Tapestry Farms

What Tapestry Farms does

Tapestry Farms is a 501c3 nonprofit urban farm system founded in 2017 and headquartered at 121 W. 12th Street, Davenport, Iowa, serving the Quad Cities region across Iowa and Illinois. The organization operates 12 garden sites and a 320-square-foot Freight Farms hydroponics container capable of producing 2-6 tons of produce annually, and cultivates culturally specific crops (Intoryi, lenga-lenga, African eggplant) that mainstream grocery channels do not carry. It grew 13,000 pounds of produce on its own farms in 2025, while the community-driven GIFT Gardens initiative produced an additional 64,063 pounds donated to food pantries.

The organization's primary beneficiaries are refugee families from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Syria, Afghanistan, and Haiti, alongside food-insecure community members in the Quad Cities. Tapestry Farms operates a "long welcome" model that bundles food access (a culturally specific food pantry called Karibu Market), immigration legal services (108 cases assisted in one year), English language classes, and employment — including paid farm roles for refugee women from Syria and Burundi — with food production. The beneficiary base has scaled from 8 families in 2017 to over 100 families by 2024-2025.

Revenue is a hybrid of philanthropic and earned sources: institutional grants and donations (cumulative documented grants include $300,000 from Quad Cities Community Foundation, $371,000 from Deere Foundation, $25,000 from Doris & Victor Day Foundation across two cycles, and $10,000 from Royal Neighbors of America), event fundraising (Spring Fling 2026 raised $103,623), and a social enterprise spanning CSA subscriptions ($325 single / $650 double / $650 Buy-One-Give-One shares with sliding scale pricing), farmers market sales at QC, Bettendorf, and Freight House markets, wholesale to local buyers (Nest Cafe, Genesis FoodPlex), and baklava and floral product lines distributed via an online storefront and monthly subscriptions.

Name

Tapestry Farms

Legal name

Tapestry Farms

Website

https://tapestryfarms.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tapestry Farms is a 501c3 nonprofit urban farm system in the Quad Cities that operates 12 garden sites plus hydroponics to grow culturally specific produce, serving over 100 refugee families with food access, legal aid, English classes, and paid farm employment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Davenport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Enterprise Produce Sales: Selling fresh produce at farmers markets (QC Farmers' Market, Bettendorf Farmers' Market), through monthly CSA subscriptions, and to local businesses like Nest Cafe and Genesis FoodPlex. Also sells baklava and flower bouquets.
2. Donations and Grants: Individual donations, major grants from foundations including Quad Cities Community Foundation ($300,000 transformation grant), Deere Foundation ($371,000), and federal programs. 501c3 nonprofit organization.
3. CSA Subscriptions: Monthly produce subscription (CSA) from July through November featuring hydroponically cultivated greens, herbs, root vegetables, and seasonal urban farm produce. Sliding scale pricing model.
4. Baklava and Floral Products: Homemade baklava and flower bouquets sold through the social enterprise, available via monthly subscriptions or one-time purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tapestry Farms is a nonprofit urban farm system that reclaims underutilized local land to grow culturally specific fresh produce and flowers across 12 garden sites and a Freight Farms hydroponics container in the Quad Cities. It sells produce through CSA subscriptions, farmers markets, and wholesale channels, while offering baklava, floral bouquets, a culturally specific food pantry, immigration legal services, and English language classes to support refugee resettlement.

Product overview

Tapestry Farms is a nonprofit urban farm system offering a portfolio of integrated programs: an urban farming operation with 12 garden sites and a Freight Farms hydroponics container producing fresh produce sold via Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions and at farmers markets; the GIFT Gardens community growing initiative; a social enterprise selling baklava, floral bouquets, and produce; and direct client services including a culturally specific food pantry, immigration legal services, and English language classes. These programs work together to support refugee families while building a sustainable local food system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Subscription Monthly produce subscription from July through November featuring hydroponically cultivated leafy greens, herbs, root vegetables, and seasonal vegetables from the urban farm system. Single Share ($325), Double Share ($650), and Buy One Give One ($650) tiers with sliding scale pricing available for accessibility.
• Fresh Produce Sales Fresh vegetables and herbs grown through the 12-site urban farm system and Freight Farms hydroponics container, sold directly to consumers at QC Farmers' Market (Rock Island, Saturdays), Bettendorf Farmers' Market (Monday/Thursday afternoons), Freight House Farmers' Market, and via the online shop.
• Baklava and Baked Goods Homemade baklava produced as part of the social enterprise, managed by bakery and floral manager Fatima Hussein. Available through monthly subscriptions or one-time purchases through the online shop.
• Floral Bouquets Flower bouquets offered as part of the social enterprise, grown on the urban farm and managed by bakery and floral manager Fatima Hussein. Available through monthly subscriptions or one-time purchases.
• GIFT Gardens Community Growing Program Growing Illowa Food Together - a community-wide initiative inviting individuals, families, and organizations to grow food to fight hunger. Participants grow produce for donation to local food pantries. In 2025, the program produced 64,063 pounds of donated produce.
• Culturally Specific Food Pantry Food pantry services providing culturally appropriate food items to refugee families, including culturally specific produce grown on Tapestry Farms (Intoryi, lenga-lenga, African eggplant, Swahili greens) and staples from home countries. Doubled the number of families served in 2025 via the Quad Cities Community Foundation Transformation Grant.
• Immigration Legal Services Immigration legal services assisting refugees with green card applications, citizenship filings, and work authorization cases. Assisted 108 cases in one year.
• English Language Classes Free adult English language instruction with free childcare provided, serving students speaking multiple languages from various countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64,063 pounds of produce donated to food pantries in 2025 through GIFT Gardens
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, standard and minor.

• University of Illinois ExtensionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2025Partner in GIFT Gardens (Growing Illowa Food Together) initiative. Provides horticultural expertise, planting guides, growing tips, and connects participants with master gardeners.
• Iowa State University Extension and OutreachmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2025Partner in GIFT Gardens initiative. County Director Samantha Culver expressed pride in supporting the program to build a healthier, more resilient community.
• River Bend Food BankmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2025Partner in GIFT Gardens initiative and previous partner in Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program. CEO Chris Ford noted the importance of creative collaborations to address food insecurity.
• Freight FarmscoreTechnology or Integration · 4 December 2023Provided the 320-square-foot self-contained hydroponics unit (Greenhouse Grown container). Tapestry Farms is using Freight Farm technology for year-round vegetable production, growing 2-6 tons annually.
• Quad City Botanical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2023Provided space in their parking lot for the hydroponics container. Executive director Ryan Wille and staff member Kate Mapes enthusiastically supported the project and ongoing partnership.
• City of Rock IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2023Worked with Tapestry Farms through zoning process to enable placement of the hydroponics container. Staff members Tanner Osing, Miles Brainard, and Jerad Irvine facilitated the approval.
• World Relief Quad CitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally funded refugee resettlement agency in the Quad Cities. Partnered with Tapestry Farms to help ensure newest refugees have basic needs met and co-hosted events including Every Campus a Refuge chapter.
• Humble DwellingsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned and built out The Cottage office space for Tapestry Farms, creating a comfortable, welcoming, functional, and beautiful space. Also partners on housing setup for refugee families.
• Nest CafestandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal restaurant that buys produce from Tapestry Farms to serve their customers, supporting the social enterprise model.
• Genesis FoodPlexstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGenesis Health System initiative that purchases produce from Tapestry Farms for their food service operations.
• St. Ambrose UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst college in Iowa to host a chapter of Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR), partnering with World Relief and Tapestry Farms to host refugee families. Hosted Dr. Diya Abdo keynote and provides student volunteers and family literacy classes.
• Trinity Episcopal CathedralmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTapestry Farms moved into the ground floor of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 121 W. 12th Street, creating a community center for English classes, legal clinics, and food distribution.
• St. Paul Lutheran ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhere the idea of Tapestry Farms originated. Continues to provide volunteers, grocery packaging for refugee families, and community support. The executive director remains director of communication there.
• Family Resources Donation CenterminorOthersReferral destination for clothing donations not needed by Tapestry Farms refugee families.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Refugee Response: The Refugee Response operates an urban farm in Cleveland, Ohio that employs refugees in sustainable agriculture and bundles it with social services (English classes, case management, youth programs). It is the closest functional mirror to Tapestry Farms: nonprofit urban farming + refugee resettlement + integrated client services model.
• Plant It Forward: Plant It Forward is a Houston-based nonprofit that trains refugees to farm commercially and sells produce through CSA and farmers markets. Directly comparable in mission (refugee economic empowerment via urban farming) and revenue model (CSA, direct sales, donor-supported).
• Global Growers Network: Global Growers operates community farms in the Atlanta metro area where refugees and immigrants grow culturally familiar produce for their families and local markets. Highly comparable on refugee farmer training, culturally specific crops, and farm-to-family distribution.
• New Roots (International Rescue Committee): IRC's New Roots program operates in multiple U.S. cities (including Salt Lake City) running community gardens and small-farm incubators for refugees, with CSA and farmers market sales. Comparable in combining refugee agriculture training with market-facing food sales.
• The Food Project: The Food Project runs urban farms in the Greater Boston and Lynn areas that grow produce for farmers markets, CSA subscriptions, and food banks, and employs youth (including newcomers) in farming. Comparable in operating multiple urban farm sites + CSA + food bank distribution as a nonprofit.
• Growing Home: Growing Home operates urban farms in Chicago that provide transitional employment and workforce development in agriculture. Comparable urban farm nonprofit with social-mission employment focus, though its target population (formerly incarcerated, low-income) differs from refugees.
• Urban Adamah: Urban Adamah operates a 2.2-acre organic farm and education center in Berkeley, California, with a fellowship program, CSA subscriptions, and food donations. Comparable as a nonprofit urban farm combining food production with community education and CSA revenue.

Emerging players

• Soul Fire Farm: Soul Fire Farm in upstate New York is a BIPOC-led nonprofit farm focused on food sovereignty, training farmers of color, and running youth programs. Comparable as a values-driven, mission-centered farm with social-justice framing and training programs.
• Jones Valley Teaching Farm: Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham, Alabama operates urban farms and youth education programs focused on food access and Good Food. Comparable in operating multiple urban farm sites with educational mission and food access outcomes.

Others

• Big Green: Big Green is a national nonprofit that builds learning gardens in schools and communities across the U.S. Less directly comparable (school-garden focused vs. refugee-employment focused) but adjacent as a peer in the nonprofit urban-agriculture-and-food-access space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tapestry_farms_qc
• Facebookfacebook.com/tapestryfarms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tapestry-farms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tapestry Farms