Successful Women in Agriculture - Marguerite Green
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In this episode of ATTRA's 'Voices from the Field,' host Felicia Bell interviews Marguerite Green, a lifelong advocate for sustainable agriculture in Louisiana. Marguerite shares her transformative journey from a disinterested preteen in New Orleans to a passionate farmer and policy leader, sparked by Hurricane Katrina and her experience with FEMA food. Her path through LSU's organic gardening program, community garden initiatives, and leadership roles—from director of Press Street Gardens to statewide director of the Louisiana Food Policy Council—reveals a deep commitment to food sovereignty, community ownership, and intergenerational access to farming. She reflects on how the narrative around agriculture has shifted from 'no one wants to farm' to 'how do we get resources to those who do,' highlighting a surge in youth and elder interest in farming. Marguerite emphasizes the power of agriculture as a unifying force across differences and calls for sustained policy support to ensure that the current attention on food systems translates into real, lasting change for farmers, especially in the Gulf South.
The agricultural narrative has shifted from 'no one wants to farm' to 'how do we support those who do?'
Personal transformation often begins with crisis—Marguerite’s path was ignited by Hurricane Katrina and the inadequacy of emergency food.
Hands-on farming reconnects people to joy and purpose, especially when administrative work dominates.
Community-based food systems thrive on collaboration, not competition, especially in under-resourced regions.
Policy must match public attention to ensure farmers are celebrated and compensated, not just praised.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Shift in Agricultural Narratives
“The thing that we thought was the problem was no one wanted to. And now it's not to say that it's hunky dory, but now the problem is how do we get them the resources, the accessibility to do it? And that to me represents a huge ground shift.”
From Disinterest to Awakening: Marguerite's Journey
“I was like, oh, so when the grocery store shut down, this is what we get. This is what I have available to me when the grocery store shut down.”
Building Community Through Gardens and Farming
Marguerite details her early work founding the South Garden Project, leading youth farming programs, and becoming director of Press Street Gardens, emphasizing education, food sovereignty, and youth empowerment.
From Farming to Policy: A Leadership Evolution
“I'm really getting settled here and deciding if it's like deciding if this is where I'm of best use... I think my ultimate goal would be someday slowing down and accessing those resources and getting to be a thing that I dreamed of day one, which is just a lady farming out in the field herself.”
The Future of Agriculture: Access, Equity, and Sustainability
“Can we actually give them the attention, the love, the support that they deserve to keep doing that instead of just giving lip service?”
“Can we actually give them the attention, the love, the support that they deserve to keep doing that instead of just giving lip service?”
“The thing that we thought was the problem was no one wanted to. And now it's not to say that it's hunky dory, but now the problem is how do we get them the resources, the accessibility to do it? And that to me represents a huge ground shift.”
“We're on a tightrope: can we grab this moment for the people who have been doing the work or is it going to just become a flash in the pan?”
Host
Guest
Marguerite Green
person
Felicia Bell
person
New Orleans
place
National Center for Appropriate Technology
organization
Hurricane Katrina
other
Sprout
organization
Gulf South
place
LSU
organization
Louisiana Food Policy Council
organization
Baton Rouge
place
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