Loving Spoonful
Ayla grew up in the suburbs, but her parents cultivated a love of the outdoors from a very early age with frequent camping trips across the country. She graduated from Queen's in 2011 with a B. Sc (Honours) in Biology. She had not considered the possibility of farming as a career
After graduating, she lived in downtown Toronto for two years working a desk job. She saved and traveled for almost a year, including a four-month cycling trip in Southeast Asia. Upon return, the city felt stifling and she couldn’t stand the thought of going back to a desk job. Whilst unemployed and trying to find a job she reflected on her future and what she really wanted to do with her life. She had become very interested in food system issues, having studied ecology and food security. She contacted a farmer she had met a few years earlier on a whim. He offered her an internship position, and she immediately accepted. She didn’t know where it would lead her but knew that there was no way she would ever regret the experience.
Now Ayla is a first-generation farmer and community organizer and since 2013 has been working on local organic farms, learning regenerative production methods for vegetables, livestock, cereal grains and dairy. Since 2015, Ayla has been a board member of the National Farmers Union, and has been involved with organizing young farmers and farmworkers nationally and internationally, advocating for the transition to agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice. Ayla also represents the NFU in the global peasant movement La Via Campesina. She brings her passion for food and farming to Loving Spoonful and the Kingston community!
Loving Spoonful connects people with good food across Kingston & Area.
Working toward a healthier, more connected community, they provide programs and champion policies affecting food security, poverty, social inclusion, and community health.
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