Care Farming Network

Madison Fields Care Farm Tour

2 people standing with a horse across at Madison Fields farm

On June 27th, 2023, Madison Fields hosted The Care Farming Network for a special farm (and soapery) tour! Madison Fields sits on 400 acres of beautiful farmland in the Agricultural Reserve of Montgomery County, Maryland. Madison Fields’ programs support their mission to strengthen their community by creating a safe, accessible, and inclusive agricultural environment where people […]

21 Roots Farm grows jobs — and hope — for people with developmental disabilities

This article highlights a pilot internship program at 21 Roots Farm, a nonprofit hobby farm that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Six interns — all of whom had been regular attendees of programs at the farm — participated a 20-week work-experience program where they were “trained to be trainers”, attending the weekly training […]

Pasa Panel Discussion “Farming As Therapy For Marginalized Individuals”

Pasa Sustainable Agriculture’s annual conference is one of the largest gatherings of sustainable farmers and food system changemakers the Mid-Atlantic region which builds community to create a space where inspiration, innovation, and connection flourish. On Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 11:00 am ET, the Care Farming Network hosted a panel discussion titled “Farming as Therapy for […]

Care Farming: Farming With a Social Purpose

Future Harvest Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture’s 23rd Annual Conference was held January 13-14, 2022. The conference included a session on Care Farming highlighting “Farming with Social Purpose.” The panel discussion explored several different care farming models and initiatives and discussed the benefits and challenges of each. The conference program can be found here. Presenters included:Andrea Barnhart, Care […]

AHTA Annual Conference

In October 2021, the American Horticultural Therapy Association hosted the IPPS/AHTA/ISHS 2021 Joint Annual Conference: The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development. This was a joint virtual symposium, and Red Wiggler participated by conducting a virtual tour of our farm and work. The tour can be viewed below. Video Player After attendees had a […]

People and produce flourish at Legacy Farm in Leesburg

proud work squatting in front of growing tomato plants

An article discussing what it’s like to work at Legacy Farm in Leesburg, VA, a nonprofit that offers apprenticeship-style learning and job opportunities in a neurodiverse community of individuals preparing for college, learning a trade, or seeking internships to further their education.

A Farm Less Ordinary: Ribbon Cutting

On June 14, 2021, A Farm Less Ordinary (AFLO) held a ribbon cutting celebration for AFLO North, their new Lovettsville location in Loudoun County, VA. This was a momentous occasion for all, and the expansion of AFLO reaffirmed Red Wiggler’s and the Care Farming Network’s vision of helping others establish a Care Farm in their communities, so that […]

Farm helps people with autism live better lives

two women bottle feed baby calves with milk

This article shares the story of Hiram Farm, a nonprofit organization in Ohio that provides services for adults with developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In the article, one of the farm’s participants describes the ways in which working on the farm has made a positive impact on her life.