 In 1976 Robert Cain lived in Ft. Meyers and was employed in the plant research department at Yoder Brothers Commercial Greenhouse operation, Lehigh Acres, Florida. He learned of Dr. Murray’s Seaponic hydroponic farm in Ft. Meyers, but discovered it was not open for business and had not been in operation for several years. Robert discovered that Dr. Murray MD was working as the medical director at Sunland Center Hospital. He called and was invited to visit Dr. Murray at his office to discuss the farm and future business opportunities. During their meeting, Robert and Dr. Murray discovered common interests in a number of areas. Dr. Murray spoke at the ACRES USA convention in Kansas City (PDF) and shared his newly released book “Sea Energy Agriculture”. He asked Robert to read it and come back to discuss what he learned.
Robert read the book and came to the understanding that Dr. Murray had discovered a technology (if instituted properly) that could actually improve human health on a global scale. The understanding that sea life living in pure ocean water containing 92 periodic table elements in nature’s perfect balance seemed immune to cancer and other degenerative diseases amazed him. Robert lost his grandmother and two closest childhood friends to cancer, plus at that time was involved with his father's recent cancer diagnosis. Other than Dr. Murray, he felt that most doctors did not have any answers to the question, “Why is mankind, God's most perfect creation, so prone to infection and disease?”
After meeting with Dr. Murray again it was decided that together they would place the hydroponics “Seaponic” farm back into operation. Dr. Murray suggested Robert contact a philanthropist that he knew that was also very excited about sea energy agriculture and who was searching for a way to apply the technology in Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. After many meetings and conversations, the creation of a research center combined with the commercial Seaponic tomato farm was envisioned. The farm was to be operated under the company name SeaAgri, inc. and the center was to be called ECHO, Inc. (Educational Concerns and Health Organization).
The Seaponic Farm was cleared and the hydroponics beds cleaned and prepared for planting. Sea solids were not available, so arrangements were made for sea water to be brought in by tanker truck from Sanibel Island, Florida. In the spring of 1978 the first tomatoes were planted and SeaAgri was up and running. The crop grew beautifully, and Publix markets agreed to carry the Seaponic labeled tomatoes. Once tomato harvesting began, the demand quickly grew significantly greater than the available supply. These tomatoes tasted simply amazing! SeaAgri was a success.
Also in the spring of 1978 five acres of land were made available to ECHO Mission through the First United Methodist Church of Ft Meyers less than one mile from Seaponic Farm. That summer Robert began construction of the training center headquarters, a commercial size greenhouse and storage buildings. All were built with donations and volunteer labor from many Methodist churches in the Ft. Meyer area and northern Indiana where the philanthropist lived. ECHO Mission’s Dedication and Grand Opening was held in the spring of 1979. ECHO is still in operation at this location today though it has grown significantly in size and mission.
Collecting and transporting sea water for the farm from Sanibel Island proved to be very difficult and costly. In late 1978, it was decided that in order for the Seaponic farm and ECHO to continue with their operations a sustainable supply of sea solids was needed so Dr. Murray's assistance was requested. The one location in North America that Dr. Murray had discovered containing natural mineral rich sea solids was at that time a trade secret and part of the patents awarded for the use of sea solids in agriculture and hydroponics. Dr. Murray agreed to help and gave Robert instructions and directions to the mine (the exact location where SEA-90 is now created). Robert was successful and returned with the importation agreement. The Seaponic Farm and ECHO had a new supply of sea solids for its operations.
Robert left Seaponic Farm and ECHO in early 1980. The farm continued to function until Dr. Murray’s untimely death in 1982 when it fell into disrepair, abandoned, and eventually purchased by the county. The farm and all the hydroponic beds were removed and a fire station built in its place. The Seaponic tradition carried on for many years by a local grower that produced wheatgrass at his farm in Lehigh Acres. The original farm company called SeaAgri stopped operations until Robert and his wife Carmen founded their current company in 2003 -- 21 years after Dr. Murray’s death. You can read more about SeaAgri and its current operations on the About Us page. |
