The Dream

Imagine if every kid on the block grew their own fresh veggies, and urban landscapes once known as food deserts were able to flourish. We live by a simple phrase every day - food is fuel. It's the true fuel that drives innovation and creativity from young and experienced minds alike. More and more, Americans want to live a healthier lifestyle, yet on a limited budget that lifestyle is almost unattainable.

Nourishmat Garden System - 4' x 6'

Comes with or without built-in irrigation

The Nourishmat was designed using the square foot method, which is a great introductory method for both new and experienced gardeners. The package includes pre-planted seedballs that reduce the need for tilling, thus leaving the biological make up the soil intact and undisturbed.

Features:

Reusable

The Nourishmat and Herbmat gardens are reusable and last around 5 year. Users can reorder seedball refills after harvesting ($1.99-$3.79 depending on seedball number) and a full-season 82 seedball refill for $44.95. A seedball will last two years if kept in a dark, dry place.

Reorder seedball refills at Nourishmat.comReorder seedball refills at Nourishmat.com

Built-in Irrigation (optional)

Nourishmat gardens come with or without irrigation. Link up a hose to the built-in irrigation and turn on the water. You can use a hose timer or manually turn the hose on for 10-15 minutes per day depending on weather conditions making sure that all of the seedballs get watered.

Weed Barrier 

Nourishmat gardens take care of the weeding so you don't have to. The Nourishmat and Herbmat garden systems are pre-cut, spaced, and labeled to save you time and headache. Any weeds that may try to sneak in with the plants can be easily identified and removed.

Planting Schedule 

Nourishmat Gardens come with a planting guide that tells you where and when to plant your seedballs.

Companion Planting & Square Foot Gardening

The Nourishmat and Herbmat yield great results because they were designed using proven principles of companion planting and square foot gardening. All 19 plant varieties were selected for being great neighbors. For example, marigolds and nasturtiums (both edible flowers) help attract beneficial insects to the garden. Square foot gardening allows you to produce the same results with only 20% of the space and resources.

Scalable
Non-irrigated Nourishmat gardens can be cut to fit your existing raised beds.

What are Seedballs?

Seedballs are a method for distributing seeds by encasing them in nutrient rich mixture of clay and compost. This protects the seeds by preventing them from over drying, being blown away by wind or eaten by birds and rodents.

Seedballs don't have to be started indoors. The added protection from the clay and nutrients allows for better germination and higher success rates when planting outside.

Seedballs don't require digging or tilling the soil. They are packed with multiple seeds and nutrients for efficient growth.Seedballs don't require digging or tilling the soil. They are packed with multiple seeds and nutrients for efficient growth.

Clay keeps the seedball moist, chili powder deters pests, earthworm castings and organic compost provides nutrient for getting the seeds started on the right root. Seedball refills can be reordered at Nourishmat.com

Earth Starter developed both the formula and equipment to make seedballs that work. The mixture includes earthworm casting, a natural fertilizer that is especially good for land that hasn’t been cultivated in a while.

Seedballs are a mixture of clay, earth worm castings, chili powder to keep away pests, and non-GMO seeds.Seedballs are a mixture of clay, earth worm castings, chili powder to keep away pests, and non-GMO seeds.

The Nourishmat Garden System comes with 82 seedballs for 19 different plant types that were selected for being great neighbors. 

The 19 plant types included are:

  • Tomato
  • Eggplant
  • Radish
  • Red Pepper
  • Carrot
  • Onion
  • Kale
  • Arugula
  • Spinach
  • Salad Bowl Lettuce
  • Rainbow Chard
  • Basil
  • Cilantro
  • Jalapeño Pepper
  • Chive
  • Dill
  • Parsley
  • Marigold
  • Nasturtium
Nourishmat April 2013Nourishmat April 2013
Nourishmat Summer 2013 in PANourishmat Summer 2013 in PA

Herbmat Garden System - 2' x 6'

Comes with or without built-in irrigation

The Herbmat Garden System is an all-in-one roll-out herb garden designed to bring fresh herbs to your table. This compact version of the Nourishmat features the same weed barrier, built-in irrigation and pre-cut, labeled and spaced planting areas.

The Herbmat comes with 32 seedballs for 8 herb varieties that were selected based on the companion planting method. The Herbmat includes a mix of annual, bi-annual and perennial plants. Some plants will continue to grow all year round and others require replanting. 

The 8 Herbs included are:

  • Basil
  • Chive
  • Dill
  • Mint
  • Parsley
  • Sage
  • Savory
  • Thyme


Seedball refills can be ordered atNourishmat.com

Scalable

Non-irrigated Herbmat gardens can be cut to fit your existing raised beds.

Our Mission

Our mission is to turn Earth's consumers into producers. Earth Starter is helping to solve one our planets most pressing issues: sustainable and healthy food supplies. Nourishmat gardens: Grow your own and thrive!

A two year old Nourishmat producerA two year old Nourishmat producer

The Solution

We’ve made gardening easy, simply roll out Earth Starter's garden systems, the Nourishmat and the Herbmat, onto any healthy soil area, place enriched, pre-planted seedballs with non-GMO seeds into pre-cut, labeled and spaced planting holes, attach the hose and watch herbs, vegetables, and flowers spring up from the Nourishmat. 

Most of us are restricted by time, space, and money when thinking about starting a garden. The Nourishmat Garden System provides a simple and smart solution that allows anyone to become the successful owner of a garden they can take pride in – both for themselves and their family. 

With the entire gardening process in mind, Earth Starter created seedballs to make sowing as easy as possible. There is no digging involved, just push the seedballs halfway into the ground and water them using the Nourishmat Garden System built-in waste-reducing drip irrigation (your water bill will thank you). Over the following weeks you will see a successful, beautiful and nourishing garden spring up before your eyes.

Nourishmat Growing in Fall: Eggplant, Parsley, Dill, KaleNourishmat Growing in Fall: Eggplant, Parsley, Dill, Kale

Your Help

To meet the demand for nutritious food options, and to keep Earth Starter on the path of creating solutions for a healthier way of life, we need to raise money to produce more Nourishmat and Herbmat Garden Systems. We can’t do this without your help. Pledges on Kickstarter will enable us to underwrite inventory costs while continuing to produce right here in the U.S. We’ll also be able to roll out more Nourishmat gardens across the country.

After graduating from the University of Maryland, founders John Gorby and Phil Weiner embarked on a two-year journey to create U.S. made products that allow anyone to produce food in small space.

As we strive to keep the entire production of Nourishmat Garden Systems in the United States, pledges will go directly towards inventory, launching more comprehensive marketing campaigns, and continued product development. Earth Starter works to create new and improved ways to bring people closer to their food, and Kickstarter will help us fund and perfect these new products in the coming years. 


In addition to creating solutions for gardeners, Earth Starter also wants to implement a Nourishmat garden based educational curriculum in schools and create food security solutions in densely populated urban areas.

Testing

In the beginning there was...a tarp?

Phil Weiner and John Gorby self-funded Earth Starter through 3 stages of product development and a business award from the CEO of Under Armour Kevin Plank. The first prototypes were designed in a home kitchen and built out of materials ordered off the Internet and the first working model was tested in the founder’s backyard at his home in Frederick, MD. As the first seeds sprouted an idea had come to life.

From a young age Phil and John were keeping notebooks filled with innovative ideas, inventions and creative projects. Both of them spent weekends gardening with their families and grew up eating garden fresh produce when it was available . When they met as undergraduates at UMD, Phil and John began developing the idea of an educational, easy to use gadget that would help people grow their own food. 

Upon completion of a year-long beta testing in 13 states and across 5 USDA Hardiness Zones, initial data and user feedback has been phenomenal. The Nourishmat and Herbmat gardens are simple and easy to use and fun. Whether in a school or backyard, the Nourishmat home garden is designed to be simple, user friendly, educational, and fun.

Late 2011 Beta MatsLate 2011 Beta Mats
May 2011 in the Basement where it all got started - Thank You Jordan FamilyMay 2011 in the Basement where it all got started - Thank You Jordan Family
May 2011 beta test after 15 days of growthMay 2011 beta test after 15 days of growth

With the idea taking shape, we began our search for suppliers, materials and outside contractors to make the new Nourishmat Garden System. 

After many hours of time spent on the phone looking to stabilize our manufacturing process, we finally gathered all the pieces of the puzzle to begin making the prototype. Before we even received the first irrigated prototype we quickly figured out that assembling this product was going to be no easy task, so the mat was simplified to include a single irrigation line. With the design finalized and home testing completed, we released our first mats to a test community. With over 300 satisfied beta testers in over 20 states, we confirmed that our product works in all different geographic locations.

2012 Nourishmat Beta Mat2012 Nourishmat Beta Mat
It's easy to find beta testers when you tell them they get to keep all the food.It's easy to find beta testers when you tell them they get to keep all the food.

This home video was sent to us and is an actual Nourishmat owner and beta tester installing the family's new Nourishmat garden.

In 2012, Earth Starter launched the Nourishmat Beta Community and plotted the beta tester locations in 22 states including Alaska and the Virgin Islands.

We have also worked with schools and summer camps on the east coast to create a preliminary education curriculum that revolved around experiential learning. 

Earth Day 2013 school testing at the Prince William AcademyEarth Day 2013 school testing at the Prince William Academy
 

Production

Earth Starter created strong partnerships with our manufacturers and suppliers from the very beginning. These partnerships are now paying off in facilitating the fulfillment of orders. It also ensures that Kickstarter donors can receive their Nourishmats, Herbmats, and seedballs in a timely fashion. The garden systems were designed in partnership with a kitting and shipping facility in North Carolina. Our printing partners are conveniently located a short 15 minute drive down the road. This structure of supply chain and product manufacturing allows for a quick turnaround time in product building, assembly, and shipping. We are currently working to move our seedball production to North Carolina so that the entire production can be in one place. These changes allow us to control quality standards and delivery times. The manufacturing facility is large enough to supply over 100,000 product units and is an important step in growing the Earth Starter family.

Our North Carolina Production Facility - 100% AmericanOur North Carolina Production Facility - 100% American
Preparing for our first large order in North CarolinaPreparing for our first large order in North Carolina
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