Fall in Love with Fall Vegetable Gardening

Joe Lamp’l is the host and Executive Producer of the PBS television show, Growing a Greener World. Joe has also been featured on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, The Weather Channel and the DIY Network. Joe believes the world needs more gardens and more gardeners. His passion is to inspire and instill confidence in anyone who wants to be a new or better gardener and to help people create a healthier environment. Joe encourages us all to get our hands dirty and discover the magic of organic gardening.

Growing Back Greater

Stephen Ritz is the author of the Amazon Best Seller, The Power of a Plant, and founder of the non-profit, Green Bronx Machine. Stephen’s TED talk is ranked as one of the Top 10 food/education TED talks of all time. He has been invited to the White House on three occasions by the Obama administration and also to The Vatican by Pope Francis.

Re-imagining Education through Aquaponics

Sam Fleming is the co-founder and Executive Director of 100 Gardens. Over the past 8 years, Sam and the 100 Gardens team have installed aquaponic gardens across the United States and in Haiti, and currently have aquaponics programs in 15 schools and two correctional centers. In 2017, Sam presented the 100 Gardens vision at TEDxCharlotte.

Cocktail Demonstration, “Farmstead Sour”

Vincent Chirico is the owner of Idlewild, a small cocktail bar in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, NC. Idlewild offers a plethora of classically and neo-classically inspired cocktails based on the guest’s preference, as well as beer, wine, and snacks. The staff takes pride in their attention to detail both in hospitality and product, utilizing extensive training and knowledge to provide excellent beverages with hand cut ice, fresh juice to order, and fresh ingredients in a comfortable, intimate setting.

Backyard Aquaponics: Farming Fresh Fish & Vegetables

Chuck is a sustainable gardener in Tucson, Arizona and founder of the grassroots start-up, Together We Grow, bringing sustainable gardening to the desert of Arizona. As a child, he was always amazed by astronomy which encouraged Chuck to become an astronomer. During the 90’s, he served in Desert Storm and is a proud veteran. After suffering from a combat injury, he found new life through gardening, becoming a health enthusiast, and devoting time and love to animals.

Virtual Tour of the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Department and House of Corrections Aquaponics Lab

Executive Director of non-profit, Berkshire Education and Corrections Services. Robin partnered with 100 Gardens to install the largest aquaponics greenhouse system in a correctional facility in the United States.

Personal Message & Cooking Demonstration, “Tomato Bruschetta”

Alice Waters is a chef, author, and food activist, and the founder and owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant in Berkeley, California (est. 1971). In 2015, she was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama, proving that eating is a political act, and that the table is a powerful means to social justice and positive change. Alice is the author of fifteen books, including New York Times bestsellers The Art of Simple Food I & II, and a memoir, Coming to My Senses: The Making of a Counterculture Cook. Her latest book is We Are What We Eat: A Slow Food Manifesto. Alice Waters is a James Beard Award winner for Lifetime Achievement and the founder of the non-profit, the Edible Schoolyard Project.

The Inspiring Story Behind Duke’s Mayonnaise

Duke’s Mayonnaise was created in 1917 in Greenville, SC by Eugenia Duke. In addition to the flagship mayonnaise, which is still made according to Eugenia’s original recipe, Duke’s offers light, olive oil, and flavored mayonnaises, tartar sauce, sandwich relish and regionally-inspired Duke’s Southern Sauces and dressings.

Comedy Bit, “Laughs & Love with Tara Brown"

Tara Brown performs clean and family-friendly comedy across the country. The CharlotteFive named her as one of “The Standup Comedians You Need to Know in Charlotte” and Queen City Nerve named her as “Best Comedian” of 2019. Tara is the latest winner of Jeanne Robertson’s “Comedy with Class Humor Competition” She is also the co-host of the “Preachers’ Kids” podcast and her “Clean Comedy Corner” segment can be heard on iHeart Radio nationwide. Tara’s Dry Bar Comedy special will be released this year. She is a native of Brooklyn and currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Vegan Cooking Demonstration, “Mama’s Black & White Greens”

Adjoa Courtney, a.k.a Chef Joya, is an award-winning private chef, cookbook author, and owner of Cooking with Joya, based in Charlotte, NC. Chef Joya specializes in vegan and plant-based cuisine incorporating the flavors of southern, Afro-Caribbean, French, and African dishes. Chef Joya is famous for her ability to “veganize” any dish that traditionally contains meat and is becoming a formidable force in the vegan culinary industry - one magical meal at a time. She can be found on Instagram and YouTube via her channel, Say What! It’s Vegan? Chef Joya is the only featured vegan chef on BuzzFeed’s Tasty social media channels and was selected as a 2021 “Women Building the Future Honoree” by Vegan Women Summit and Impossible Foods.

Kids Cooking Demonstration, “Tuscan Tomato Bread Soup / BLT”

Chef Nellie is the owner and founder of Growing Thyme Cooking, a company dedicated to growing healthy chefs one recipe at a time. Chef Nellie knows that a child will have more freedom in making healthy choices if they can prepare the food themselves and if they have an understanding of where that food comes from. Her company is dedicated to educating families through a unique nutrition-based cooking curriculum, focused classes, and outreach.