Everyday Hero: Gloria Varney

Superhero takes on supermarkets

It is obvious that Gloria is a canny businesswoman, an entrepreneur extraordinaire—one mother of a multi-tasker. But more than this, she is a woman on a mission. And that's where she really earns her superhero stripes.

A tireless and outspoken supporter of sustainable farming, Gloria is determined to educate the public about the benefits of buying food that is grown locally and organically. Enjoying fresh, wholesome food from family farms that is produced without synthetic chemicals is good. Settling for bland, orange tomatoes in winter, and waxy apples the size of our heads is bad. Who can argue?

By reaching out and sharing her hard-won wisdom, by mentoring young women who are interested in agriculture, by reviving and enlivening the lost arts perfected by countless farm women past, Gloria is showing us another way to live and nurture our families today.

I left Turner, Maine for the airport that day with new resolve: to learn more about how to be a faithful steward of the earth, to be a staunch supporter of organic growers in my community, to be a mother who includes her children in her work world whenever possible.

But I left that day with something even more tangible: a pound of the best butter my family has ever slathered on a slice of toast, compliments of an earthbound superhero in sneakers.