100 Gardens, a Charlotte, NC nonprofit, builds aquaponics gardens in schools and communities. The goal is in the name: 100 gardens, each teaching STEM, nutrition and environmental stewardship.
It began with Ron Morgan, a Charlotte architect who wanted to help Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. He and Sam Fleming built a prototype system in Morgan’s backyard in 2011, and the organization was founded in 2012. Later the gardens spread to schools and correctional facilities.
In aquaponics, fish produce waste that feeds plants, and the plants filter the water for the fish. The organization says the method can cut water use by up to 90%, reduce pesticides and let growers produce food year-round in any climate. In Axios Charlotte’s 2016 report, students at Garinger High School tended tilapia, lettuce and kale, and cooked the produce into meals for Friendship Trays.
Today the programs include K-12 schools, corrections, and community projects, with partners such as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Gaston County Schools, Kannapolis City Schools and Envision Charlotte. Fleming serves as executive director. Anyone can donate through the site or ask about getting their own garden.
If you’ve ever wondered where lettuce and tilapia meet a classroom, this is it.
