A Year of Growth and Connection
When people work, learn, and grow together, everyone thrives.
As our 29th growing season wraps up, the fields at Red Wiggler Care Farm tell a story of growth — not just in vegetables, but in community, inclusion, and purpose. From our local Harvest Share to the national Care Farming Network, we’ve spent the year deepening connections that nurture belonging and well-being.
Where Work Builds Belonging: Grower Program
17 Growers employed
5,479 total hours worked
$87,627 in wages earned
Every week, our Growers cultivate both food and connection. Their work feeds families, sustains the farm, and shows what’s possible when everyone has the chance to contribute meaningfully.
From planting the first seeds in Spring to harvesting the final crops of Fall, Growers take pride in every step of the process. They build skills, earn fair wages, and form friendships that strengthen our entire community.
Total Grower hours and wages have grown steadily, reinforcing our commitment to meaningful, paid work in an inclusive environment.
Feeding the Community: Harvest Share & CSA
$74,495 worth of fresh food distributed to local families experiencing food insecurity
59% of produce reaching low-income households
92% of CSA customers reported their time on the farm as therapeutic
Through partnerships with Manna Food Center, Community FarmShare, So What Else, AfriThrive, Clarksburg CAN, and Community Food Rescue, our fields make a tangible impact on local food security.
Each tomato, pepper, and bunch of kale are grown with purpose and care; they are shared with dignity with our neighbors and community.
Learning and Volunteering: Education in Action
- 265 students and participants in on-farm education programs
-
500 hours of hands-on learning experiences
-
495 volunteers with and without disabilities gave more than 4,000 hours to support our mission
From field trips to volunteer workdays, people of all ages discovered how inclusion and sustainability thrive together.
Volunteers come from all walks of life — kids and teens earning Student Service Learning hours, corporate teams seeking meaningful team-building experiences, college classes, camps, and community groups — each adding their own energy and perspective to the farm.
Growing a Movement: Care Farming Network
The Care Farming Network brings Red Wiggler’s model to the national stage by connecting farms that use agriculture to promote well-being, health, and belonging.
Through monthly member gatherings, a Beginner Care Farmers Series, and our National Conference, the Network amplifies stories and strategies from care farms everywhere.
From new farmers seeking mentorship to established programs sharing innovative practices, the Care Farming Network is building a connected, resilient future for care farming in the U.S.
Together, we’re weaving a national fabric of belonging—one farm at a time.
- Held our first National Care Farming Conference with 170 attendees and more than 50 farms and organizations represented
- 100% of participants in the Beginning Farmer Series reported gaining new knowledge or skills
- Membership grew to more than 350 care farms
From our fields in Maryland to care farms across the country — we’re growing healthy food and a sense of belonging.
Looking Ahead: Our 30th Year
As Red Wiggler approaches its 30th anniversary, we’re sowing the seeds for the next chapter — expanding access, deepening inclusion, and strengthening the Care Farming Network.
Over the past three decades, our fields have been a living classroom for what’s possible when people of all abilities work side-by-side. The next chapter builds on that legacy:
-
Expanding access by growing our on-farm programs and partnerships so more people can experience belonging through meaningful work and connection with nature.
-
Deepening inclusion by investing in leadership development, accessibility, and Grower-led education that ensures every voice is valued and heard.
-
Strengthening the Care Farming Network by supporting new and emerging farms, hosting our first National Care Farming Conference, and sharing best practices that amplify this model nationwide.
We’re grateful for your commitment to cultivating belonging and well-being at Red Wiggler, both our farm and our Care Farm Network — and we ask for your continued support as we grow and increase our impact.