Staff Team

Melanie has had a long and adventurous career in the not for profit sector. Armed with a background in Social Services, Gerontology and Volunteer Resource Management, Melanie has managed offices, been deployed to respond to natural disasters in Canada and the United States, worked alongside President Carter in New Orleans and Thailand and worked with and led teams to Tajikistan, Guatemala, Mozambique and Chile. An adoptive mom of two children, Melanie knows first-hand the impact good food has on health, behaviour and education and is passionate about using her skills to increase access to real food in her community.

Born and raised in Kingston, Michelle’s love for the city grows every day. She has always believed in food as a powerful connector. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics, and a Master of Arts in Human Kinetics. She is currently completing the Trauma Certificate Program through the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfred Laurier University. For the last 12 years Michelle has worked with Indigenous communities in the field of health and wellbeing. Her experiences in both front-line work and program management have taught Michelle the importance of connection, community and collaboration. In her spare time, you can find her spending time outdoors, either cycling, skiing, hiking or playing hockey. She also loves to find treasures at flea markets, test out new recipes, and spend time with her family and friends.

Ayla is a first-generation farmer and community organizer. She graduated from Queen's in 2011 with a B. Sc (Honours) in Biology, 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 is excited to bring her passion for food and farming to Loving Spoonful and the Kingston community! 

Marie is an agroecological food enthusiast who has been running the Community Harvest Gardens since 2020. She started her farming journey in 2009 and has worked at several organic vegetable farms in the Kingston area including Root Radical CSA and Patchwork Gardens. In 2019, Marie completed a Master’s of Environmental Studies which focused on farm-based education with children and its ties to food sovereignty. With deep roots in the farming community, 3 years on the board of the local National Farmers Union, and more than a decade of involvement in social and environmental justice initiatives, Marie is passionate about building community and struggling toward food sovereignty. Outside of work, she is a proud parent, voracious reader, banjolele player, and DIY-er.

Fiona is a student at Queen's University currently completing her BA in Global Development with specific interests in food sovereignty, Indigenous studies, and environmental sustainability. She took on this role in hopes of exploring these topics more through hands-on work and getting more involved in her community. While she has spent some time working in community gardens already, she very much looks forward to working one on one with local partners, farmers, and volunteers to create a network of meaningful connections through Loving Spoonful. When she can find some time to spare, Fiona loves to bake, spend time outdoors with family and friends, and explore the world around her. 

Kathleen is a farmer and herbalist originally from the Kingston area. She studied Literature while also taking courses in Environmental Studies and discovered a passion for the intersections of ecology, food, and social justice. She started her farming journey in 2016, working on animal and vegetable farms across Ontario including several seasons with Root Radical CSA in Kingston. After studies in herbal medicine, she co-founded Redwing Herb Farm, a local farm on Howe Island growing a variety of medicinal herbs and offering herbal education. She is excited to dive into more learning and teaching as this year's Community Training Farm Coordinator! Outside of work, Kathleen likes to spend time walking the woods, making music, and reading.

Sophia comes to Loving Spoonful with a background in conventional and organic farming, having grown up on a family farm just outside of Kingston. Her work at Kitchen Table Seed House, a local seed producing operation on Wolfe Island, led her to complete her undergraduate honours thesis at Dalhousie University on the important role of small-scale commercial seed producers in Ontario. Sophia is particularly interested in bridging the (perceived) gap between conventional and organic farming and looks forward to working with local farmers and community members in her role as Loving Spoonful’s Farm Education & Communications Facilitator.

While working as a freelance artist and animator, Adrienne fell in love with farming and shifted her focus and creative energy to growing vegetables and community. She first connected with Loving Spoonful as a farmer participating in the Gleaning program in 2020. After a few seasons of co-running a small vegetable farm, she's excited to be joining the team as the new Farmers Market & Gleaning Coordinator and continuing to connect and build relationships with farmers in the community. In her free time, Adrienne can be found petting dogs, dipping her toes in the water, or exploring the backcountry.

Jean has always had a love for food which led her to complete a Bachelors in Nutritional Sciences. She has worked with a diverse population to teach them about the role of nutrition and health. Jean has always wanted to learn more about agriculture and has taken on that opportunity to work in a more hands-on job as the Community Harvest Facilitator. On days off, Jean enjoys hiking, acro yoga, cooking and eating good food.

Denzil was born and raised in Kingston. He has a strong passion for quality, affordable food and food access for all. In 2018 Denzil graduated with honours from Niagara College's Greenhouse technician program. In the following year, he finished a post-graduate program in commercial cannabis production, also at NC. In 2018 Denzil started Rosebud consulting; a horticulture and education based consultation company. Denzil is an avid home gardener, educator, and public speaker, focussing on teaching basic horticultural practices for home growers. In his time in the horticultural/agricultural field, Denzil has worked as a municipal horticulturalist for the City of Kingston, as a greenhouse cannabis grower, and as a gourmet mushroom farmer. As of May 2023, Denzil is thrilled to be working with Loving Spoonful as Community Harvest Assistant.

​Tibratā is a Red Seal Certified Chef with over 35 years of professional cooking, 15 years as a culinary educator, 15 years of farming and 8 years of special event programming experience. Her outlook on sustainable food systems is rooted in her training and perspectives as a Biogeographer and as an Applied Food Researcher. As a professional chef in Kingston, she has been active in the local food movement for over 20 years.  In the fall of 2017, Tibratā made a life-long commitment and is training to become a Sacred Fire Keeper and as a Sacred Gardener.  Tibratā’s life work revolves around food in one way or another as a means of offering love and opportunities for connection.  Tibratā joined Loving Spoonful in May 2019 and enjoys coordinating Community Kitchens.

As an avid home cook, Simon sought to develop his interest in food through working in various positions in the restaurant industry. Being immersed in an environment full of new flavours and ingredients, as well as having access to farmers' markets, butcher shops, community-oriented grocers, and local food security initiatives proved to be an invaluable learning opportunity. Acknowledging the joy and confidence that cooking has brought him throughout the years, he knows that a strong relationship with food can play a pivotal role in enriching one’s life. When he’s not in the kitchen Simon enjoys spending time cycling, camping, and digging for records.

Caitlin comes to Loving Spoonful along a circuitous route of working on organic farms, foraging, and canning, fueled by a life-long passion for cooking, food, and food systems.

With a background in energy conservation and sustainability, she looks forward to combining her passion and experience and working towards a more sustainable, food-secure future.

She loves spending time with family and friends, getting outside whenever possible, and is an avid knitter and seamstress.

Anne Woodall started volunteering with Loving Spoonful in 2016. Her first task as a super-star volunteer was to assist with the Fund Development Committee. Through this volunteer position, Anne learned so much about the different aspects of fundraising and came to appreciate the essential work of Loving Spoonful. In 2017, when Anne retired, she took on the role of Donor Liaison Volunteer. This past March, Anne joined the Loving Spoonful staff team as Administrative Assistant, and she loves working with this team!

Leslie was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Growing up in an agricultural city, she quickly developed an appreciation and passion for local food and healthy eating. Her love of food and health promotion led her to study nutrition at the University of Manitoba. She completed both a Bachelor and and Master of Science in Human Nutritional Sciences, with her Master’s focused on Agri-Food research and the role of nutrition in disease management and prevention. Leslie has years of experience teaching diverse groups of people about the benefits of good food and healthy lifestyles. After moving to Kingston, Leslie joined Loving Spoonful in 2018 where she used her experience to promote food literacy and community connections. After taking time off to start a family, she is thrilled to be back as the GROW Coordinator with the GROW Project, working to expand the program and make it a more accessible resource for students and educators.

Leslie will be on maternity leave until September 2023.

Please contact Emily Duncan with any inquires.

Emily is a teacher and recent B.Ed. graduate from Queen's University with a concentration in Teaching Outside of the Classroom. You may know her from the Roots Down Organic Farm stall at the Memorial Centre Market! She grew up in the hamlet of Myrtle, Ontario, spending her days shoeless in the garden with her mother, playing in corn fields, and eating good local and organic food. Years later, after moving away to pursue Concurrent Education and traveling throughout her degree, she turned to working at local farms as a means of supporting herself and an opportunity to ground and connect with the local land and community. She is so excited for the opportunity to join the Loving Spoonful community as GROW Educator and to empower learners to build strong communities surrounded by good food.

In February 2022, Gail joined the team at Loving Spoonful as Community Outreach Coordinator. Gail is a photographer, journalist, video producer, and digital marketer. She has been immersed in the Kingston culture for the past 8 years telling stories about local people, events, and organizations. Gail is especially passionate about what goes on behind the scenes and has worked closely with various organizations and community groups to help spread the word of their achievements. Having participated in many Loving Spoonful events in the past, Gail is excited to be a part of the team. As Outreach Coordinator she will enlighten and inform the community and spread the word on the amazing work that they do. On her days off, Gail enjoys exploring small towns and rural communities throughout Ontario, hiking and spending time with her three children.