ABOUT OUR GUESTS
Here at the Pawpaw Festival, we strive to bring family fun and entertainment, as well as providing educational opportunities for our community, and visitors. If you want to learn more about our wonderful, elusive yet native Pawpaw fruit, you’ve come to the right place. This year’s festival will include speakers such as our very own Todd McCree and author Michael Judd, who each have their own expertise. Read on for their stories…
Todd McCree
At this year’s Pawpaw Festival, we’re thrilled to welcome back Todd McCree of Great Escape Farms, who will be presenting on the fascinating world of pawpaws and other edible plants.
Todd is more than a gardener—he’s a visionary, dedicated to sustainable, regenerative practices that inspire and empower. As the owner of Great Escape Farms, he has transformed his nursery into an agritourism haven, where visitors don’t just explore—they leave energized, educated, and excited to cultivate their own green spaces. His mission? To spark joy, share knowledge, and build a more connected, earth-friendly future.
About Great Escape Farms: Nestled just outside Romney, WV, Great Escape Farms has been a family-run business since 2015, specializing in unique edible plants and serving as a showcase for Permaculture and regenerative agriculture. They propagate most of their plants onsite, offering varieties such as Elderberry, Pawpaw, Hardy Kiwi, Persimmon, and Honeyberry, among many others.
Committed to sustainability, the farm harvests rainwater for irrigation and integrates eco-friendly practices whenever possible. Beyond farming, they create educational YouTube videos on plant propagation, homesteading, and practical DIY projects—including how to set up a rainwater harvesting system.
Join Todd at the festival as he shares his expertise, passion, and insights into the hidden gems of edible plants!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greatescapefarms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreatEscapeFarms
Michael Judd
For the 2025 Pawpaw Festival, we’re honored to welcome Michael Judd, a leading expert in agro-ecology and permaculture design with over two decades of experience across the Americas. His work has transformed landscapes, increased local food security, and strengthened community health in both tropical and temperate regions.
Michael is the founder of Ecologia Edible & Ecological Landscape Design and Project Bona Fide, an international nonprofit advancing agro-ecology research. He also co-founded SilvoCulture, a Maryland-based initiative aiming to plant 1 million nut trees in the Mid-Atlantic region. His passion for regenerative practices shines through his books, including Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist and For the Love of Pawpaws.
His expertise has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, and BBC, and he has spoken at prestigious institutions such as the U.S. Botanical Garden, Smithsonian, and Monticello.
Michael and his family reside in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Frederick, Maryland, where they continue to cultivate and innovate for a more sustainable future.
Join us at the festival to hear firsthand from Michael Judd as he shares his insights on permaculture, pawpaws, and the power of sustainable landscapes!