Malon E.D. James
Georgia's Youngest Hydroponic Farmer & Innovator
Malon E.D. James is an advanced hydroponics researcher and innovator who began collegiate-level coursework by age twelve. He has cultivated over 72 crop varieties and holds a provisional patent for biodegradable hydroponic substrates.
Malon's journey began at age seven with environmental advocacy — meeting Governor Nathan Deal while supporting water conservation policy in Georgia. During COVID-19, he founded the Everyone Deserves A Mask campaign, distributing reusable masks locally and expanding internationally to Liberia, earning recognition from the team of Dr. Anthony Fauci.
When recipients in Liberia expressed a lack of food despite receiving protective supplies, Malon shifted his focus to hydroponics as a scalable, resource-efficient solution to food insecurity. By age eleven he was designing controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems and developing biodegradable hydroponic substrates.
In 2026, Malon launched Hydroponic HUB™ — formally approved by the City of Chamblee, GA, recognized by MIT Solve as an innovator, and scientifically validated by Dr. Andrew Ogden, Ph.D. of the University of Georgia's Department of Horticulture, who observed a full harvest yield of over 150 tomato plants grown using Malon's proprietary substrate system.
A Record of Impact
Honorable Mention — Governor Nathan Deal
Gwinnett County Covid-19 Grant Recipient — Everyone Deserves A Mask
NBCSL Regis F. Groff Youth Scholar Award & Scholarship
Youngest Primary Investigator — University of Liberia IRB
USA's Youngest Certified Hydroponic Farmer — Gwinnett County Proclamation
Hydroponic Instructor & Advisor — Mid-Atlanta Elementary Schools
CEA Trial Tests — Dr. Andrew Ogden, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Founder, Hydroponic HUB™ — City of Chamblee approved; MIT Solve Innovator; UGA validated
The Root of Everything
Behind every great mission is a personal story. Malon's drive to build Hydroponic Hub™ was deeply shaped by the love, wisdom, and legacy of his grandmother — affectionately known as Mimi. Her belief that no one should ever go hungry, and that family is the root of everything, planted the seed that grew into DCMO. This page is dedicated to her memory and her legacy.
The Mission
Don't Count Me Out (DCMO) exists to prove that young people are not too small, too young, or too inexperienced to change the world. Through Hydroponic Hub™, we grow food in communities that need it most — and in doing so, we grow the next generation of leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
Want to Connect?
Whether you're a journalist, educator, partner, or just someone inspired by the work — we'd love to hear from you.