Robin Tunnicliffe is passionate about locally grown food, sustainability and food security on the Saanich Peninsula. Compelled by her passion, she returned to school and studied an interdisciplinary program that combined sociology, women's studies and business. She graduated in June 2011 with a master's degree.

"I chose to go back to school so that I could be a more effective and well-versed activist and advocate for the cause of local food security and farming," says Tunnicliffe.

Her thesis, "How do (or can) farmers make it work on the Saanich Peninsula?" explores many of the challenges inherent in growing food locally. Tunnicliffe discovered that consumers don't ask enough questions at the grocery store, such as "How much energy and water did it take to get this product to the grocery store?" or "Did the production practices harm the soil, the water table, insect life?" 

Tunnicliffe explains bargain hunters don't look beyond the price tag and think about what it really costs to produce food. A lack in consumer food knowledge is one of the greatest challenges for organic farmers trying to re-create a sustainable food network.

Read more of Robin's story.