Margie Loo, Belfast, Prince Edward Island

Margie Loo is a female food hero because of her approach to farming. As a producer of organic vegetables, herbs and fruit, her farming is based on ecological values that she shares at the Charlottetown Farmer's Market; every bag of lettuce she sells is a reminder that it's possible to produce food in ways that care for the earth.  Margie’s work is grounded in the principles of food sovereignty, which may at least in part derive from her work with Project Accompaniment in Guatemala in the early 1990’s.  Her choice to become a certified organic farmer is not just about avoiding chemicals; it's about preserving the quality of the land and soil and ensuring it is available to provide food for future generations.  Margie has shown how possible it is to farm on a small area of land, and minimize one's ecological footprint.  In an age when large-scale farming is depleting soil, polluting water and changing landscapes forever, Margie's farm shines as an example of what's possible; adequate quantities of good quality food,  produced in ways which enhance biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems.