It’ s a community that has become invaluable to one another. The Care Farming Network acts as connective tissue between care farmers otherwise isolated throughout the country. What began with a handful of care farmers five years ago has grown to close to 400 farms, united through education opportunities, annual conferences, resources, individualized consultations, and mentorship.“ For aspiring care farmers, we give them a place to start,” Kate says. Those interested“ in one day operating their own farm, or building a program on their farm, or doing a partnership with an agency, our focus is to provide support for them through things like Beginning Care Farming series, or the mentorship program, or consultations, where we can really help them kickstart and fine-tune their ideas.” For those who have established care farms“ the intention is to help support and maybe expand [ their ] efforts.”
Additionally, Care Farming Network provides an opportunity to build power as a collective, as well as provide evidential proof of concept on the individual and community benefits of care farming.“ We’ re seeing executive directors or farm managers coming together,” explains Kate. Often leaders will share research articles that could be utilized in a grant proposal, or innovative funding techniques, or evaluation tools. Through these working groups, members share resources that help their care farms grow and form connections that strengthen the sector at large.
Kara recognizes the weight of their work.“ I want to make sure
Student volunteers help to harvest cherry tomatoes in the height of season.
that we’ re doing what we can to makes sense for their own community and their own population.” share our knowledge, share our resources, and use our platform
For Kate, she sees care farming gaining traction, growing in and history as the foundation for growth of care farms everywhere, popularity and feasibility.“ In terms to be that supportive place to grow of all the sectors that care farms more care farms.” operate through, whether it’ s
Kara pauses, searching for the healthcare, or ag, or mental health right words.“ Red Wiggler … the services, it really feels like it’ s an care farm of care farms.” incredible solution for a lot of the
Kara first worked at the farm problems that we as a country and as an intern over a decade ago individuals are facing.” and returned recently as Executive Director when Woody sensed less potential for positive change
Reflecting on the near limit-
it was time to pass the baton. She that care farming could facilitate, looks eagerly to the next 30 years. I’ m reminded of something Woody“ I want Red Wiggler to be the exemplar, I want us to be a testing a hand to indicate the 12 acres of
said earlier on our tour, as he swept
ground and place of innovation,” farmland behind him.“ It’ s like a big she says.“ What we’ re trying to promote is well-being and belonging, canvas out there, you know?”
and that’ s going to look different Avery Marks is Managing Editor for in different places, with different BitterSweet Monthly, an award winning publication shining a spotlight on populations, with different social structures, and funding. There’ s good at work in the world. She is also this whole new community cropping up to do something similar municating the heart at the center of
a freelance writer, specializing in com-
but in their own way, in a way that impactful nonprofits.
plenty I spring 2026 19