FEEDING OUR COMMUNITIES

The organic agriculture movement in B.C. emerged during the post-war era in response to some of the human, animal and environmental problems inherent to industrial agriculture and the global agri-food system. The thirteen B.C. women and men organic growers interviewed for this study, farm in the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan regions on small vegetable/fruit farms with most participants using direct marketing techniques to sell their products. The women growers in the study are defined as feminist environmentalists because they challenge traditional gender roles for farm women and reject conventional methods of farming. Women were central in the creation of organic organizations within the original movement and continue to provide leadership in the industry. Women are accomplished organic business-persons and many are renowned for their products and services. Nonetheless, these women face obstacles as women and organic farmers which are primarily political and economic rather than technical to organic growing.