The TIGUrS garden will kick off its Guests in the Garden speaker series at the University of Memphis’ Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Wednesday at 12 p.m.
The series will host a different speaker every Wednesday for four consecutive weeks, and each speaker will address a unique topic ranging from buffalo conservation to bat habitat, and much more.
TIGUrS, which is an acronym for Tigers Initiative for Gardens in Urban Settings, will begin the series with Antonio Raciti, an assistant professor with the U of M’s department of city and regional planning.
Raciti will give a speech titled, “Engaging Communities in Planning,” which will emphasize projects that include an approach that aims to get the community involved.
He will also share some of the projects the U of M’s department of city and regional planning has accomplished in the city as well as current planning work. The following Wednesday, Jen Andrews will give a speech titled, “Shelby Farms Park – Making of a 21st Century Park,” in which she will speak about how Shelby Farms’ past, present and future are coming together to make it the next great park of our time. Andrews is the development/ communications director for Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.
Each of the last two events will focus primarily on healthy food, kicking off with a speech by Nick Harmeier, who is a founder of a restaurant that aims to match the convenience of fast food with the nutritional value of healthy food.
Harmeier’s speech, titled, “The Creation of Ultimate Foods – A Personal Story,” will chronicle his life leading up to his decision to open the restaurant. The restaurant owner will also discuss his motives for founding Ultimate Foods, like his intention to break the barriers to healthy eating by making it affordable, easy and delicious.
Guests in the Garden will wrap on Wednesday, April 13 with a speech from prevention specialist Kate Basar and wellness coordinator Faith Edison.
The pair will discuss an alternative to fruits and vegetables, known as Juice Plus+. The Juice Plus+ franchisees will also discuss staying healthy with very little time to spare and making simple changes that could lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Along with healthy lifestyle tips, there will also be free recipes and samples.
Students’ green fees annually fund the TIGUrS urban garden, and its mission is to share the benefits and techniques that make for a healthy and beautiful green space experience with not just students, but with volunteers and campus staff as well.
For more information, contact Barrett Patel at bspatel1@memphis. edu, or call (901) 489- 1646.
