Sourced from STEM Education | Entrepreneurship
Let's meet Ms. Michele MADISON, Founder of the Non-Profit "Farming The Future" and learn more about "Using Aquaponics to teach S.T.E.M. , Agricultural, and Career Education"
Would you please tell us briefly about yourself?
This is Michele Madison, Founder of the Non-Profit Farming The Future. I am a scientist, engineer and entrepreneur reaching out to youth to not only educate them on S.T.E.M. education, but agricultural and career education; all while providing a healthier and more sustainable diet for them. Farming The Future uses Aquaponics to teach these areas in an engaging and interactive way.
What is AQUAPONICS?
It is a sustainable farming method that blends aquaculture and hydroponics to grow fish and produce symbiotically together. The fish provide fertilizer for the plants, the plants absorb those nutrients and return fresh clean water to the fish.
How do you help schools and other facilities adopt S.T.E.M programs?
We install these S.T.E.M. programs in schools and facilities by building a terrestrial farm and an aquaponic farm and then teaching the students each week lessons in many different areas. The students learn about the microbiology, chemistry, system design, nitrogen cycle, water quality, food production, and entrepreneurship involved in aquaponics and farming. As an added bonus, the food they grow on site goes into the cafeteria for the kids to eat and have access to better nutrition!
What is the current status of the use of Aquaponic Systems?
They currently have seven aquaponic systems in schools and facilities. Through recent success they are expanding into three more juvenile detention centers that will be getting 1,500 gallon aquaponic systems, allowing the kids to raise tilapia, catfish, and produce for the cafeterias and for donation to battered women's shelters, homeless shelters, A Second Harvest and other charities and organizations as a way of giving back to their community.
Thank you very much for all you efforts to educate the youth and guide them through their careers, and we wish you all the best for your future endeavours. We hope there will be more schools and other facilities who would like to include these programs into their education programs. How can they contact you?
Everybody is more than welcome to visit our Facebook Page and support our mission:
https://www.facebook.com/FarmingTheFuture
And if you are interesting in getting a program for your school or facility please feel free to reach out to us through this platform.