Join care farmers, practitioners, and advocates from across the country for three days of learning, connection, and community at the 2027 Care Farming Network National Conference.
Our 2025 and 2026 conferences were filled with warmth, inspiration, and a deep sense of belonging. This year, we’ll continue to support one another as we explore our 2027 “This is Care Farming” theme—cultivating the future of care farming, together.
View the Conference "Agenda-At-A-Glance"
Get an early look at the 2027 conference schedule, including breakout session topics, farm tours, and key events. The full conference program will be available closer to the conference.
Make the Conference Hotel Your Home Base- move down and add photo
Stay at the Sheraton Imperial Raleigh-Durham Airport for a seamless, connected experience.
You’ll receive a discounted hotel rate of $159 and a free airport shuttle—no rental car required!
Enjoy the added benefit of being right in the heart of the action, sharing morning coffee, evening conversations, and the spontaneous connections that make this gathering memorable.
More promotional farm tour language and photos
On Thursday afternoon, start the conference by stepping into the world of care farming across the Carolinas. Choose one of four unique farm tour experiences when you register for the conference:
- SEAWIND: On-Farm Tour
- Blawesome: On-Farm Tour
- Farm at Penny Lane: On-Farm Tour
- Peacehaven: “Bus-Less” Farm Tour | Hosted at the conference venue
On-farm tour attendees will take complimentary buses from the conference venue. Bus space is limited to 50 people per tour, so register early if you plan to attend an on-farm tour! Details below
Registration
We are committed to making the conference accessible to all, regardless of financial means. We invite you to select the registration tier that most closely matches your resources.
To inform your decision: the full cost of conference participation is $530 (not including CFN and Red Wiggler staff time). This includes $315 for meals, space rental and audio-visual fees; Carolinas Farm Spotlight tour buses; free parking at the conference venue; and a free airport shuttle for hotel guests.
Scholarships
CFN is committed to reducing barriers to participation by offering need-based scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis as funds allow.
Our scholarship resources are best positioned to support lodging, and we provide support in the form of complimentary hotel rooms when possible.
Priority will be given to applicants who are currently working on a care farm, people with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities, others with lived experience directly connected to care farming, and conference presenters. That said, all who need support are encouraged to apply.
Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. The scholarship deadline is Friday, November 18, 2026. All applicants will be notified of their status no later than November 27, 2026.
Agenda-at-a-Glance
View the Conference Agenda: Check out the conference schedule with this at-a-glance view, including breakout session titles and key events.
Venue + Lodging
The 2027 Care Farming Network Conference will take place at the Sheraton Imperial Raleigh-Durham Airport. Attendees receive a discounted hotel rate of $159/night and free shuttle from the airport—no rental car required!
Enjoy a walking trail just outside the hotel, a large gym, and nearby restaurants. Hotel guests enjoy a free shuttle to locations within 4.5 miles of the hotel; shuttle leaves twice per hour.
Book by January 4th to access the discounted hotel rate.
If you would like to arrange a room share or ride share to cut costs, CFN can help coordinate! Contact Sarah at Conference@carefarmingnetwork.org for assistance.
Farm Tours
Care Farm Tours: Experience Care Farming in Action
Get an up-close look at care farming through an immersive farm tour experience. These small-group tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at how care farms operate, the programs they provide, and the communities they support.
With each farm, hear directly from the people who built and sustain the work. Learn about their vision, structure, programs, and the realities of growing and sustaining a care farm. Walk the fields, explore program spaces, see tools and systems in action, and discover the day-to-day operations that bring each farm’s mission to life.
Whenever possible, tours will be co-led by people with lived experience who can share firsthand how care farming has impacted their lives.
Tour Schedule: Select Your Tour
Choose one of four unique farm tour experiences when you register for the conference:
| TIME | FARM TOUR EXPERIENCE |
| 1:00 PM | SEAWIND Farm: A growing care farm that raises vegetables, fruits, herbs, botanicals, and chickens and turkeys for eggs, providing programs for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Eventually a small intentional community of folks will life-share interdependently. |
| 1:30 PM | Blawesome: A production flower farm creating a sustainable business through the sale of locally grown flowers. Founded by Rebecca and her son Raimee, who has a diagnosis of autism, Blawesome demonstrates how a farm-based business can create meaningful employment, build skills, and foster belonging. |
| 2:00 PM | Farm at Penny Lane: A public-private partnership between XDS Inc. and UNC’s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health, The Farm at Penny Lane is a therapeutic community where adults living with serious mental illness—and youth at risk for serious mental health challenges—build health, purpose, connection, and skills through farming, food, nature, and meaningful activity. Together, we are creating a continuum from recovery to prevention. |
| 2:30 PM | Peacehaven “Bus-less” Farm Tour: At the conference venue, with no bus required. Join Peacehaven staff as they explore their multi-year plan to bring Peacehaven’s vision of community from idea to action. The current construction project on Peacehaven’s 89 acres includes a multi-purpose community center, residential housing, arts center, outdoor recreation spaces, multidisciplinary healthcare clinic for the I/DD population, and expanded farming operations. These spaces will serve and connect people of every ability while addressing the specific needs of adults with I/DD. |
Complimentary shuttle transportation is provided for the three on-farm tours. Shuttle space is limited to 50 per tour, so be sure to register early for your preferred tour.
Exhibitors
Does your organization have something to share with the care farming community?
Join us as an exhibitor at the Care Farming Network National Conference—the largest U.S. gathering of care farmers, educators, practitioners, and advocates. Exhibiting connects you directly with passionate members of the movement.
Exhibitors enjoy engagement with attendees from Thursday afternoon, January 28th through Saturday morning, January 30th. Tables are strategically placed in high-traffic areas to maximize visibility and connections with conference attendees.
*If you’d like to showcase your care farm for free and are willing to share a table, visit the “Care Farm Showcase” section below.
Exhibitor Rates:
- Non-profit: $570 ($125 exhibitor fee + one registration)
- Commercial: $745 ($300 exhibitor fee + one registration)
- Care farm exhibitor: $100 exhibitor fee + one registration (any level)
If you choose to contribute more, thank you! Your support strengthens our ability to serve the community of care farmers across the U.S.
What You’ll Receive as an Exhibitor:
- Dedicated 6-foot table with two chairs to showcase your organization
- Tablecloth provided, or bring your own for a custom look
- Request an electrical outlet if needed
Your table may be left unattended at your discretion, though we recommend staffing it during high-traffic times: Thursday 3-5pm; two 30-minute breaks on Friday; and a 30-minute break on Saturday morning.
Email Conference@carefarmingnetwork.org to register as an exhibitor or for more information.
Regional Care Farm Exhibit
Come curious. Meet a care farmer. Discover what’s growing across the Carolinas.
Explore an interactive exhibit space featuring care farms from across North and South Carolina. Meet the people behind the regional care farms as they share photos, program highlights, stories, and insights into their work through informal table conversations. Ask questions, exchange ideas, and make connections with Carolina care farmers.
Carolinas care farms: Come share your work in this Exhibit! Participation in the Regional Care Farm exhibit is complimentary with registration. Whether you have a trifold poster to display or a stack of business cards, your involvement enriches this offering.
- We ask that care farms staff their Regional Exhibit from 3:00-5:00 PM on Thurday. Your display may be left unattended at your discretion for the remainder of the conference, though we recommend being present for conversation during high-traffic times: two 30-minute breaks on Friday and a 30-minute break on Saturday morning.
Please contact Sarah at Conference@carefarmingnetwork.org to sign up for the Exhibit and share your space needs.
Note: The Regional Care Farm Exhibit is not monitored by CFN staff.
Care Farm Showcase
Share Your Story in the Care Farm Showcase!
Care farmers, this is your invitation to shine! Join our free Care Farm Showcase, a lively and colorful gallery where conference attendees can discover and celebrate the inspiring work happening on care farms across the country.
Bring along visuals that tell your farm’s story — photos, posters, artwork, and products are all welcome. Whether it’s a handcrafted sign, a stack of brochures, or a few business cards, your presence helps paint the bigger picture of our shared movement. Staffing your display is not required. Note: The Care Farm Showcase is not monitored by CFN staff.
*If you require a full 6-foot table, please visit the “Exhibitor” section above.
Thank you for helping us celebrate the heart and diversity of care farming!
Conference Add-On: NC Botanical Gardens Therapeutic Horticulture Tour
Main Street is excited to welcome you to a special presentation for the Care Farming Network on Monday, February 9th at 9:30am to share more about our inclusive community model and how we create opportunities for adults of all abilities to live, learn, and thrive together!
Located in Rockville, Maryland, Main Street is an affordable, accessible, inclusive apartment building and a membership-based community center for adults of all abilities. Main Street empowers people with and without disabilities to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Join us to learn about Main Street’s innovative approach to building both an apartment complex and a community.
Event Details:
9:30 AM – Welcome and introductions
9:45–11:00 AM – Main Street presentation
11:00–11:30 AM – Q&A and wrap-up discussion
Registration closes on Tuesday, February 3rd. Please register below:
Care Farmer Fashion Show
Join us Friday evening for the Care Farmer Fashion Show! Whether you step onto the runway or cheer from the audience, this is a chance to celebrate farm style in all its forms.
Walk the runway in your favorite flannel, hat, trusty overalls, footwear, and/or a little miscellaneous flair. Participation is optional but encouraged, and yes—prizes will be awarded!
Travel Information: Air, Train, Bus
🏨 Conference & Hotel Address:
Sheraton Imperial Raleigh-Durham Airport
4700 Emperor Blvd
Durham, NC 27703
✈️ Air Travel
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a 7-minute drive from our conference venue, the Sheraton Imperial Raleigh-Durham Airport.
The Sheraton Imperial offers a free ariport shuttle for hotel guests.
- Arrival: Call the hotel when your flight lands, and they’ll pick you up at a designated airport shuttle zone.
- Departure: Visit the hotel front desk during your stay to inquire about your return shuttle to the airport.
🚌 Bus Travel
The nearest Greyhound station is in downtown Durham. Plan your Greyhound trip here.
GoTriangle Route 705 takes you from the Greyhound station to the conference venue (Sheraton Imperial Raleigh-Durham Airport). See the “Local Public Transit” section below.
Flixbus offers national bus routes to Durham and Raleigh. Plan your Flixbus trip here.
🚆 Train Travel
Amtrak makes stops in Durham and Raleigh on its national routes. Plan your Amtrak trip here.
🚇 Local Public Transit
To get around Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill without a car, GoTriangle is the regional public bus service. There is a bus stop in front of the Sheraton Imperial; explore bus routes and schedules here.
- Fares are $2.50, with a $5 daily cap.
- All riders must use the UMO app to ride. No smart phone? Get your physical Umo card and setup an account at the Regional Transit Center–it’s right across the street from the Sheraton Imperial!
- A 50% fare discount is available for people with disabilities; seniors over age 65 ride free. Fill out a simple form to obtain your discount.
Accessibility
The Care Farming Network National Conference aims to center people with lived experience who work and volunteer on care farms. We seek not only to make this conference accessible to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), but also to amplify the voices, perspectives, and expertise of care farm participants with disabilities another other lived experience.
The Sheraton Imperial Raleigh-Durham Airport provides:
- American Disabilities Act (ADA) approved rooms (first come, first serve) and elevators
- Book an ADA-approved room by calling the hotel: (919) 941-5050. Let them know you’re attending the Care Farming Network Conference so they can apply our discounted rate!
- Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms in conference wing
- A Quiet Room for sensory breaks
Farm Tours & Buses:
- We’re happy to make accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Please share your accessibility needs in the Registration Form or email Conference@carefarmingnetwork.org.
Are there additional considerations or supports that would help you fully participate in the conference? We’re happy to make arrangements! Please email Sarah at Conference@carefarmingnetwork.org or let us know in the Registration form.
AccessibleGO is a full-service travel platform for people with disabilities to book rental cars with hand controls, wheelchair vans, accessible rides, and mobility equipment. Create a free account here.
Terms and Conditions
Cancellation Policy
- All cancellations must be requested in writing by sending an email to conference@carefarmingnetwork.org
- There is a $75 cancellation fee if cancellation is requested by December 23, 2026
- There is a 50% cancellation fee if cancellation is requested from December 24, 2026—January 10, 2027
- After January 10, 2027, we will only provide a 100% refund for cancellations for health-related or other emergencies, at the discretion of Care Farming Network. Refunds are not otherwise available if cancellation is requested after January 10, 2027.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Why Sponsor the CFN National Conference?
The Care Farming Network National Conference is the largest national gathering of care farmers, educators, practitioners, and advocates in the United States. What began in 2025 with 170 participants in Massachusetts has grown into a national movement, last year welcoming over 200 attendees from dozens of states and nearly 100 farms and organizations.
Our theme for 2027 is “This is Care Farming“, an invitation to every attendee to be a part of this incredible movement. Your sponsorship directly funds scholarships and event access for care farmers throughout the U.S., fueling the connections, community, and impact that is care farming.
We have a wide array of sponsorship levels designed to meet your specific needs and interests, each providing unique opportunities for recognition and visibility in print and digital promotional materials in the months leading up to the conference and throughout our event. Becoming a sponsor of the Care Farming Network National Conference is more than just brand exposure. It’s an opportunity to align your organization with a growing, values-driven movement and directly fuels scholarships, accessible programming, and the continued growth of a transformational movement.
Care Farms…This One’s For You!
Care farms are the heart of CFN, and we know getting to the conference isn’t always easy. Between farm responsibilities and the cost of travel and registration, attending can be a real stretch for many of our members. So this year, care farms that sponsor the conference receive double the complimentary registrations at every level, our way of saying thank you for the work you do. Consider becoming a sponsor, and bring more of your team to the conference!
Ready to Plant the Seeds of Support?
For questions or to reserve your sponsorship, please contact Kate at: outreach@carefarmingnetwork.org