My gardening story began as a kid picking blueberries from my great grandfather’s garden. Those shrubs full of delicious fruit made a lasting impression on me. When I became a teenager and was confronted with a series of health challenges, I started to look for root causes, which brought me around to big questions about where my food was coming from. This learning journey turned into the pursuit of a lifetime as I dedicated the next 10+ years of my life to being a student of nature, of ecological systems, of soil health, and of what it takes to grow vibrant and nutritious foods.

My gardening story also began as a kid growing up on a family farm in Middle Georgia. While my family’s focus was on animal husbandry, my summer days as a kid were spent picking wild fruits, climbing pine trees, and eating from honeysuckle vines. As an adult, I had the privilege of traveling to various countries in Central America and Africa, and everywhere I went I observed the importance of food production to sustaining a family and community. So when time came for me to use my gifts to make a difference, urban farming and gardening projects are where I got my start.