The FARM Institute is a teaching farm that educates and engages children and adults in sustainable agriculture through the operations of a diverse working farm. Below are the on-site people who are keeping this passion alive today:
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Year-Round Staff |
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Matthew Goldfarb,
Executive Director
After traveling from the plains of Iowa to Martha’s Vineyard
... I am thrilled to smell the salt air and be part of The FARM
Institute’s community. [more] |
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Rob
Goldfarb,
Development Director
Being part of the sea, sailing the Caribbean I used to be called, “Rob the Noble Pirate”. But now that I joined The FARM Institute in the fall of 2005 as the Camp and Events Director, you can now call me “Rob the Noble Sheep”. [more] |
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Melinda
Rabbitt DeFeo, Enrichment Director
I joined The Farm Institute in September 2005. As the education program manager I hope to build meaningful education programs for children and adults. [more] |
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Chrissy
Kinsman, Business Manager
I joined The FARM Institute in the fall of 2005, and
quickly realized that it is an ideal place to work. The Farm
allows me to work in a place where my beliefs about sustainability
and organic life are supported.... [more]
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Wesley
Wood, Lead Farm Hand
I was delighted to join The FARM
Institute team in February of 2006. I was exposed
to cranberry farming as a child and remembering
all the fun I had back then makes me look forward
to all the fun to come. [more] |
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Arthur Hardy-Doubleday, Development Manager
I grew up on the Vineyard and graduated from Trinity College. I have a passion for empowering communities, which I was able to put into practice as a community organizer in Hartford's Sheldon/Charter Oak Neighborhood. [more] |
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Triva
Emery,
Summer Program Director
I’m a mom, wife, teacher, goof and life-long
learner; a gal with many different experiences from corporate
Brand Marketing and Event Planning to teaching early education
through grade 5. [more] |
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| Seasonal
Staff |
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Kristin
MacDonald, WISP Manager
I am arriving here at the FARM Institute
after spending the previous six seasons on organic
and biodynamic farms in Vermont, Hawaii, and northern
New Mexico. [more] |
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Mary
Baker,
Farmer/Teacher
I am happy to introduce myself as
part the FARM Institute staff. I began at the FARM
as a volunteer two years ago and quickly became enamored
with the place. Between the friendly staff, the variety
of animals and this special piece of property next
to South Beach, I couldn’t think of another
place I would rather spend my time. [more] |
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Laura
Cottingham,
Farmer/Teacher
After graduating in May from Colorado
College with degrees in English and Environmental
Studies, I am seriously looking forward to escaping
the classroom and getting my hands dirty on Martha’s
Vineyard! [more] |
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Kristin
Depucchio,
Farmer/Teacher
Hello to all the farmers out there
or the people who are curious as to who I am and
what the Farm Institute does! I am one of the lucky
ten teacher/farmers who get to work with your children
and help them to appreciate animals, plants, and
agriculture in general while having LOTS OF FUN! [more] |
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Emily
Duncker,
Farmer/Teacher
I come to The Farm Institute as
a graduate of Fordham University’s history
program. I’ve been living and learning in
New York City for four years, and grown a tremendous
basil plant, but I have many unanswered questions. [more] |
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Sally
Elliot, Farmer/Teacher
Hi! My name is Sally Elliott and I will be
working as a teacher/farmer at The FARM Institute this summer.
I just graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in
Environmental Studies. [more] |
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Laura
Hahn,
Farmer/Teacher
Laura Hahn is a junior Natural History
and Interpretation student at SUNY College of Environmental
Science and Forestry(ESF) in Syracuse, NY and has
been involved with the ESF Outreach offices since
September of 2006. [more] |
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Sara
Hoffman,
Farmer/Teacher
I am so happy to be working at The Farm
Institute this summer! Teacher/Farmer Jeremy and I moved
to the island from Maine last year, and we are excited
to start a new chapter of our lives here. [more] |
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Hannah Hudson,
Farmer/Teacher
Names are an important part of the human culture because names carry history and meaning. Just as plants and places have names that describe their characteristics, our names tell about us as well. At birth I was given two middle names which mean, "Captivating" and, "Great delight or happiness". [more] |
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Sam
Kanson-Benanav, Farmer/Teacher
I could not be more excited to spend my summer
on the farm! Originally from the tundra of Minnesota, I am
now a student in the great dairy state at the University
of Wisconsin in Madison. [more] |
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Meredith
Kope,
Summer Program Assistant
This is my third summer on Martha’s
Vineyard, but my first at The FARM Institute. I just
graduated from Sweet Briar College with a degree
in Environmental Science. [more] |
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Meredith
Magin, Farmer/Teacher
I am joining the FARM Institute after graduating
from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Architecture.
After the summer I will be joining the Peace Corps and moving
to Africa, where I will be working in Agro Forestry. [more] |
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Stephanie Majeau, Farmer/Teacher
Stephanie is my name and environmental sustainability is my game! Indeed, I am embarked on a life long journey of learning and I am stupendously excited to be spending the summer teaching and working at the FARM institute. [more] |
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Allison Mandel, Farmer/Teacher
My name is Allie and I am a senior environmental studies major at Hamilton College. After spending the past semester studying ecology and conservation in Botswana, it will be quite a change to live on MV for the summer! [more] |
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Tommy
Montana, Farmer/Teacher
Legendary Rancher and Farming Celebrity,
Tommy Montana, hails from the fly-fishing waters
of Pride, Montana. He was recruited by The Farm Institute
for his trademark "Hot Dog" style.... [more] |
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Julie
Olson, Farm Hand
Hi! I'm Julie Olson and I recently
became The FARM Institutes farm hand. I made the
long swim over to the Vineyard from my hometown
of Dennis where I was fed up of serving people
fish. My farming career started when I was a wee
youngster.... [more] |
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Emily
Richardson, Farmer/Teacher
I’m beyond excited to be joining
The FARM Institute team as a teacher/farmer this
summer, and I can’t wait to explore Katama
and the rest of the island! [more] |
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Kartina
Richardson,
Farmer/Teacher
I am a filmmaker and playwright from Boston,
MA. I attended Boston University where I majored in film
production. I am fairly obsessed with movies, writing,
pablo neruda, doo wop, tina fey, and children's books
about magic. [more] |
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Emily
Duncker, Farmer/Teacher
I come to The Farm Institute as a
graduate of Fordham University’s history program.
I’ve been living and learning in New York City
for four years, and grown a tremendous basil plant,
but I have many unanswered questions. [more] |
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Paige
Ryan,
Media Coordinator/Wee Farmer Summer Teacher
After working on Martha's Vineyard
as a radio DJ and website editor for the past two years, I'm very excited to capture this summer on the FARM in video, photos and words. [more] |
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Kacie
Warner,
Lead WISP Teacher
I'm arriving here at the FARM Institute after
spending the last year residing in our great nation's capitol,
where I worked at the Community Food Security Coalition to advocate
for programs that promote and support local food in that giant
mess known as the Farm Bill. [more] |
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Beau,
The Boss
Hi! My name is Beau. I'm the farm
cat. I think that I am the most valuable member of
the staff. My job is to eat, sleep, chase mice and
other small critters, and to generally keep the rest
of the staff in line. [more] |
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Baloo,
Farm Pup
My name is Baloo. The first thing
I am going to tell you about myself is that I am
a Leonberger. Although I am big, I am also lovable,
sweet and gentle. Leonbergers are not only super
friendly family dogs but useful too. [more] |
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Indiana,
Farm Pup
Hello! My name is Indiana and I
am a Border Collie. I belong to Farmer Wes and
am happy to come to the FARM every day to play
and exercise. [more] |
The FARM Institute - Post Office Box 1868 - Edgartown,
Massachusetts 02539 - (508) 627-7007