The Goodies Soil Carbon Project

The Goodies Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located in Kendenup, at the foot of the Stirling Ranges, approximately 20km north of Mount Barker and 70km inland from Albany in Western Australia. It was registered on May 28, 2025, and initially covered 701.11 hectares. On May 22, 2026, a variation was made to the project area, formally removing some previously listed areas from the project boundaries.

This project operates under the 2021 Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models methodology. Soil carbon projects under this method require landholders to implement new or materially altered land management activities to increase soil organic carbon above historical baselines, verifying sequestration over time through a hybrid of rigorous physical soil sampling and modelling. To achieve this, the project incorporates activities such as altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing to promote soil vegetation cover; modifying landscape features to remediate land; rejuvenating pastures through seeding or pasture cropping; and using mechanical means (like deep ripping) to redistribute soil throughout the profile.

The Kendenup and broader Plantagenet local government area experiences a Mediterranean climate with moderate annual rainfall, typically ranging between 500mm and 600mm. The region is highly regarded for its mixed agricultural land uses, supporting sheep and cattle grazing, broadacre cropping, and viticulture. Soils in the region are often duplex, featuring sandy or gravelly loams over heavy clay subsoils. These soils can be prone to constraints such as compaction, acidity, and stalled water retention, which benefit significantly from targeted mechanical amelioration and improved deep-rooted pasture systems.

Operated by local farmers Dale and Penny Goodwin in partnership with Intuit Earth Pty Ltd (trading as Carbon Sync), the project champions a transition to "Functional Farming". Rather than solely chasing carbon credits, the Goodwins are utilizing deep ripping, dual-purpose crops, and summer-active perennials to repair land, build soil structure, and improve water retention. This holistic approach aims to layer long-term climate resilience into their farming operations without compromising their stocking rates, allowing them to continue providing produce to the local community while protecting their land for the next generation.