Marguerite Charbonnet Green, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up immersed in the city's live oaks and the pine-forested swamps of the North Shore. From a young age, Margee was drawn to nature and the environment, although she initially resisted helping with her mother’s tomato garden. Hurricane Katrina, however, brought the importance of food sovereignty to her door. In 2006, Margee attended Louisiana State University, where she majored in agriculture with a focus on vegetable production. Her early work in field production evolved into a commitment to community gardening, and she co-founded a network of neighborhood-run gardens at mosques and churches in Baton Rouge.
After graduating, Margee returned to New Orleans, which was still in recovery, and has since led various school gardens, community farms, and her own farm. She has dedicated the past decade to integrating agroecological principles with the fight against the climate crisis, which is profoundly impacting her community. Since 2017, Margee has served as the director of SPROUT, a farmer support organization. In 2019, she became the first woman to run for the statewide office of Agriculture Commissioner, advocating for better support for Farmers of Color and food-producing farmers, addressing climate change, and legalizing cannabis to expunge non-violent drug-related offenses. She earned second place against an 18-year incumbent and received a quarter of a million votes.
In 2024, Margee co-organized the Louisiana Farmer’s Climate Convening, which brought together nearly 200 farmers from across the state to discuss the climate crisis and foster community. She is also the proud mother of a daughter named River, inspired by the mighty Mississippi.