Maria Meyer and her husband, Gabriel, own Friendly Mushroom Farm, a 9-acre diversified vegetable farm in Madison County, Georgia. Since launching in 2023, they have grown a wide range of produce — lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, Swiss chard, radishes, carrots, beets, garlic, eggplants, peppers, okra, microgreens, and more, using a stewardship-minded approach that prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and community connection.
Friendly Mushroom Farm sells at four local farmers markets, to a grocery cooperative in Athens, restaurants, Firefly Farmstop in Winterville, and through their CSA programs. Maria and Gabriel also welcome volunteers through programs like Concrete Jungle, Work Away Campers, and WWOOF, blending food production with hands-on education.
With support from the 2025 stipend, the farm will invest in essential infrastructure to expand production, improve land management, and strengthen long-term revenue streams. For Maria, farming is not only about producing nutrient-dense food but also about creating beauty, fostering biodiversity, and cultivating meaningful relationships with neighbors and fellow farmers.
