Meet Jean-Marie Merkle: an extroverted maximalist with a knack for branding, project management, and regenerative agriculture. With a decade in the design world under her belt, she is all about sharp design, savvy strategy, and forging connections. Starting from urban roots in Pennsylvania, she left home at 18 to study Fashion Marketing in Philadelphia. A detour led her to New York, where she worked with Diddy and later landed a Project Manager role at a tiny Brooklyn design agency, sparking her career journey.

After hustling between cities, burnout hit, and Jean-Marie sought change. She embraced a healthier lifestyle and discovered a passion for regenerative agriculture. An enlightening stay at Quarter Spring Farm in Tennessee rewired her outlook, trading screens for farm chores and kindling an affinity for farm life. Witnessing the magic of goat milk soap-making sparked an idea, adding it to the farm's offerings. The joy she brought farmers fueled a realization: her skills were meant for the farming community.

A year of Nashville exploration followed, including farming classes and soul-searching. A car crash, the pandemic, and some cosmic alignment led to her own LLC. Jean-Marie jumped into projects to build credibility, then aimed higher, moving to Lancaster County, PA, where farming and history converged. Her business shifted focus to amplify farmers and disrupt the broken food system. Now, living her dream, Jean-Marie thrives by boosting clients' digital presence in the agriculture realm, excited for the shared journey ahead.

Connect with Jean-Marie

• Website: https://dig-digital.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dig__digital/

Regenerative Food Brands 

• Force of Nature: https://forceofnature.com/
• Alexandre Family Farm: https://alexandrefamilyfarm.com/
• Alec’s ice cream: https://www.alecsicecream.com/ 
• Vital Farms: https://vitalfarms.com/ 
• Pasture bird: https://www.pasturebird.com/ 
• Oro Bianco: https://www.orobiancomilk.com/ 
• Smootch oat water: https://drinksmootch.com/ 
• Tiny Fish Co https://www.thetinyfishco.com/ 
• Lancaster Gift Box: https://lancastergiftbox.com/
• Happy Cat Farm: https://happycatfarm.co/ 

Regenerative resources: 

• Mad Agriculture: https://madagriculture.org/
• Regeneration Nation: https://regenerationnation.com/
• ReGen Brands Podcast: https://regen-brands.com/  
• Savory Institute: https://savory.global/ 
• Rodale Institute: https://rodaleinstitute.org/

Connect with Jane Z. on Instagram at @farm.to.future