100 Gardens

Our Mission: Provide exciting and engaged learning opportunities by implementing aquaponics and urban farming programs in schools, institutions and in communities of need.

Started as a rebuilding strategy for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 100 Gardens has evolved into a multifaceted educational program focused on aquaponics as a platform for experiential learning and a sustainable means of food production for the future.

To hear the full story of 100 Gardens listen to this informative interview on NPR's Charlotte Talks with Mike Collins.

For the most up to date news please follow our Facebook Page!

2017 Homegrown Tomato Festival - July 29th

An all-day tomato themed event where tomato lovers can try dozens of different backyard tomatoes, crown the region’s best tomato grower, drink tomato themed cocktails, enjoy live music and more! www.homegrowntomato.org

The festival will be emcee'd by Charlotte native and radio legend Ray Terry, host of About Your House on WFNZ 601 AM and 102.5 FM.

Craig LeHoullier to speak at the Homegrown Tomato Festival!
Craig LeHoullier, author of best seller 'Epic Tomatoes" and the leader of the Dwarf Tomato Project and the man who named the legendary Cherokee Purple" tomato will be the keynote speaker at the Homegrown Tomato Festival.

Check out Craig on Growing A Greener World.

Birdsong Brewing partners with 100 Gardens (March 2017)

“We grow edible freshwater fish like tilapia and catfish and then we send the water from those tanks into hydroponic systems that grow plants without soil,” Fleming said. “So the fish are fertilizing plants, and then the plants filter out the water and return clean water back to the fish. So you’re growing vegetables and fish and it doesn’t require any soil.”

What does this have to do with beer? Fleming and Sassman began to discuss having 100 Gardens grow the thyme used in Doin’ Thyme. It seemed a perfect partnership, since the brewery had wanted to start using locally-grown thyme in the beer.

Webb Street School students are learning to grow lettuce with the help of freshwater fish with the school’s new aquaponics system! (Feb 2017)

Webb St. School, a special needs school in Gastonia, NC has partnered with 100 Gardens to expand their highly productive in-ground gardens to a new aquaponics greenhouse! Read the full story here.

Sam Fleming of 100 Gardens (left) and Juli Metcalf of Pure Pizza (right)

Pure Pizza has teamed up with 100 Gardens to educate students on the art of sustainable living (September 2016)

“The kids are growing with a purpose,” Juli Metcalf said in a press release. “They are able to create economic value and it gives them the opportunity to know what they are learning is real and that it can be applied in a real way.” Read more...

Ron Morgan

Ron Morgan, Founder of 100 Gardens Has Passed (May 2016)

“He was a really inspiring guy, sort of Steve Jobs-like in his obsession with his work,” said Sam Fleming, vice-president of 100 Gardens. But unlike Jobs, Fleming said Morgan didn’t have sharp edges. “He really pushed people to take a step further than they knew they had in them, and he did it in the nicest way possible.”

Read entire article here

Charitable contributions can be sent to:
101 Gardens
200 E 36th Street
Charlotte, NC 28206

101 Gardens is an exempt organization as described in Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 81-0707631.
All or part of your gift may be tax deductible as a charitable
contribution. Please check with your tax advisor

Rows of collard greens and kale to be used by the cafeteria at Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center

How an Amazing Cafeteria Manager Won The USDA Practices Award For Child Nutrition working with At-Risk Youth in North Carolina (April 2016)

When Janice Wood began working as part of the culinary team at Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center in Concord, NC this past year, she figured her days would be spent prepping meals for the 100 students. In fact, she never would have guessed that in just a short year, she would earn USDA Best Practice Award for Child Nutrition, nor did she predict that the one acre vegetable garden and aquaponics system implemented by 100 Gardens would play such a significant role in her kitchen. Read more...

100 Gardens in the News - PBS (March 2016)

Thank you PBS Charlotte for spotlighting students having a great time learning using aquaponics at South Iredell High School in Troutman, NC!

Students enjoying their healthy seedlings

BLOG POST: Aquaponics and Farming Education Proving to be Huge Benefit to High School Students

On a normal day in Brandy Starnes’ fourth block class, you can expect to see dedicated students working on projects and completing daily tasks. You can also expect to see an advanced aquaponics system, a thriving greenhouse, pregnant goats, and a donkey named Ollie...Read more

Art Auction at The Elder Gallery (Photo Credit: Drea Photo Artistry)

Art Auction A Huge Success! (Jan 2016)

The December 17th Art auction to support Aquaponics Learning Labs proved to be a moving and productive event. With over 100 people participating in the auction and 150+ in attendance to support Ron Morgan and 100 Gardens the community was able to raise over $34,000 by purchasing Ron's amazing art! Thanks to everyone involved for your ongoing support! More details and images to come!

Students lead project to help remedy food issues in Charlotte, NC (Photo Credit: Drea Photo Artistry)

BLOG POST: Students Surmount Huge Odds to Build Aquaponics Garden

This greenhouse in Charlotte, NC looks ordinary from the outside. However, its interior hosts the very future of sustainable agriculture: a state-of-the-art aquaponics system. This cutting-edge community garden represents far more than advances in farming technology. In fact, 100 Garden’s eighth aquaponics system represents the culmination of Myers Park High School students’ dream that took root in the school community and grew into something incredible. This is the Mustang Project....Read more

Myers Park student explaining the aquaponics system to community members. Photo Credit: Drea Photo Artistry

Garden #8 Complete! The New Aquaponics System at Myers Park High School. (September 2015)

On September 11, 2015 the new aquaponics system at Myers Park High School was unveiled to the public. This system includes (4) 450 gallon fish tanks, a vortex filter, desgassing system and 224 square feet of floating raft growing channels. The system can produce up to 400 lbs of live fish per year and up to 200 servings of greens per week.

This project was truly unique in that it was conceived, funded and implemented by a group of students at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, NC. This aquaponics system is one part of "The Mustang Project", an initiative created by students at Myers Park to bring gardens and fresh food into the community and provide experiential learning opportunities for their fellow students. To learn more about the Mustang Project visit the website here.