As a young boy growing up in Liberia West Africa, Mannah Gbeh says agriculture was the way of life. His grandfather grew rubber, cassava and rice, and as a young boy Mannah was always around plants. All that beauty was lost during a civil war that started in the late 80’s in Liberia and forced his family to take refuge at a camp in Ghana, West Africa. On their share of land at the camp, his mother grew cassava, peppers and a variety of spices that made their rations of rice and beans taste much better. From the refugee camp, they came to the United States where, upon graduating high school, Mannah joined the U.S. Navy. In 2008, Mannah was Honorably Discharged from the Navy after serving 8 years and doing 3 tours in the Middle East. In 2010, Mannah started the Nursery Technology program at Cuyamaca College and studied Nursery Technology while working as the student Manager for the Cuyamaca College Nursery. Since Cuyamaca, his professional horticulture experience includes serving as Farm Manager for Wild Willow Farm and Education Center, Native Plant Nursery Manager for Helix Environmental, and Facilities and Horticulture Manager at the Water Conservation Garden. In his spare time, Mannah helped found and operate a grassroots nonprofit Charity World, to help provide food, clothing, shelter, health and education services to individuals in need. Currently Mannah is the Senior Horticulturist for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Institute for Conservation Research.