And though the Louisiana native has long been an environmentalist, becoming a father in 2017 only enhanced his desire to help reverse the impacts of climate change.

“By using healthy soil management practices, we are building a secure future today, or tomorrow,” he explained. “And once you do have children, you realize I am no longer alone here. I am leaving this to my children.”

So he aimed to create Common Ground, with filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell and a star-studded cast of fellow narrators like Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson and Donald Glover as a “love letter to our children,” he said. “As a parent, you never want to have to look at your kids and say, ‘I’m sorry.’ You want to be able to look at your children and say, ‘We did something. And as a result of that we secured our future.'”

Not only is the brand educating pet parents on the lengths they’re going to provide the best, healthiest eats for their furry friends, but they’re aiming to raise up to $300,000 for their Greater Ground soil growth grants, banking a $1 towards the initiative with each video view.

“That’s their way of saying, we want to get in there and literally get our hands dirty,” said Somerhalder, “and start helping these farmers transition because it can be a little scary, right? But when we do it together, it’s way less scary.”

A fairly apt metaphor for parenting if we’ve ever heard one. Though Somerhalder and Reed seem to be adjusting quite nicely to their new family of four.

“It’s the best thing ever,” Somerhalder marveled of adding to their brood, which has only enforced his desire to create positive change. “Once you become a parent, you realize everything you do throughout your day, you have the ability to make these little tiny incremental changes, whether it’s who you buy your cat and dog food from, what restaurants you eat in, how you dispose of your own waste.”

Each little win throughout his day adds up, he continued, “because it’s a pretty big, pretty crazy world out there. So the tiny things that you can do throughout your day, that make you feel great, are making a difference.”

Which is why he has no intention of hanging up his ever-present boots.

Though he wears quite a few (cowboy) hats thanks to projects like the Brother’s Bond Bourbon brand he shares with former onscreen sibling Paul Wesley, his environmental work is what keeps him grounded.

“I was asked why I care about this,” Somerhalder said of fighting against his image as just another Hollywood heartthrob. The answer, quite simply, “is because I’m building my entire life and world to do that exact thing.”