Alumni Spotlight: Kerstin Martin ’11

Kerstin Martin graduated from Dickinson in 2011 with an Environmental Science degree. Kerstin first got involved with the farm through her Treehouse-mates and friends in the ES Department. She quickly became a regular Weed N Feed volunteer and often joined events at the farm. 

Even though she didn’t work for the Dickinson farm, her participation in farm events and connections with the farm family heavily influenced many of her career-related decisions. Following graduation, Kerstin continued pursuing a career in food systems work, first at a residential high school in California which had a garden that supplied most of the kitchen’s produce, followed by a production farm in Maine, and for the next nine years worked at Allegheny College’s campus garden. There, she managed the campus garden and taught students about farming. 

Kerstin is currently in Meadville, PA (near Eerie!). She manages the Meadville Market House, a local foods market that’s been in operation since 1870. On top of that, Kerstin’s also running her own yogurt business, Dodo Yogurt. Founded in 2020, she uses milk sourced from her friends’ grass-fed dairy farm. Make sure to stock up on her products at the 86 Acres Farm store in Saegertown, PA! Today, many of her Dickinson friends are still involved in food and farming. She describes them as an amazing network to be a part of both socially and professionally. 

Kerstin has a handful of favorite DCF memories including barn dances, bonfires, and her very first lessons in harvesting and seed saving. During her free time, she participates in local community work and enjoys gardening, biking, running, and cross-country skiing.