Our GeoAg program focuses on science, helping students cultivate an interest in STEAM by exposing them to a form of new age gardening. GeoAg teaches students how to grow and sustain vegetables, fruit and flowering plants using gravel, with no use of soil or fertilizers. During each 6-week interval, students engage in Geological Agriculture lessons and experiments where they conduct actual GeoAg research.
Under the guidance of Richard Campbell, Founder of “To Soil Less,” our GeoAg program helps youth across the country cultivate an interest in STEAM by exposing them to a form of new age gardening where they learn to grow and sustain vegetables, fruits and flowering plants using gravel, with no use of soil or fertilizers. GeoAg is one of the most efficient methods of growing crops to ever exist. Although we provide learning opportunities using limited soil, no use of soil is necessary to grow plants to full term.
Kids in our program are not only exposed to this innovative food production system firsthand, but they’re also able to conduct actual GeoAg research where they grow and cultivate crops and food sources without soil at home and in their community.
Our Impact
In local communities across the nation, including those in metro Atlanta, we are facing an increasing number of food deserts. Food deserts are geographic areas where residents have limited (and sometimes no) access 17 to affordable and healthy foods — especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Food deserts are disproportion-ately found in high-poverty areas, where residents have lower levels of education, lower incomes, and higher rates of unemployment (Aecf.org, 2021). In addition, around the world, many agricultural sectors are facing looming challenges including dwindling fertilizer reserves, environmental impacts of conventional soil inputs, and increasingly difficult growing conditions wrought by climate change. As the planet continues to change thanks to global warming, the cost of eating and the need to source affordable food options increases globally (Researchgate.net, 2020).
Mr. Campbell and those who share his knowledge believe that the issue of hunger can be alleviated through a source that’s readily available – rocks. It is believed that naturally occurring rocks and minerals may help address these challenges. Opportunities through which the GeoAg can assist across four key agricultural challenges include:
- Providing environmentally sustainable food production, by tapping into mineral nutrient reserves of rocks.
- Reducing contamination from farm pesticides
- Embedding drought resilience into agricultural landscapes by increasing soil moisture retention and boosting plant availability despite looming drought.
- Mitigating emissions of major greenhouse gases— (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide).
Most notably, potential for GeoAg approaches appear to meet several emerging challenges that threaten sustainable food and fiber production, while contributing to achieving some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals such as ‘Zero Hunger,’ ‘Life on Land,’ and ‘Climate Action’ (Researchgate.net, 2020).
- No soil needed
- Less Watering
- Limited to no fertilizers
- Less Weeding
- Nutritious
- All Natural; gravel, sand, and cotton
- Less Cost
- Long Term Gardening
- Sustainable
- Efficient Irrigation System
- Durable
- Drought resistant
Source: Tosoilless.com
It’s important to expose students to relevant learning opportunities in early grades, as this will help them retain their interest in and love of learning these topics (Eschoolnews.com, 2019). Exposure to GeoAg shows promise for learning and literal survival.
Academic Programming:
K-12 Experiments
University Study
For our education programming, contact us, using the contact form. Select Education Programming as the subject.
Geo Ag In Action
