Modern conventional agriculture is undergoing a paradigm shift from inorganic to organically based systems. Growers throughout the western hemisphere are increasing the extent to which they nurture soil biology with techniques like no-till or low-till, the use of biodiverse cover crops, crop rotation, use of green manure, livestock integration, mulching, and composting. Agricultural practices based on recycling products of nature have been shown to increase soil organic matter, improve water holding capacity, and reduce soil water evaporation.
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Regenerative processes were the foundation of the agricultural concepts practiced by George Washington Carver at the dawn of the twentieth century. This dynamic figure in the propagation of organic agricultural techniques started life under the system of chattel slavery. Carver developed a reputation of mythic proportions and was heralded as the “Black Leonardo” by Time magazine due to his artistry, vast scientific knowledge, innovative inventions, creative output, and broad-based virtuosity, even though he started life as an enslaved child. He created approximately 300 products from peanuts, including flour, paste, insulation, paper, wallboard, wood stains, soap, shaving cream, and skin lotion. Carver also developed 118 products from sweet potatoes, such as flour, vinegar, molasses, ink, synthetic rubber, and postage stamp glue. None of these were patented to achieve financial gain. He said that these creations came from a divine source and did not belong to him. George Washington Carver was the most eminent agriculturalist of the twentieth century.
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George Washington Carver stepped into history in the early 1900’s when he encouraged Southern farmers to plant legumes such as peanuts, soybeans, and cowpeas; and nitrogen fixing trees like pecans and walnuts to replace nutrients depleted by the dominance of cotton; and to plant crops in systematic rotations. He conducted research with crops that produced products for human needs while compensating for the damage done by monocropping, erosion, and the overuse of chemical fertilizers. Carver emphasized approaches that improved the soil. He advocated for the use of inputs from nature rather than synthetic chemicals. He focused on the recycling of resources and materials from nature such as animal manures, swamp muck, and compost to improve the soil.
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He provided valuable insight into central agricultural problems that Americans still face today such as erosion, soil infertility, and the regeneration of depleted soils. He was early to recognize the negative effects of man-made pollutants on the climate and the importance of carbon cycling. He became one of the early advocates of natural organic farming. Many of the approaches he championed have now entered our collective consciousness.
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He encouraged farmers to feed their cattle, pigs and poultry acorns as a profitable resource that also provided natural pest resistance. He was an early proponent of recycling and he helped to illuminate our current understanding of the central role of bacteria and fungi in plant growth. He was a wizard in the laboratory and developed hundreds of useful biologically based products. He showed no interest in lucrative patents for the products he developed and personified the scientist who was thinking well ahead of his time. His insights, skills, and abilities, and experiences in large scale agricultural production took him to the United States Senate Ways and Means Committee to share his knowledge, insights, and advice regarding national agricultural legislation. Not only was he well received and applauded for his presentation, but he was allowed to speak for as long as he wished.
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Carver’s contributions to American agriculture at the beginning of the twentieth century provides a critical link to the current paradigm shift from inorganic to more organically based agricultural systems. Carver advocated for crop rotation to maintain soil fertility. He understood that different crops deplete or enrich the soil in varying ways. He helped improve soil health naturally by rotating crops like peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans. He promoted leguminous plants because they have a unique ability to fix nitrogen from the air into the soil. Carver experimented with plant-based insecticides and fungicides to reduce the need for synthetic pest control. He believed in using natural solutions to control pests rather than relying on chemical pesticides. Carver’s holistic approach to agriculture emphasized sustainability. He believed in conserving resources, reducing waste, and maintaining a balanced ecosystem. The trail that he blazed continues to grow in popularity.
The “man who talks with the flowers” became widely recognized as a plant doctor and a lay healer (especially with polio victims). He argued that plants rely on microorganisms for their nutrition and that these microbes improve soil quality. His insights gained him such widespread popularity that the rumor mill began crediting him with achievements only remotely connected to his work. He set out to help people and he was so impactful that this former slave gained national prominence and mythic status in his lifetime. He was a high-pitched voice for the voiceless. A man whose notoriety, race, and voice spawned mockery from detractors when he met with elected officials in the Halls of Congress. George Washington Carver is one of the most compelling voices in modern agricultural science and he serves as an inspiration for us all.
