The Care Farming Network was established by Red Wiggler Community Farm, Andrea Barnhart (former Red Wiggler Farm Manager), and Woody Woodroof (Executive Director & Founder, Red Wiggler Farm) to unite farms working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Our mission is to create a supportive space for care farmers to share successes, collaborate on challenges, and enhance the impact of vocational horticultural therapy, providing meaningful employment for adults with disabilities. By founding the Care Farming Network, we aim to strengthen the care farming movement, ensuring established care farmers feel supported and effective, and that aspiring care farmers have access to the resources and best practices needed to start their own care farms. Our vision is for a Care Farm in every county!

Founded in 1996, Red Wiggler is a sustainable care farm in Germantown, Maryland, where people with and without disabilities come together to work, learn, and grow healthy food. Over the past 28 years, Red Wiggler has pioneered innovative methods to engage both youth and adults, with and without disabilities, in food cultivation and distribution through employment and education programs.

Red Wiggler was founded by Woody Woodroof after his experience working in group homes, driven by a desire to provide healthier food and more meaningful employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Throughout Red Wiggler’s history, Executive Director and Founder Woody Woodroof has provided technical assistance to individuals interested in starting Care Farms. He has also provided consultations and support to establish many Care Farms that are operating today.

2018

In October 2018, Red Wiggler initiated a dedicated outreach effort to connect with existing Care Farms in the Mid-Atlantic region. This included making site visits, creating a comprehensive Care Farm database, and actively engaging with these farms.

In October 2018, Red Wiggler, in collaboration with Future Harvest CASA, hosted the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Care Farming Summit. This groundbreaking event attracted over 70 attendees from seven states and Italy, fostering a vibrant Care Farming community. Together, we shared information, resources, and engaged in meaningful discussions. Watch the video here!

Post-summit survey results revealed that 100% of participants expressed interest in attending an annual regional Care Farm conference and in sharing best practices and resources through a document portal.

2019 – 2020

In November 2019, in coordination with the Farm-Based Education Network, Red Wiggler sponsored a Social Care Farming Track during the Farm-Based Education Network Conference (FBEN Conference). As part of the organizing committee, we organized the Social Care Farming Track, hosted a Care Farming meet-up, and presented two sessions.

In February 2020, Red Wiggler presented at Pennsylvania-based Sustainable Agriculture Association’s (PASA) 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Conference as part of a panel exploring Therapeutic Farming.

2021

The Care Farming Network was officially established as a program of  Red Wiggler Community Farm.  CFN launched its new website, unveiled a logo, and published the online Care Farm Directory.

2022

As new staff members were added, CFN increased its national outreach, began its Monthly Member Gatherings, and hosted its virtual CFN launch with over 60 attendees.

2023

The USDA Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education provided CFN generous funding, which allowed us to  host the Beginning Care Farming Virtual Series and multiple Farm Tours and Meetups throughout the Northeast region of the United States. Our Monthly Member Gatherings provided opportunities to gather virtually to learn from other farmers, share best practices, and explore unique challenges.

2024

With a newly refreshed website and Resource Library, CFN continues to grow. The Mentorship Program is unveiled, matching aspiring and established care farmers and building continued support for those early in their care farming journey. Exciting news includes the announcement of our first National Conference, scheduled for January 2025!