Organic Vegetable Gardening

Craig LeHoullier, author of Epic Tomatoes and collaborator with Joe on his course Growing Epic Tomatoes, has experienced most things "tomato" over his 40 years of gardening. With a focus on heirloom varieties, as well as plant breeding, Craig now gardens exclusively in containers and straw bales. 

For over thirty years, Margaret Roach has been a beloved figure in the world of garden journalism, sharing her wisdom in well-known publications like Martha Stewart Living, Newsday, and The New York Times. Margaret also shares her passion for nature and gardening on her public-radio podcast and by opening her 2.3-acre garden in Hudson Valley, NY for tours and talks. Her landscape is a testament to her commitment to chemical-free gardening and her knack for picking the perfect plants. 

Jeff Gillman presides over the University of North Carolina Charlotte Botanical Gardens as its director. Holding a master’s degree in entomology and a Ph.D. in horticulture from the University of Georgia, Jeff brings over three decades of expertise in the study of plant protection against weeds, diseases, and pests, underscoring his deep understanding of gardening. Jeff has penned five books focused on gardening and environmental topics, earning him recognition as a knowledgeable and sought-after speaker nationwide.

Robert Pavlis is a well-known speaker, and educator with over 40 years of gardening experience. He is the author of several books, Building Natural Ponds, Soil Science for Gardeners and Garden Myths and publishes the popular gardening blogs; GardenMyths.com and GardenFundamentals.com. As the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden, he grows 3,000 varieties of plants.

Lee Reich fell in love with composting when he started his first compost bin while studying soil science, and even after 40+ years, it still amazes him. He compares his compost pile to pets that he takes care of. Lee is a Ph.D. with graduate degrees in soil science and horticulture who lives and works on his “Farmden” — more than a garden, but less than a farm — in New Paltz, New York. After working in plant and soil research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Cornell University, Lee shifted gears to writing, lecturing and consulting.

Jesse Frost is a market farmer with a small organic farm in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, known as Rough Draft Farm. Jesse was formerly the host of “The No-Till Market Garden Podcast,” and he has created numerous videos for the No-Till Growers YouTube channel. He’s also the author of “The Living Soil Handbook: The No-Till Growers Guide to Ecological Market Gardening,” which shares the principles and farm-tested practices of no-till gardening and farming.

Jessica holds a degree in ornamental horticulture from Pennsylvania State University and is an owner and co-founder of Savvy Gardening. She is the author of several books on gardening and the insects that reside in gardens, including "Good Bug, Bad Bug" and "Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Planting Strategies for the Vegetable Garden." In 2022, Jessica released the second edition of her book Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control.

Brie is the author of The Foodscape Revolution and Gardening with Grains and a long-time contributor to Joe’s Emmy-award winning public television show Growing a Greener World.  Brie is a passionate garden communicator and educator with specialties in foodscaping, crop rotation, cover crops, plant propagation, pest management, and more. 

Meg is a full-time food gardener, writer, and photographer who has mastered succession planting and cold climate gardening. Meg excels at season-extending strategies, interplanting, and growing unique foods in cold climates and she teaches others to do the same with her blog Seed to Fork and her membership program the Modern Garden Guild.

Lisa is an author, speaker, teacher, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, and a leader in the cut-flower growing industry with additional expertise in succession planting and cover crops. Having plenty of flowers in the garden brings an abundance of pollinators and other beneficial insects to your vegetable garden, and Lisa will show you how.

For over 20 years, Jack has been deeply involved in farming, mentoring numerous young farmers in organic and biodynamic methods. At Stone Barns, he manages the comprehensive farm operations, leading a team that collaborates across various areas such as grass-fed livestock, grains, field crops, greenhouse production, fruit, flowers, and wild landscapes.

Bryant Mason is a soil scientist and Certified Crop Advisor with a focus on organic soil management and crop nutrition. He founded Soil Doctor Consulting, where he helps growers optimize their soil health using data-driven techniques such as soil testing and plant sap analysis. Bryant is dedicated to balancing soil nutrients for improved crop quality and yield while using sustainable and regenerative farming methods​.

Dr. Tom Dykstra is a prominent entomologist and Brix specialist with over 25 years of experience in academic and field research. He is the Director of Dykstra Laboratories in Gainesville, Florida, and serves as a scientific advisor for Advancing Eco Agriculture. Dr. Dykstra has extensively studied insect olfaction and bioelectromagnetics, focusing on how plants’ Brix levels, which measure sugar content, relate to pest resistance. He holds degrees from Cornell University and the University of Florida.

Dr. Inga Meadows is an Extension Plant Pathologist at NC State University, specializing in the management of diseases affecting vegetables and herbaceous ornamentals. Her work focuses on sustainable approaches to plant disease management, including biopesticides, cultural practices, and preventative strategies to control foliar and soilborne diseases. Dr. Meadows provides critical guidance to growers on managing common pathogens in crops like tomatoes and peppers, and she is actively involved in educational outreach through publications and workshops​.

Nan Sterman is a waterwise gardening expert and the host of A Growing Passion, a TV show focused on sustainable gardening practices. She is also the author of Hot Color, Dry Garden, a guide to creating vibrant, drought-tolerant landscapes. In addition to her writing and TV work, she designs low-water gardens and leads workshops to help gardeners conserve water while maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces.

Joseph Tychonievich is a well-known plant breeder and garden writer who specializes in simplifying plant breeding for home gardeners. He has authored multiple books, including Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener, where he explains how to cross-pollinate plants and select desirable traits to create unique varieties of vegetables and flowers. His work emphasizes that home gardeners can enjoy breeding plants for fun and creativity without the complex goals commercial breeders face.