Our speakers are all working toward changing the concept of locally grown food. Find out how to grow and sell food from your own backyard, and learn how one neighbourhood in London is growing food together.
Guest Speakers:
Becky Ellis is the owner/operator of Entangled Roots, a small-scale farm and beekeeping operation. She grew up on a small family ‘livestock’ farm in Southwestern Ontario. She developed an interest in urban agriculture in early adulthood which led her in a variety of directions including graduate studies, permaculture work, community advocacy, and beekeeping. She has an M.A in Anthropology (2010) and a PhD in Geography (2021) from Western University. Her academic work focuses on community gardening, urban commoning, urban beekeeping and pollinator gardening. She received her Permaculture Design Certificate from Earth Activist Training in 2010. In addition to farming and beekeeping, Becky enjoys giving community workshops and presentations on beekeeping, pollinator gardening, permaculture, and more.
Jessica Cordes is currently the Sustainability Engagement Coordinator at Western University where she focuses on building a culture of sustainability on campus. Her undergraduate degree is in Sociology, and she recently completed her Masters of Environment and Sustainability. As Chair of the Middlesex London Food Policy Council (MLFC), she is continually learning about the local food system and ways we can strengthen community food security. She has grown her own backyard garden for the last 4 years, and aims to continue transitioning grass into food and native plants in support of a healthy and sustainable urban ecosystem.
Christine Mettler is on the Steering Committee of the Petersville Community Garden (PCG) – the first and only volunteer-run community garden in London. PCG was founded in 2019, and 2022 will be its third gardening season. Christine really isn’t that good of a gardener, but she’s probably been getting better the more she does it!