Real Impact, Real People
Feeding the Future: A Micro Farm in Mexico
In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, an orphanage was looking for more than just food donations — they needed a way to feed the children in their care while building long-term stability.
Aquaponics and Earth helped install a full Cycle of Life Micro Farm, designed to produce both vegetables and protein using sustainable aquaponics and homemade fertilizer. Today, that orphanage is growing its own food, teaching valuable skills to the next generation, and moving toward food independence — all with a system that fits on a small footprint of land.
This wasn’t just a gift. It was an opportunity — and the beginning of something lasting.
Training in the Rainforest: Equipping Mayan Leaders in Belize
In partnership with Rotary International, we traveled deep into the rainforest of Punta Gorda, Belize to work with local Mayan leaders. The goal was simple but powerful: teach aquaponics, tilapia rearing, and sustainable fertilization to leaders who could bring those practices back to their communities.
The project didn’t end when the training did. It planted something — not just crops, but confidence, self-sufficiency, and the ability to teach others. What began as a workshop became a ripple effect, growing far beyond the rainforest.
Global Interns, Lasting Impact
Aquaponics and Earth has hosted interns and visiting students from over 30 countries — including long-term trainees from Chile, India, and China, each spending three years learning hands-on techniques in sustainable farming.
Many of these students came with a mission: to return home with the tools to build similar systems in their own communities. During one campus visit, a group of 120 international students expressed interest in coming back for deeper training. They didn’t just see a farm — they saw possibility.
When we train one student, we often reach a whole village.
Voices from the Field
(John) Musser’s method incarnates the old proverb about teaching a village to fish instead of giving them fish.
— Elaine A. Heath, Southern Methodist University
I love that working at AESL allows me to make a real difference in the world, reaching many cultures and nations through the most practical means of help.
— Charity, volunteer
(AESL) has developed a sustainability project that is transferable to any culture in the world.”
— Elaine Heath, PhD
The AESL farm put our city on the map.
— Mayor Hurtt, DeSoto, TX
Be Part of the Story
Partner with us
These aren’t just one-time wins — they’re seeds that keep growing. If you’re looking to bring this kind of impact to your own community, school, or mission effort, we’d love to talk.
Donation
Every donation helps us install micro farm systems, train local leaders, and provide hands-on education that leads to long-term self-sufficiency.