Cultivating a Learning Environment

Since childhood, Shelley Mathews has wanted to be an entrepreneur. She went on to pursue a successful career in sales and executive corporate roles. Mathews’ longtime dream became a reality in 2017 when she founded FullCircle26 Inc. (FC26I), a consulting firm that serves agricultural technology, STEM and STEAM entrepreneurs who in turn provide products for the education market.

Mathews’ view of hydroponics — a growing technique based on a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil — as a teaching tool was inspired by a team member, Jannie Wray, and her hydroponic school programs for Loudoun County elementary schools in Sterling, VA. In 2019, FC26I added drop-ship distribution services to support OPCOM hydroponics sales in the education market. Today, the education market represents 80 percent of FC26I’s growth with more than 2,000 school partners and 4,000 hydroponics systems in schools across the U.S. and Canada, according to Mathews.

“Through our youth (leadership) and adults (workforce) training programs, we have witnessed the opportunity to change lives through growing plants for resources and generational change,” Mathews said. “We live by the motto ‘One Teaches One’ and hope to provide the tools for a sustainable life through fun and innovative products and services.”

Mathews delved into how her company provides hydroponics systems and support to schools as well as the benefits of teaching kids about hydroponic gardening.

What resources does FullCircle26 provide, especially in the education market?

FullCircle26 Inc has more than eight years of providing the education market with top aquaculture indoor growing systems (hydroponics and aquaponics) and learning programs. Our 3D Model of Sustainability training — growing plants for education (STEM/STEAM), food/health/mental wellness and enterprise — provides educators with hands-on learning tools and curriculum for professional development skills and certification while offering their students a fun and accessible way to grow plants. FullCircle26 Inc provides drop-ship services for educational dealers with low minimum requirements, customer service and ongoing innovative products.

Could you share what your hydroponics programs entail?

FullCircle26 Inc. Education hydroponic programs provide customized virtual and on-site training programs including basic STEM/STEAM curriculum, food production and distribution sustainability, and enterprise opportunities by growing plants indoor with aquaculture products and outdoor accessible soil methods. The program is delivered through our 3D Model of Sustainability programs with modules for education, food/health/mental wellness and enterprise project base learning and hands-on activities.

What ages are your education programs geared toward? What skills/lessons do they instill?

They are geared towards pre-k through adulthood.

The programs focus on growing leafy greens, herbs, flowers and a variety of plants for food and learning using hydroponic systems and easy soil-based gardening and farming. Skills and lessons highlight management of equipment and plant, data collection, research, agri-business and promote home gardens. The curriculum aligns with agriculture, food and natural resources, STEM/STEAM, CTE, agriculture business, health and wellness, NSSEA, NST and CCTC (Common Career Technical Core) standards.

What are the benefits of hydroponic/soilless gardening?

Benefits include accessibility for all ages and abilities to grow plants indoor without the challenges of physical work, environment and insect issues and overall savings of water (hydroponic systems use 95 to 97 percent less water than traditional farming), less workforce personnel, use of indoor space for learning, jobs and local grown food.

What type of plants are best suited to hydroponic systems? Flowers, herbs, fruits, vegetables?

All these plants can be grown based on the various hydroponic designs, including DFT/NFT/Aeroponics.

How far is your reach? Do you work directly with schools/school districts?

Our reach extends across North America. Yes, we work directly with schools.

Why do you believe hydroponic systems belong to schools?

We have more than 2,000 nationwide school partners with over 4,000 hydroponic units placed in schools across the country. Our Train the Trainer educator training program gives educators a new and innovative way to teach agriculture, science, business and more through growing plants.

What feedback have you received from schools?

We have received overall great response from educators on the change of how students eat and the pride of growing plants.

Our Loudoun School District program has graduated more than 800 elementary students from our in-school program since 2018, with graduates requesting the program for all their grade levels. Participants were in third through fifth grade when learning and now want the program again.

What’s next for FullCircle26? What are you looking forward to?

We are launching educational and commercial bundles that include equipment, curriculum and customized training programs for educator learning tools and commercial food production and distribution models.

What are you most proud of about working at FullCircle26?

I am proud of leading and providing access to a new model of food production and distribution for food challenge areas. I’m also proud of living our mission and purpose of “One Teach One” philosophy that has changed the lives of youth and adults.