Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Alvina Maynard describes how farming gives a person purpose. Alvina raises alpacas, as the owner of River Hill Ranch in Richmond, Kentucky.

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, we learn about Kelly Carlisle's journey, from her youth in a crime ridden neighborhood, to the Navy, and now farming. Kelly explains how farming and gardening made her a better person. She has founded Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project, a non-profit urban farm that focuses on serving at-risk youth from kindergarten to 8th grade.

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Lidia Bastianich tries whisky shots from Calvin Riggleman's distillery. Riggleman owns an 80-acre expanse, and grows all kinds of fruits and vegetables. He manages a farm stand, travels to farmer’s markets, and makes his own jams, jellies and sauces, as well as several kinds of local moonshine.

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, pig farmers, Jon and Tara Darling make a Porchetta Roll with Lidia. They have dinner outside with family and friends. Jon and Tara farm lambs and hybrid pigs, but also create and serve farm-to-table dinners for local friends and veterans.

Nate Looney and Edgar Hercila work on a farm that they started in the middle of the city. It uses hydroponics to grow microgreens. See how the process works, in this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes.

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Matt Smiley discusses how farming can help veterans coming home, the similarities between farming and soldiering, and why farming is so important to him.

At a celebratory dinner, Lidia gives a moving toast to the Homegrown Heroes.

In this clip from Lidia Celebrates America: Homegrown Heroes, Mark and Denise Beyers make a turkey, and then fresh, homemade ricotta with Lidia. Mark and Denise have a 15-acre ranch where they farm maple trees for syrup, raise turkeys and chickens, and sell both eggs and honey with the help of their growing family.