil, on The Wild Party Podcast. Chad’s passion for soil quality, sustainability, and carbon capture is reshaping how we think about gardening. And if you’re a home gardener, plant lover, or just someone who cares about the planet, this conversation is one you don’t want to miss.
Why the Soil You Use Matters
Before we get into Chad’s incredible journey from startup founder to soil entrepreneur, let’s talk about something that blew my mind: peat moss.
Like many gardeners, I used to think potting soil was just… well, dirt. But what Chad revealed about traditional potting soils made me rethink everything.
The Problem with Peat Moss
Most store-bought potting soils are made with peat moss, which is harvested from peat bogs—a vital ecosystem that stores an incredible amount of carbon. Even though peat bogs cover only 3% of the Earth’s land, they hold 20% of the world’s stored carbon—more than all the forests combined.
Destroying these bogs releases CO₂ into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. In fact, peat harvesting produces twice the emissions of the airline industry.
Yes, you read that right—twice the impact of every plane flying across the globe.
The Rosy Soil Solution: Biochar
Rosy Soil is different. Instead of using peat, it’s made with biochar, a carbon-negative ingredient that improves soil health while actually capturing CO₂. This means that every bag of Rosy Soil is actively helping fight climate change while also creating better soil for plants.
Chad’s Unexpected Path to Rosy Soil
Chad’s background isn’t in agriculture or gardening—at least, not professionally.
He started out in food delivery, co-founding EnvoyNow, a successful college campus food delivery service. But something didn’t sit right with him.
“I realized I was on the wrong side of the food industry,” Chad explained. “I started getting interested in climate change and how we could actually pull CO₂ out of the air.”
That curiosity led him to biochar, which is created by heating organic materials in a low-oxygen environment, preventing them from releasing carbon. Biochar has been used for thousands of years, dating back to indigenous farmers in the Amazon, who enriched their soils with charcoal to create some of the most fertile land in the world.
For Chad, it all clicked—he saw an opportunity to replace peat moss with biochar, creating a sustainable soil that performed even better than traditional options.
From Kitchen Experiments to Target Shelves
Rosy Soil didn’t start in a fancy lab. It started in Chad’s kitchen.
He began blending biochar with other natural ingredients and convincing his friends and family to test it in their gardens. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
With a simple Shopify site, Chad started selling small bags of Rosy Soil. Before he knew it, he had sold $60,000 worth of biochar products—while still working a full-time job.
That was the moment he realized he had to go all in.
Rosy Soil officially launched on Earth Day 2022, and just three months later, Chad received an email from Target expressing interest in stocking his soil. Today, Rosy Soil is available in independent garden centers across the country, as well as major retailers like Target and Thrive Market.
Sustainability Challenges and the Search for Better Packaging
While the soil itself is incredibly sustainable, packaging posed a major challenge.
Initially, Rosy Soil tried using paper bags, but they would break down too quickly due to the moisture content. Next, they experimented with a sugarcane-based biodegradable plastic, but about 5% of the bags would tear, leading to wasted product and extra shipping emissions.
Ultimately, they settled on 60% post-consumer recycled plastic and partnered with The Plastic Bank to remove twice its weight in ocean plastic. It’s not perfect, but Chad’s team is constantly researching better solutions for the future.
The Secret to Being a Better Gardener
Chad believes many people think they’re bad at gardening when, in reality, they’ve just been using bad soil.
“Most store-bought soil is filled with cheap fillers, synthetic fertilizers, and even sewage sludge,” Chad explained. “It doesn’t retain water well, and it breaks down too quickly, making it harder for plants to thrive.”
Rosy Soil, on the other hand, is designed to be easy and reliable, meaning:
Better water retention so plants don’t dry out as quickly
Stronger root systems that help plants grow healthier
A more balanced environment for beneficial microbes
Chad puts it simply: “We kill a thousand houseplants so you don’t have to.”
What’s Next for Rosy Soil?
Chad and his team are constantly developing new, innovative soil products. Their latest release is the Biochar Booster, which can be used to enrich any existing soil with biochar, compost, and worm castings.
But Chad isn’t stopping there. He’s also passionate about gardening education.
His dream? Bringing Rosy Soil into classrooms and teaching kids about the importance of soil, sustainability, and growing their own food.
One of his favorite moments was doing a biochar lesson with his aunt’s second-grade class, where a student asked, “Did biochar exist in the time of the dinosaurs?”
Spoiler: Yes, it did.
Where to Find Rosy Soil
If you’re ready to ditch peat moss and upgrade your garden with sustainable, high-performance soil, you can find Rosy Soil:
Online at RosySoil.com (Use the store locator to find a retailer near you)
On Amazon
At Target and Thrive Market
At local plant shops and independent garden centers across the country
Chad and his team also offer customer support via text and email, so if you ever have gardening questions, they’re happy to help.
Why Rosy Soil is More Than Just Dirt
Soil might not be the most exciting topic—until you realize how much it affects our planet, our gardens, and even our food supply.
Chad Massura didn’t just create another soil brand. He created a movement—one that’s making gardening easier while also helping combat climate change.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, the soil you choose matters. And with Rosy Soil, you’re not just growing healthier plants—you’re helping build a healthier planet.
So next time you’re at your local garden center, check the back of the bag. You might be surprised at what’s really inside.
And if you want the best soil for your plants and the Earth—you know where to find it at Rosy Soil!
