Emily Gooding

Emmie joined The Conservation Fund in 2025 as the Georgia Farms Fund Services Specialist. She provides key support to farmers as they expand their operations on newly accessed farm properties through the Farms Fund program. She leads the development of farmer support systems, connects producers with technical assistance, and helps strengthen the growing network of farms working to meet the increasing demand for local food. Emmie also supports farm lease management, provides on-the-ground operational guidance, and works to enhance the sustainability of the conserved farmland.

Prior to joining The Conservation Fund, Emmie was the Land Conservation Director for Mainspring Conservation Trust in Western NC, where she worked to protect critical lands in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Emmie has also years of personal and professional experience managing community gardens and engaging with local growers and markets. Her professional background spans the fields of grant management, project planning, property stewardship, community engagement, environmental education, and food security & sovereignty.

Emmie’s passion for agrobiodiversity and sustainable foraging means that you’ll often find her at seed & plant swaps or on a hike if she’s not in her garden. She earned her B.S. in biology from Berry College in Rome, GA and now lives in Mableton, GA with her husband.