The Hampstead Institute Announces Edwin Marty as Executive Director for the Non Profit Organization

May 05, 2011

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – May 5, 2011 – Today, The Hampstead Institute and City of Montgomery proudly announced the recruitment of Edwin Marty as executive director for the local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With extensive regional, national and international experience in sustainable agriculture, Edwin will oversee everything from planning and educational programs, to community outreach and events at Hampstead Farms in East Montgomery and the newly opened Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm.

While working as a garden editor for Southern Living magazine, Edwin founded the successful Jones Valley Urban Farm, a non-profit, educational and working production farm located in downtown Birmingham. Over Edwin’s eight-year guidance, Jones Valley Urban Farm grew from a single vacant lot into a city-wide farm with 28 acres in production that provides food to Frank Stitt’s nationally-recognized restaurants, youth nutrition gardening programs for thousands of Birmingham students and garden plots for low-income housing residents.

“Edwin Marty is a national expert and leader in the sustainable food movement,” said Chad Emerson, Hampstead Institute board member. “The Hampstead Institute is thrilled to have Edwin on board to direct our efforts and help make Montgomery and the River Region a leading proponents of sustainable agriculture and development nationwide.”

Edwin will relocate to Montgomery from Birmingham this summer with his wife and daughter, where he will begin his new role as executive director for The Hampstead Institute. 

“The unique public-private cooperation in Montgomery presents a tremendous opportunity to promote sustainable agriculture in Alabama’s capital city,” said Edwin Marty, Hampstead Institute executive director. “There is no reason to think Montgomery cannot become a leading model for sustainable agriculture, education, and outreach for other markets across the country. I look forward to leading the city and The Hampstead Institute to the forefront of the local, healthy food movement. ” 

Situated in the heart of Downtown Montgomery along the Alabama River, the Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm opened April 2011 as a working farm that grows, harvests and sells fresh, locally grown foods. Planned to offer production farm areas, Children’s Learning Beds, “u-pick” orchards and a working windmill, the all-natural, urban farm will serve as a vibrant gathering place fostering education, sustainability, tourism and economic development for the community under the direction of Edwin Marty and farm manager, Jetson Brown.

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About The Hampstead Institute: 

The Hampstead Institute is community-based, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in Montgomery, Ala. that encourages and implements the creation of healthful, sustainable community features and events, establishes farms and networks to supply fresh, local food, and educates the region about healthy, responsible growth to make Montgomery a more vibrant community. For more information, visit www.hampsteadinstitute.org.