Goldman earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Barnard College (1976), a master’s in developmental psychology from Columbia University’s Teachers College (1978), and a doctorate in clinical psychology (PhD) from Oklahoma State University in 1984.

The Heirloom Tomato: From Garden to Table – Recipes, Portraits and History of the World’s Most Beautiful Fruit was published by Bloomsbury in 2008. It was a recipient of the American Horticultural Society’s 2009 Book Award.

On April 28, 2012, Goldman married Cary Fowler at the terrace on top of the Arsenal in Central Park.

In September 2014, Fowler was elected chairman of the Center for Jewish History, a position she held until December 2016.

Heirloom Harvest: Modern Daguerreotypes of Historic Garden Treasures (Bloomsbury, 2015) is illustrated by daguerreotypist Jerry Spagnoli. The book has over 175 photographs of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, and berries grown by Goldman on her 200-acre Hudson Valley farmstead. Goldman’s essay, “Fruits of the Earth,” describes her 25-year collaboration with the land. Heirloom Harvest has appeared in The Washington Post, Elle Décor, Harper’s Bazaar, The Financial Times, The Daily Beast, The East Hampton Star, and Town and Country. In August 2016 it won the Association for Garden Communicators (GWA)’s Silver Medal in the Book Category. It also won two distinctions at the October 2016 New York Book Show (Book Industry Guild of New York): Best in Special Trade (Art Books) and Best in Special Trade/Photography. Heirloom Harvest was honored in 2016 by the British Book Awards as best book in the Lifestyle Illustrated category.