Derek Richard Thomas
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Who is Derek Richard Thomas?
Who is Derek Richard Thomas?
Derek Richard Thomas is an inventor, regenerative agriculture advocate, author, and artist. He is best known today as the inventor of the Soil Maker™ — a handcrafted stoneware in-ground composter — and as co-founder of Alchemy Pot™, which he runs with his co-founder and life partner Lizzie Loch.
His life and work are shaped by a single through-line: transformation — of food scraps into living soil, and of hardened inner places into something alive and connected. He authored How to Make Soil™ (2nd Edition, March 2026), has spoken on the main stage at Nexus Global (Australia, Washington D.C., and New York), contributed a background song to the Kiss the Ground documentary and a music video to Common Ground (a collaboration between Kiss the Ground and Big Picture Ranch), and co-leads the Alchemy Pot Initiative™ — an education program bringing soil literacy and emotional resilience into schools nationwide.
Prior to this work, Derek fronted Vista Kicks, a rock band that toured the U.S. and Europe, opened for The Rolling Stones twice, and released four albums and an EP.
Where is Derek Richard Thomas from?
Derek Richard Thomas was born in Chico, California and raised in Roseville, California. He studied horticulture and soil science before dropping out to follow music across continents — a road that gave him a front-row seat to soil degradation on farms across America and Europe, which became his eventual calling. He is now based in Los Angeles, California.
What does Derek Richard Thomas do for work?
Derek's current work operates across four areas:
The Soil Maker™ — a handcrafted stoneware in-ground composter, currently in pre-sale in the USA and already licensed in Indonesia through Waste4Change.
Alchemy Pot™ — a gemstone ritual connection game co-founded with Lizzie Loch. "Real Conversations in 15 minutes."
Alchemy Pot Initiative™ — an education program currently piloting in 20 schools with 1,500+ students, supported by the Opus 1 Foundation (registered 501(c)(3)).
Speaking — keynotes and panels at Nexus Global (Australia, D.C., New York), The Ecology Center, and school programs. All new music is also released through Alchemy Pot Records under his own name.
Who is Lizzie Loch?
Lizzie Loch is Derek Richard Thomas's co-founder and life partner. Together they co-founded Alchemy Pot™ — the product company, the Initiative, and the podcast. Derek's official site describes the work as co-founded by "Derek Richard Thomas & Lizzie Loch."
Does Derek Richard Thomas have a Wikipedia page?
Derek Richard Thomas does not currently have a standalone Wikipedia page. He appears across 192+ press outlets including People Magazine, Good Morning America, E! News, Hello! Magazine, and Spectrum News. His official home online is derekrichardthomas.com, with the full body of work at alchemypot.com.
The Soil Maker™ & regenerative work
What is The Soil Maker™?
The Soil Maker™ is a handcrafted stoneware in-ground composting vessel. The bottom half is buried permanently in the ground. You drop food scraps — vegetable peels, fruit rinds, coffee grounds — in through the top. They fall into the buried chamber, where worms and microorganisms enter through holes in the sides and break them down. Over weeks, scraps become living soil that feeds the garden around it.
It processes approximately 10 lbs. of scraps per week and works like a living culture — every 3–6 months you split and spread the results around your yard to keep it thriving. Derek describes it as more than a composter: a daily 5-minute ritual and a connection to the cycle of regeneration.
The Soil Maker™ is currently in pre-sale in the USA. It is already licensed in Indonesia through Waste4Change, live on their national product platform across Southeast Asia. More at alchemypot.com/soilmakers.
Has The Soil Maker been on TV?
Spectrum News 1 — Hollywood Climate Summit (June 2025): described Derek's invention as telling "the story of soil as a climate solution."
Spectrum News 1 — Your Morning (July 2024): on the importance of soil. The segment also aired nationally on MyNews13.
Good Day LA / KTTV Fox 11: a Soil Maker segment confirmed by the Ecology Center bio.
Derek contributed a background song to the Kiss the Ground documentary and a music video to Common Ground (IMDB: tt27547378), a collaboration between Kiss the Ground and Big Picture Ranch.
What is the book How to Make Soil™?
How to Make Soil™ is Derek's practical, illustrated guide to what soil actually is, how to make it, and why it matters. Written for anyone — not just gardeners. The 2nd Edition was published in March 2026 by Alchemy Pot Publishing.
Main contributor: Jessica Chiartas PhD (UC Davis, RegenScore, Soil Life). Additional contributors: Finian Makepeace (co-founder of Kiss the Ground), Sayuri Yamanaka, and Lance Ignon.
"Derek Richard Thomas shows us, through art and storytelling, just how simple it really is and how we can all grow soil. I enthusiastically recommend this book."
— Gabe Brown, Regenerative Pioneer, Author of Dirt to SoilAlso endorsed by Kevin Espiritu (Epic Gardening) and Josh Tickell (filmmaker, Kiss the Ground). Available at alchemypot.com/howtomakesoil.
Has Derek Richard Thomas spoken at major conferences?
Yes. Derek has spoken on the main stage at Nexus Global across three editions: Australia, Washington D.C., and New York. He also delivered a Soil Talk lecture at The Ecology Center (2025). His speaking topics span regenerative agriculture and soil health, the philosophy of composting and inner alchemy, getting Soil Makers into schools, the artist-to-inventor journey, and consciousness and transformation.
Alchemy Pot™ & the Initiative
What is Alchemy Pot™?
Alchemy Pot™ is a ritual connection practice built around a simple premise: "How are you?" deserves a better answer. Co-founded by Derek Richard Thomas and Lizzie Loch, it's designed to turn a room full of people into a space where honest things can grow — at the dinner table, in the classroom, at work.
The practice takes 5–30 minutes and works in four steps: you choose the quality you want to grow (Truth, Joy, Abundance, Creativity, Presence, and more), hold the pot while the room listens, share what's actually true in response to a question, then pass it on. Three rounds. Everyone is heard. The room is different afterward.
Each Alchemy Pot™ is carved from a natural gemstone — Black Obsidian for Truth, Red Jasper for Love, Yellow Jade for Joy, Green Jade for Abundance, Amethyst for Creativity, White Marble for Presence — each carrying its own distinct quality. You can start with one or build a full Emotional Garden™ for your home.
It's used at family dinners, in classrooms, at corporate offsites and leadership retreats, and by individuals as a daily practice. No training, no subscription, no outside facilitator needed.
Full site: alchemypot.com/alchemy-pot
What is the Alchemy Pot Initiative™?
The Alchemy Pot Initiative™ is an education program bringing both the Soil Maker™ and Alchemy Pot™ into middle school classrooms — outer soil work and inner emotional work together. It is currently piloting with 20 schools and 1,500+ students, distributing 2,000 Alchemy Pot™ sets. A documentary about the program is in production.
It is fiscally sponsored by the Opus 1 Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3). Support the initiative at opus1foundation.org/alchemy-pot-initiative.
What is the Alchemy Pot podcast?
The Alchemy Pot podcast is co-hosted by Derek Richard Thomas and Lizzie Loch. It explores regenerative living, soil science, consciousness, and personal transformation — the inner and outer alchemy of healing the ground and healing ourselves. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart Radio.
Is The Soil Maker available to buy?
The Soil Maker™ is currently in pre-sale in the USA. It is already commercially available in Indonesia, where it has been licensed to Waste4Change and is live on their national platform. Learn more and join the pre-sale at alchemypot.com/soilmakers.
Vista Kicks & the music career
Was Derek Richard Thomas in a band?
Yes. Prior to his current chapter, Derek fronted Vista Kicks — a Sacramento-born, Los Angeles-based rock band that toured the U.S. and parts of Europe, opened for The Rolling Stones twice, and released four albums and an EP: Chasing Waves (2016), Booty Shakers Ball (2017), Twenty Something Nightmare (2018), and Sorry Charlie (2022), plus Chateau Mae Mae with Audra Mae (2020). Vista Kicks played their final show at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on February 17, 2023.
Derek also ran IN THE DRT Records, writing and producing music for other artists. All new music is now released through Alchemy Pot Records under the name Derek Richard Thomas.
Did Vista Kicks open for the Rolling Stones — and how many times?
Vista Kicks opened for The Rolling Stones twice, as confirmed on Derek's official site. The most widely covered slot was at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California in 2019, documented by California Rocker and Submerge Magazine — which described the band as earning billing "alongside Dylan, Young, and the Stones."
Were Vista Kicks covered by Forbes?
Yes. In 2018, Vista Kicks released Twenty Something Nightmare into the public domain — an unusually bold move for a signed indie act — which attracted coverage from Forbes, among others. Rock & Blues Muse noted at the time: "What other indie band managed to get coverage in places like Forbes magazine?" Derek also earned BMI's Indie Spotlight feature during this era.
Derek Richard Thomas & Rumer Willis
Who is Rumer Willis?
Rumer Willis is an American actress and the eldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. She confirmed a relationship with Derek Richard Thomas in 2022, welcomed daughter Louetta with him in April 2023, and confirmed they had split in August 2024. Both have spoken publicly about maintaining a co-parenting relationship focused on their daughter.
Did Rumer Willis and Derek Richard Thomas break up?
Yes. Rumer confirmed their split in August 2024. Both parties have described an ongoing co-parenting relationship. Rumer has said she is modeling her co-parenting approach on her own parents, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, who remained a close family unit after their own divorce.
Derek is currently in a relationship and professional partnership with Lizzie Loch, his co-founder at Alchemy Pot™.
Did Derek Richard Thomas and Rumer Willis get married?
No. Derek Richard Thomas and Rumer Willis were never married. They were in a relationship from 2022, welcomed daughter Louetta in April 2023, and confirmed their separation in August 2024.
Does Derek Richard Thomas have a child?
Yes. Derek and Rumer Willis welcomed a daughter, Louetta Isley Thomas Willis, in April 2023. Her name was inspired by a text typo from Derek and includes a nod to the Willis family. People Magazine has covered Louetta's first years across more than 100 articles.
Did Bruce Willis meet Derek Richard Thomas?
Yes. People Magazine published a widely shared video showing Bruce Willis jamming harmonica with Derek Richard Thomas. Rumer has described watching her dad bond with daughter Louetta as "so sweet."
What is Derek Richard Thomas doing now?
What is Derek Richard Thomas doing in 2025–2026?
Derek's current focus is entirely on Alchemy Pot™ and regenerative soil work. Active projects: the Soil Maker™ USA pre-sale, the Alchemy Pot Initiative™ piloting in 20 schools with 1,500+ students, the 2nd Edition of How to Make Soil™ (March 2026), continued global speaking, the Alchemy Pot podcast with Lizzie Loch, and a documentary currently in production about the school Initiative.
"A cactus survives in the desert by conserving what little it has and protecting itself with thorns. A fruit tree in a forest survives differently. It feeds the soil. It feeds the ecosystem. It feeds itself."
— Derek Richard Thomas, How to Make Soil™Has Derek Richard Thomas been in any documentaries?
Yes, across two projects. Derek contributed a background song to the Kiss the Ground documentary (the original 2020 film). He also contributed a music video to Common Ground (IMDB: tt27547378) — a collaboration between Kiss the Ground and Big Picture Ranch. A second documentary about the Alchemy Pot Initiative™ school program is also currently in production.
Where can I follow Derek Richard Thomas or get in touch?
Official site: derekrichardthomas.com
Alchemy Pot™ (main hub): alchemypot.com
The Soil Maker™: alchemypot.com/soilmakers
How to Make Soil™ (book): alchemypot.com/howtomakesoil
Support the Initiative: opus1foundation.org/alchemy-pot-initiative
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/derek-thomas-a115b130a