Meet the team!
Dietrich Swanenberg
Epp Schmidt
Dietrich is an agro-ecologist (and all around soil nerd) who connects with nature through his belly. He likes to grow blueberries, kiwi-berry and aspires to grow hazelnuts, pecans and truffles. He especially loves it when his farming helps the landscape to recover and thrive.
Audrey Swanenberg
Epp Schmidt
Audrey, originally from outside Chicago, has now called the Chesapeake watershed home for more than 15 years. She has worked across the food system: from farming small-scale organic vegetables, to crop transitions in international development, to co-founding Chesapeake Farm to Table, a local food hub. From Johns Hopkins University, she received both a bachelors in Sociology & Environmental Studies and a masters degree in Environmental Health & Engineering. Audrey’s day job is at a major environmental non-profit supporting the adoption of agroforestry on farmland in the US.
Shagbark’s Hickory, AKA: Kory
Kory started fetching tennis balls at 8 weeks old. Since then he has graduated on to lacrosse balls. He is happy romping in the woods, and monitoring the fields. As long as all his humans are in sight, life is good. (he’s a bit older now …)
Mama, AKA: MAMA
Mama is the original farmer. She cultivates special sun spots in the grass, because even when it’s hot out the sun always makes things better.