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Morgan Taggart
Ohio State University Extension

The Nominator: Emmy Levine, Wonder City Farm

How has the nominee implemented sustainable business practices in his or her business or organization?
For the past four years, Morgan has been instrumental in coordinating a market gardener training program. In this role, she has also been a key connecting link between market gardeners, land owners, civic leaders and other stake holders. Morgan has also been one of the coordinators/organizers of the Cleveland Food Policy Coalition. She also works on the state level to do this very important policy work. Her involvement with several working groups of the Cleveland Food Policy Coalition includes land use and food waste. An example that illustrates Morgan`s sustainable business practices is her work around public policy for urban agriculture. I recently attended a meeting for the City of Cleveland`s zoning board at which Morgan was speaking. I knew about the meeting because Morgan had sent out an email to urban growers and other friends of the local food movement. Engaging others and multiplying the number of people who speak up for a cause certainly seems like a sustainable way to move forward. At the meeting, Morgan spoke in a well-informed way to city officials about agricultural practices of raising chickens and bees. She was accompanied by an expert on bees. Morgan`s well-organized and engaging presentation was impressive. If the city moves forward on these issues (which they may have already done) it will be a big win for the city`s health and economy.

What are the triple bottom line benefits (people, planet, prosperity) of the nominee`s work?
Morgan`s work has triple bottom line benefits. people: Her work provides economic opportunities for urban growers. By encouraging urban growing, people who live and eat in the city will have improved access to fresh, local food. planet: Improving our local food system reduces the use of fossil food to transport food. Encouraging people to grow using sustainable practices is also a great benefit to the Earth and all of its inhabitants. prosperity: The healthier we are and the healthier our planet is, the more we will all prosper. (Health is wealth!) Providing economic opportunities to urban growers and helping to connect them to markets is a way of helping people to succeed financially.

How has the nominee inspired you to implement sustainable business practices?
Morgan leads by example! I am a graduate of the market gardener training program. Since then, my sister and I have gone on to start a farming business. Being part of the network created by Morgan and the training class has been extremely helpful. As a business, we definitely think about how we can be sustainable. Morgan has helped us to nurture our vision.

How can someone else translate the success of the nominee? Is the work of the nominee an example or model that others can follow?
Morgan is a person of action and consistency. I definitely think she leads by example.

How does the nominee actively participate in the sustainability community? How do they collaborate and share their knowledge with others?
As mentioned above, she is a leader in the Cleveland Food Policy Coalition. This organization is all about collaboration. Morgan excels at the sharing knowledge and information with others. She communicates in a clear way and is very good about keeping her network of people informed about how they can be involved.