Greg Peterson

Greg Peterson is a writer, teacher and lecturer and holds a master's degree in urban and environmental planning. For the past 30 years sustainability has played a key role in how he has pursued his education and planted his gardens. In 2001 Greg created a new concept called the Urban Farm, a real-world environmental showcase home in the heart of Phoenix. The Urban Farm offers classes, lectures and tours throughout the year. Greg is a primary writer and host for the new television show Smart Spaces: Inside & Out. For information on living a green lifestyle and to receive a weekly green living tip, visit his website at www.YourGuideToGreen.com.

Sharon B. Salomon, MS, RD

Sharon Salomon has discovered that eating and writing about eating are the most fulfilling endeavors she has tried. This realization comes after experiences in teaching at a culinary arts school, working as a registered dietitian, selling real estate, teaching English as a Second Language in elementary school, helping restaurants with marketing, working in a professional kitchen, joking around about food and nutrition on early morning news television and trying out her organizational and customer service skills in an office. She believes that her past careers and academic accomplishments have prepared her to be a competent eater with adequate writing skills. Sharon refers to herself as an “almost” expert eater because there are still too many foods she has not tried. “So many foods, so little time”, best describes her attitude about eating. Sharon is a Registered Dietitian with a Masters Degree in Nutrition. Sharon has culinary certificates from La Varenne in France and Greystone in Napa as well as hundreds of hours of watching the best chefs prepare food at cooking demos. Sharon and a colleague have written a manual to train dietitians to present cooking demos to the public, Cooking Show and Tell for Dietitians. One of Sharon’s goals is to help dietitians and other nutrition professionals understand how taste and flavor affect the public’s perception of healthy food. Sharon’s previous publications have appeared in newspapers, magazines and web site. She is a contributor to the recently published The New American Plate, as well as a regular chapter contributor to On Cooking and On Baking.

Josh Schachter

Josh Schachter works as a freelance photographer, visual storytelling teacher and consultant in Tucson. His images (www.joshphotos.com) have been published internationally in books, magazines, newspapers, and annual reports in publications ranging from the New York Times to the Navajo Times. Josh is the founder of the photography and digital storytelling programs at the Tucson-based nonprofit, Voices Inc., where he currently works as a guest artist on the San Xavier Reservation.

Gwen Ashley Walters

"It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it," is a phrase author Gwen Ashley Walters often hears when describing her niche, resort cookbooks.

A professionally trained chef and Certified Culinary Professional, Gwen has written three award-winning cookbook/travel guides, covering western guest ranches, famous ski lodges, and top U.S. golf resorts. When she's not traveling to country's best resorts, she's teaching cooking classes to home cooks in the Valley and across the country. She writes a wine column for Chandler Life magazine, and a monthly food column for her website, Pen & Fork (www.penandfork.com). Gwen holds a Master of Education degree, graduated with honors from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, and cooked at the renowned Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona.

Eliot is a "foodie". He grew up in Chicago and was exposed to a variety of fine dining from an Italian Beef sandwich to white truffle risotto. His love of food has taken him round the globe to many Michelin-starred restaurants. He is the specialist for the Southwest Forum of the eGullet Society for Culinary Arts and Letters and is currently working on opening a restaurant in the Phoenix area.