“ I am a leader. When Mel or Becca [ are ] on vacation I show [ volunteers ] how to cut the greens: the way to cut, way to bunch, way to weigh … It feels really great because you always know what is going on.” But, he adds,“ It’ s challenging.” He explains,“ part of leading is being aware of the needs of other people around you … you gotta be prepared for anything [ when you ] come to work. That’ s why I always have gloves in my pocket. Always.”
As our conversation draws to a close, I ask Brandon his favorite crop.“ Carrots,” he says without hesitation.
I find carrots to be a popular choice when I speak with Claire a few minutes later, windswept from harvesting horseradish. Claire was connected to Red Wiggler Farm in 2022 through the Arc of Montgomery County— which provides training, jobs, and resources to those with IDD. She now works part-time harvesting crops— her favorite, the ubiquitous carrot— and leading tours. For Claire, Red Wiggler has offered an opportunity to connect more meaningfully with others.“ People feel welcome,” she says shyly.
This sense of welcome permeates Red Wiggler. Whether you are a grower or a volunteer, lone visitor or school group, experienced farmer or newbie, you are welcomed with thoughtful inclusivity. Fields are color-coded for new learners and spaced for various accessibility needs, with crops like garlic that allow for those with limited dexterity to plant and harvest with ease. Growers are paid employees and work on general farm skills leveled to emphasize responsibility, independence, and leadership, as well as meeting individual
goals adapted to their specific personality and needs.
While the demand for what Red Wiggler provides continues to increase— a position that might tempt many to scale larger— Woody recognized that there was a point of diminishing returns, where growing larger would harm the very ethos of what made Red Wiggler work. As a care farming and to be the resource they had needed, Red result, the farm committed to remain at a size where everyone can Wiggler launched Care Farming know one another, creating a deep Network as a formal, memberbased network in 2021. sense of community.
But the need for more of what“ Our big why is that you don’ t Red Wiggler offers is very real. have to do this alone,” explains Co- And it was this challenge that led Director of the Care Farming Network Kate Mudge. Kate joined the
Woody to reflect on his own experience. For Red Wiggler, everything had to be built from the Care Farming Network. After help-
team shortly after the launch of ground up— connecting with business leaders, researching farm- Farming Network conference, she
ing host the first national Care
ing technology, implementing best knew there was a real need for the practices in employing adults with work they were doing.“ I’ ve been disabilities— and often by Woody involved in nonprofit work for 23 alone. But slowly he came to learn years, and I have never seen so that there were others like himself many people cry at a conference. building care farms. How much different would his experience have have to explain what you did to
It was the place where you didn’ t
been had he connected with other absolutely everybody.” care farm founders, trading resources or sharing the workload?
Executive Director Kara McCall remembers:“ People were coming to us as the experts. People were just seeing our longevity and the success of our programs and wanting to know more.” So, hoping to find a meaningful way to meet the Hundreds of care farmers gather for Care Farming growing demand for Network’ s National Conference.
18 plenty I spring sowing 2026