Amy Goldman Fowler
Amy Goldman Fowler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Gardener, author, artist, philanthropist, seed preservationist |
| Known for | Heirloom plant conservation, authoring books on heirloom fruits and vegetables |
| Notable work | Melons for the Passionate Grower; The Compleat Squash; The Heirloom Tomato; Heirloom Harvest; The Melon |
| Spouse | Cary Fowler (m. 2012) |
Amy Goldman Fowler (born 1954) is an American billionaire heiress known for her work as a gardener, author, artist, philanthropist, and a dedicated supporter of seed preservation and heirloom fruits and vegetables. Recognized as a foremost heirloom plant conservationist in the United States, Gregory Long, president emeritus of The New York Botanical Garden, has referred to her as "possibly the world's leading vegetable gardener."
Early life and education
Fowler is the daughter of Lillian (née Schuman) and Sol Goldman, who was the largest private real estate investor in New York City during the 1980s, with ownership of nearly 1,900 residential and commercial properties. Her brothers and sisters, Allan H. Goldman and Jane Goldman, oversee the family’s real estate portfolio through Solil Management. Additionally, her cousin, Lloyd Goldman, is a notable figure in New York City's real estate sector.
She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Barnard College (1976), followed by a master's degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University's Teachers College (1978), and completed her PhD in clinical psychology at Oklahoma State University in 1984.
Career
Goldman is an American entrepreneur and horticulturist who has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The New York Times (2004), The Washington Post, The New York Sun (2007), along with magazines like Organic Style and Horticulture. In 2007, she appeared on television programs including Martha Stewart Living and PBS's The Victory Garden.
Bibliography
Goldman has authored five books, each accompanied by photographs from Victor Schrager.
Melons for the Passionate Grower (Artisan, 2002) was nominated for several accolades including The Garden Writers Association of America’s 2003 Garden Globe Award, the James Beard Foundation Award for Reference Books, and the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ Best Design award.
The Compleat Squash: A Passionate Grower's Guide To Pumpkins, Squashes and Gourds (Artisan, 2004) earned the 2005 American Horticultural Society Book Award as well as a bronze award from the Garden Writers Association of America.
The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table – Recipes, Portraits and History of the World's Most Beautiful Fruit (Bloomsbury, 2008) was honored with the American Horticultural Society’s Book Award in 2009.
Heirloom Harvest: Modern Daguerreotypes of Historic Garden Treasures (Bloomsbury, 2015), featuring daguerreotypes by Jerry Spagnoli, showcases over 175 images of fruits and vegetables cultivated on Goldman's 200-acre farm in Hudson Valley. The volume includes her reflective essay on a quarter-century land partnership. It received coverage in publications such as The Washington Post, Elle Décor, Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, The Daily Beast, The East Hampton Star, and Town and Country. In 2016, it secured the Association for Garden Communicators silver medal, two New York Book Show awards for Best in Special Trade Art Books and Photography, as well as the British Book Awards’ Lifestyle Illustrated category.
Her fifth book, The Melon (City Point Press, 2019), was reviewed by both The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Goldman’s articles have also appeared in periodicals including Martha Stewart Living, The New York Times, Organic Connections, and Organic Gardening.
Awards
Her initial three publications, along with her most recent work, The Melon, have each been honored with the American Horticultural Society Book of the Year award.
- In 2021, she received the Florens DeBevoise Medal from The Garden Club of America, recognizing her notable contributions to the heirloom seed preservation and local food initiatives.
- The 2020 Silver Medal of Achievement from GardenComm was awarded to The Melon in the Book: General Readership category.
Affiliations
Fowler holds trustee positions at both the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust and the Amy P. Goldman Foundation, and participates on the council of the New York Restoration Project. Previously, she served as executive director of the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust and was vice chairman of the New York Botanical Garden Board.
Between 2014 and 2016, Fowler led the Center for Jewish History as its chair. She also contributed over ten years to the board of Seed Savers Exchange, including a tenure as chairperson, and by 2012 acted as a special advisor to its board.
As of 2024, Goldman ranks among the top contributors to Democratic Party candidates, having donated more than $27 million throughout her lifetime.
Personal life
Goldman wed Cary Fowler on April 28, 2012, in a ceremony held at the Arsenal terrace within Central Park.