It is with great pleasure that I introduce our three Hub Coordinators for the 2009 season. (Drumroll, please!)

Laurel – Parkdale-High Park Hub Coordinator
Having spent numerous seasons as an outdoor educator and whitewater canoe guide in the blissful boreal forests of northern Ontario, Laurel was suddenly dragged into the Big City five years ago, kicking and screaming. She landed in the amazing neighbourhood of Parkdale High Park, and quickly found the vibrancy of the people, their advocacy and community-building (along with the hopeful pockets of greenery) to be intoxicatingly grounding. Among other things, she remains a graduate student, is a freelance writer, sits on the Steering Committee for the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation, and spends an inordinate time with her dog, Banjo.

Carlton – Ward 21 Hub Coordinator
I am a Crop / Food Safety Specialist and have always been involved in
food from my high school years, from food production to food safety. I
earned my first degree in Agronomy and a master’s degree Agriculture Diversification specializing in fruits and vegetables production. I have also gained significant experience during my employment with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and have worked in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Canada with farmers from diverse background. This experience has provided me with fluency in Spanish and basic knowledge of French.

Marnie – East York Hub Coordinator
Since Laura already so kindly introduced me last September, I’m just  going to quickly say:  concerning food and sustainability, someone recently commented that the only real question that anyone has at the end of the day is this: “Is there any food and do I get some?” I feel so privileged and excited to help Not Far From The Tree answer that question in such a positive, community building way.