Expertise
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Farmer Training
- Agricultural Business
- Alternative Enterprises
Education
- B.A. Environmental Studies, St. Mary's College of Maryland (2008)
- Certificate in Ecological Horticulture, University of California - Santa Cruz (2010)
- M.S. Agriculture, Food and Environment, Tufts University (2013)
Meredith Epstein joined the IAA faculty in July of 2013. She is a Senior Lecturer and Advisor in Sustainable Agriculture.
Meredith was raised in Montgomery County, MD and has a background in certified organic vegetable production. She started farming by way of working on food issues from an environmental behavior and policy perspective while getting her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
After working for many years at Even' Star Organic Farm in Lexington Park, MD, Meredith moved to California to study Ecological Horticulture at the UC-Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. From there, she went on to earn a Master of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environment from the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has worked as an organic gardening coach in Washington, DC and on numerous projects at the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project in Boston, MA including beginning farmer curriculum development and teaching their online Farm Business Planning Course. Meredith also worked on farmer education programming at Future Harvest - A Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, and is a proud leader of the UMD Community Learning Garden and member of the UMD Terp Farm team. She and her family own and operate a small farm in Burtonsville, MD.
Combining these experiences, Meredith approaches agriculture from nuts-and-bolts skill building to food systems analysis. She is most passionate about helping new farmers receive the training and support they need to create viable agricultural enterprises, gain respect as professionals, and advance sustainability in the field. She also loves cooking, running, photography, puzzles, and raising chickens.
