Pioneer Profile: George Washington Carver

You may have heard of George Washington Carver as the inventor of peanut butter. Even though he was a proponent of the use of peanuts as a cover crop, that was actually not one of his over three hundred inventions. Carver was a renowned agricultural scientist first in Iowa State University and later at the Tuskegee Agricultural Experiment Station in Alabama. His philosophy was that agricultural science should meet the needs of those who need it most. His goal was to improve the health, economic, and environmental conditions of farmers and impoverished communities alike. He focused on developing simple tools to help “the farmer and fill the poor man’s empty dinner pail.” Carver’s studies included soil improvement, crop rotation, terracing, cover crops, composting, and using “barnyard” fertilizer; always ensuring that his methods were easily accessible to the poorest tenant farmer with the poorest soil conditions. Carver’s sustainable methods could in fact be the basis of the modern organic farming movement.

Carver’s work did not stop there. He was instrumental in developing a “moveable school” to bring hands-on learning directly to farmers. He recognized the value of foraging and promoted the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables for increased health. He provided numerous recipes for the use of under-utilized crops, such as sweet potatoes, cowpeas (a.k.a. black-eyed peas), peanuts, and tomatoes.

Carver's work was widely admired by other agricultural scientists and businessmen. Even Henry Ford asked Carver to do research on the use of peanuts and offered him a six-figure job with Thomas Edison. However, Carver held true to his mission and continued working in support of black farmers in Alabama who needed his work rather than opting for the prestige of higher pay. Carver’s legacy reminds us that fame and fortune are not always the greatest achievements.