Development in Gardening (DIG)

What Development in Gardening (DIG) does

Development in Gardening (DIG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Sarah Koch and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. DIG operates through independent, locally-led chapters in Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal, each with its own leadership and in-country board, delivering farmer-led learning groups known as Farmer Field Schools that teach regenerative agriculture and agroecology to some of the world's most uniquely marginalized populations. The organization currently serves more than 35,000 people annually and has set a scaling goal of reaching 143,000+ by 2030.

DIG's product surface is organized around three core programs. The Farmer Field Schools are the foundational program, providing hands-on training in regenerative agriculture at hospital, clinic, and school sites in partnership with organizations such as Lwala Community Alliance, CIDRZ, mothers2mothers (m2m), and government health systems. The Priority Household Program delivers intensive nutrition support to families with children under age five diagnosed as malnourished. The Indigenous Food Preservation Project focuses on identifying and cultivating indigenous forest fruits and vegetables, particularly with the Batwa community in Uganda, with the goal of reviving traditional foodways and strengthening cultural heritage.

The organization is funded primarily through individual donations, foundation grants, corporate partnerships, and fundraising events such as Cocktails & Castoffs, with no fees charged to program participants. DIG pairs field-based programming with peer-reviewed research, including an NIH partnership examining health and nutrition outcomes for people living with HIV, and a 2024 publication in Frontiers Public Health. The organization received the FAO Global Farmer Field Schools Innovation Award in 2024 and the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency in 2026, and has historically operated in 8 countries since its founding.

Name

Development in Gardening (DIG)

Legal name

Development in Gardening

Website

https://dig.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Development in Gardening (DIG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that teaches regenerative agriculture and agroecology to uniquely marginalized populations in Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal through farmer-led learning groups, serving 35,000+ people annually and targeting 143,000+ by 2030.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Agricultural Development Services

NAICS

Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regenerative Agriculture (Soil Carbon, Cover Crops, Reduced/No-Till) (AFAGAMAA), Agriculture & Food Security Development (BPAGABAB), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

Keywords

• Regenerative agriculture
• Farmer field schools
• Community nutrition programs
• Agroecology training
• Food security programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: DIG operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The organization hosts fundraising events such as Cocktails & Castoffs and accepts direct donations through its website.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Development in Gardening (DIG) is a nonprofit organization that delivers community-based regenerative agriculture training programs to uniquely marginalized populations in Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal. Its core offerings are three interconnected programs—Farmer Field Schools, the Priority Household Program, and the Indigenous Food Preservation Project—through which DIG teaches regenerative farming, nutrition, and income-generating skills to communities including people living with HIV, the Batwa indigenous group, people with disabilities, elderly households, young mothers, and chronically malnourished children.

Product overview

DIG offers three interconnected core programs designed to improve nutrition and livelihoods for some of the world's most uniquely marginalized people. The Farmer Field Schools serve as the foundational program teaching regenerative agriculture techniques. The Priority Household Program provides intensive support for families with malnourished children under five. The Indigenous Food Preservation Project revives traditional foodways and cultural heritage. Together, these programs address food security, nutrition, climate resilience, and economic empowerment through community-led agricultural training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farmer Field Schools Community-led learning groups that teach regenerative agriculture techniques to farmers in marginalized communities, with the goal of improving nutrition, food security, soil health, and household income. Services are delivered at partner hospital, clinic, and school sites, with program graduates implementing home gardens.
• Priority Household Program Intensive program targeting families with children under age five who have been diagnosed as malnourished, providing specialized household food security and nutrition recovery support through home gardens and field-based follow-up.
• Indigenous Food Preservation Project Project focused on reviving traditional foodways by identifying and cultivating indigenous forest fruits and vegetables, particularly with the Batwa community in Uganda, strengthening cultural heritage, food security, nutrition, and climate resilience.

Quantifiable outcome

• DIG serves 35,000+ people annually across Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership examining how DIG's program improves health and nutrition outcomes for people living with HIV. Research is under review with PLOS Global Health.
• United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO recognized DIG's community-led approach to sustainable agriculture with the Farmer Field School Innovation Award, validating DIG's model on the global stage.
• University of Washington Senegal ResearchsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership supporting DIG's farmer field school network research in Senegal.
• MetroFresh RestaurantsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAtlanta restaurant that sponsors DIG gardens, having supported gardens in Kenya, Uganda, and Senegal, equipping families to become food secure and economically resilient.
• Lwala Community Alliance (LCA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with LCA in Kenya working on improving nutrition and health of the Lwala community. DIG implements programs bringing improved farming practices through demonstration gardens on hospital property.
• CIDRZ (Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership sponsoring DIG's garden projects in Zambia, working with government health centers to provide nutrition for people living with HIV and AIDS.
• Youth and Child Rural Empowerment Network (YACREN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with YACREN to implement DIG's agriculture training programs for women in Rang'ala self-help groups.
• Crossroads Springs InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school for orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS where DIG established demonstration gardens and 'Garden TV' programming.
• mothers2mothers (m2m)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing support and education for HIV+ mothers, partnered with DIG for cooking demonstrations using garden produce for mothers of underweight children.
• Chef Pierre ThiamsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCelebrated chef who collaborates with DIG to talk about collective role in rebalancing food systems and supports DIG's storytelling through food.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/reaplifeDIG

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Development in Gardening (DIG)