Oral Histories of the Piedmont Foodshed.
Xander Marciniak Gene Moore is an eighth or ninth-generation farmer who runs the Moore Farm in Marshville, NC, and sells their produce in Farmers’ Markets throughout the Piedmont region. He and his wife, Wanda, run the farm and several market stands from Mecklenburg to Union County together, selling produce on the farm and even selling wholesale produce … Read more
Lisa Matthews is the Executive Director of The Bulb. This incredible, non-profit, fresh produce food pantry runs its primary operations from the Innovation Barn, with aims to tackle and provide relief from food insecurity within the Charlotte area. The Bulb was created in 2016 by Alicia Streets, a social worker in the Charlotte area who … Read more
Rickie B. Parker, 62 years old at the time of the interview, discusses his lifelong connection to gardening in Albemarle, North Carolina. Parker began gardening at age seven, learning from his mother, Kizzy Parker, who passed away in 1988. He has kept his own garden going for over twenty years on land owned by his … Read more
Philip Taylor, born in 1944, discusses his life and farming experiences in Burke County, North Carolina. He recalls a time without electricity and running water, raising milk cows, and using horses for farming. Taylor’s family raised and canned their own food to provide for their 18-person family. He describes the transition from horse-drawn farming to … Read more
George McAllister was 66 years old at the time of the interview, which took place at the Atkins Library at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. He is the former president of the Mecklenburg Beekeepers Association and his family has a long history with beekeeping from the 19th century, in addition to having extensive … Read more
Craig and Eric are both a part of Charlotte Green Community Gardens and the McGill Rose Garden. They discuss their involvement with Charlotte Green community gardens. They inform us about the many different technicalities of gardening and how it can be a complex task. They inform the audience of different tips and tricks on gardening. … Read more
Cherie Jzar is Co-founder and President of Deep Roots CPS (Community Planning Solutions) Farm in Charlotte, NC. Born in Savannah, GA Cherie and her husband Wisdom began homesteading to ensure that they lived and modeled their values for their children and community. They were inspired to farm by their desire to further commit to their … Read more
Tim Turton of Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation discusses his participation with Mecklenburg County Community Gardens. He tells us about the functionality of the county’s community garden system. He elaborates on what goes on in the garden spaces and how the participants use the garden. He also talks about the technicalities of the community gardens.
Robb Thorstenson owns Wise Acres Organic Farm in Indian Trail, NC with his wife Cathy. Robb was working in Chicago as a trader in tech stocks and energy futures, which he found increasingly isolating and unfulfilling. He left the finance field to become a farmer as a way to combine his love for the outdoors … Read more
Jack Abernathy, a native of Connelly Springs, North Carolina shares his long journey with farming and gardening. He shares his experiences from growing up with his father’s moonshining business, his early love for farming developed by his grandfather and the evolution of agricultural practices from the 1940s to present day. He delves into topics such … Read more