Josef Gorres teaches undergraduate soil science courses aiming to provide students with a survey of soil science that includes current issues to give them an appreciation of the role of soils in the environment, fundamental knowledge about soils, and a working knowledge of professional materials.

Ernesto Mendez develops and applies interdisciplinary approaches that analyze the interactions among agriculture, people's livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. He works in both temperate rural landscapes such as Vermont and in the tropics, notably Central America. This work aims to integrate the natural and social science concepts and methods. He draws from the fields of agroecology, agroforestry and landscape ecology, as well as development geography, political ecology and rural sociology. Over a cup of coffee, he can talk about the long trail from bean to brew and how to make that trail sustainable.

Keith Morris owner, designer of Prospect Rock Permaculture a design and education center in Johnson, Vermont. He has been a professional whole-systems designer/builder since 2,000. He also teaches at Yestermorrow Design Build School and several regional colleges. This guy grows rice in a kiddie pool and keeps bees via the top-bar method – he opens the hives without wearing netting. Find out what is a buartnut.

Leonard Perry is widely known for his advice to home gardeners, professionals and the horticulture industry as an Extension professor. Among his research topics: comparing methods of greenhouse production and forcing of perennials; studying aspects growing perennials in containers versus in the field; understanding hardiness and over wintering practices for a range of species; and measuring disease resistance of several genera. In 2012 he published "The Fruit Gardener's Bible" co-authored with Lewis Hill. After judging flowers at the Champlain Valley Fair ,he usually heads for the booth with the Italian sausage sandwiches.