George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver (1864-1963) was an African American agricultural scientist and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton (like peanuts and sweet potato), methods to prevent soil depletion, and to improve the lives of impoverished farmers. He believed in the interconnectedness between the health of the land and the health of the people who lived on it. 

Carver worked to pioneer organic fertilizers like swamp muck and compost for the farmers to use. Carver pushed for woodland preservation, to help improve the quality of the topsoil. He urged farmers to feed their hogs acorns. The acorns contained natural pesticides and feeding them acorns was cheaper for the farms too. Carver’s efforts towards the holistic and organic approach are still in practice today. In his research, Carver discovered Permaculture. 

Carver was also a leader in promoting environmentalism. In an era of high racial polarization, his fame reached beyond the black community. He was widely recognized and praised in the white community for his many achievements and talents. Through chemistry and conviction Carver revolutionized Southern agriculture and raised the standard of living of his fellow man.

Location: Carver was born into slavery, in Diamond Grove, Missouri, USA

Organization: He was a professor at Tuskegee Institute and even a Nutritional advisor to Ghandi. 

Video 1: Carver’s Legacy
Video 2: The Plant Doctor