The Root Center

What The Root Center does

The Root Center is a 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in Vermont in August 2009 and headquartered in Lincoln, Vermont, that integrates sustainable agriculture, green building, and clean energy to grow organic produce for donation to food banks serving low-income residents of Chittenden County. The organization has donated over 8,000 pounds of organic produce since 2010 and serves an addressable population of roughly 30,000 low-income residents out of Chittenden County's 147,000-person base, with primary distribution through Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, Vermont Foodbank, Hunger Free Vermont, social service agencies, and schools. Beneficiaries are segmented into children and families (the primary segment, ~45% of those in need), low-income seniors (~25%), and individual adults (~30%), with family groupings representing over 64% of low-income residents served.

The organization operates two core programs — a Sustainable Agriculture Program and a Sustainable Architecture and Energy Program — built on an integrated technology stack comprising geodesic dome structures (30-foot base operations tent, planned 45-foot aquaponics greenhouse, and planned 60-foot fully insulated dome), aquaponics systems with Todd Ecological, hydroponics (790-plant capacity) and aeroponics (120-plant capacity) housed in hoop houses, living machines for 100% farm waste-to-energy conversion, vertical axis wind turbines designed by Allard Engineering, atmospheric water condensers, solar-powered farm equipment, and grow-wheel compact cultivation. Strategic technology partnerships underpin the model: Allard Engineering supplies dome and wind-turbine designs, Todd Ecological supplies aquaponics and living machines, the National Gardening Association provides 1/2-acre of land at Vermont Garden Park in South Burlington for scaled production, and WWOOF provides volunteer labor.

The business model is non-commercial. The Root Center is funded primarily through tax-deductible individual donations and grants enabled by its April 2011 501(c)(3) designation, supplemented by event ticket sales (concert series, Root Camp festivals, silent auctions, raffles), membership drives and online fundraising, a small percentage of specialty produce sold to local grocery stores and farmer's markets to offset costs, and novelty item retail. Operations are run entirely by an unpaid seven-person board of directors and a community volunteer network; the organization has no paid employees, no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, and no patents or trademarks.

Name

The Root Center

Legal name

The Root Center

Website

https://therootcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Root Center is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit integrating sustainable agriculture, green building, and clean energy to grow organic produce for donation to food banks serving low-income families in Chittenden County through volunteer-run geodesic dome farms and aquaponics systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Services

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Organic Greenhouse & Protected Crop Farming (High Tunnels, Greenhouses) (AFAGAKAD), Hydroponic & Aeroponic Growing Systems (NFT, DWC, Ebb/Flow, Misting) (AFAAAHAD), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

Keywords

• Sustainable agriculture
• Organic farm donations
• Community food banks
• Geodesic dome greenhouses
• Green building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and grants from organizations as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Primary funding source for initial stages.
2. Event Revenue: Ticket sales from concerts, festivals, conferences, and theater productions. Concert series held in conjunction with silent auctions and raffles.
3. Specialty Produce Sales: Small percentage of specialty foods with high markup value sold to local grocery stores and at farmer's markets to offset costs of produce grown for food banks.
4. Volunteer Contributions: Unpaid volunteer staff and board members contribute time and skills. WWOOF volunteers provide farm labor.
5. Membership Drives and Online Solicitations: Membership programs and online fundraising campaigns to generate ongoing support.
6. Novelty Items and Retail: Sales of novelty items at The Root Center's primary location.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Root Center operates community-run organic farms that grow produce donated to local food shelves, food banks, and people in need, integrating sustainable agriculture with green building and clean energy demonstrations. Its two core programs—the Sustainable Agriculture Program and the Sustainable Architecture and Energy Program—employ geodesic domes, aquaponics, hydroponics, aeroponics, vertical axis wind turbines, living machines, and solar power to enable year-round, zero-fossil-fuel food production for donation and hands-on learning.

Product overview

The Root Center operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering two core programs: the Sustainable Agriculture Program and the Sustainable Architecture and Energy Program. The Sustainable Agriculture Program provides donations of quality organic food to food banks through integrated farming technologies including aquaponics systems, hydroponics (790-plant capacity), aeroponics (120-plant capacity), grow wheels, and in-ground crop production. The Sustainable Architecture and Energy Program serves as a hands-on learning center demonstrating green building design and clean energy production through geodesic dome structures, vertical axis wind turbines, solar technology, and living machines for waste processing. Additional offerings include Root Camp (an annual educational and cultural gathering) and educational outreach programs. The organization has partnerships with Todd Ecological for aquaponics systems and living machines, and Allard Engineering for greenhouse domes and wind turbine technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Agriculture Program Core program that grows organic produce using sustainable methods (aquaponics, hydroponics, aeroponics, grow wheels, and in-ground crop production) for donation to local food banks, food shelves, and people in need. Targets low-income families, children, and seniors in Chittenden County, Vermont.
• Sustainable Architecture and Energy Program Hands-on learning center demonstrating green building design and clean energy production, featuring geodesic dome structures, vertical axis wind turbines, and solar technology for sustainable farm operations.
• Root Camp Annual Gathering Annual ticketed gathering featuring workshops on sustainable agriculture, homesteading, herbal medicine, dome technology, aquaponics, live music performances, and community-building activities held at The Root Center headquarters.
• Educational Outreach Programs Hands-on learning programs for the public demonstrating green building, alternative energy, sustainable agriculture, and organic gardening techniques, including publications, newsletters, and the Root Down weekly music and gardening sessions to help citizens incorporate these practices at home.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ pounds of organic produce donated since 2010
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Gardening AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Partnership to grow over 25,000 pounds of produce for local food banks on 1/2 acre at the NGA's Vermont Garden Park in South Burlington, VT. The partnership provides land and infrastructure for expanded food production operations.
• Todd EcologicalcoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration to construct aquaponics systems and living machines that process 100% of the farm's waste into surplus energy. Todd Ecological helps demonstrate how waste can become energy while supporting organic fish farm development.
• Allard EngineeringcoreTechnology or IntegrationAllard Engineering provides prototype vertical axis wind generator for day-to-day power needs and geodesic dome greenhouse designs. David Allard serves as board member and engineer designing wind turbines for the organization.
• WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWWOOF volunteers provide farm labor and hands-on learning opportunities in sustainable agriculture. The organization hosts WWOOF and other volunteers who assist with gardening, dome construction, and aquaponics system setup.
• The Buckminster Fuller InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspiration and alignment with Buckminster Fuller Institute's mission of applied utopianism and comprehensive anticipatory design science.
• The Eden ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspiration and alignment with the Eden Project's model of educational exhibits showcasing biodiversity and conservation.
• Vermont FoodbankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary recipient of produce donations; part of the food distribution network serving low-income residents in Chittenden County.
• Paul Stamets' Fungi PerfectiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as source of inspiration for sustainable mycology practices; alignment with mushroom cultivation for soil health and decomposition.
• GaviotasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspiration from Gaviotas: A Village To Reinvent The World; alignment with sustainable community development and renewable energy innovation.
• Indigo BridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with Indigo Bridge to bring food-generating domes to Native American reservations using grants and private donations.
• Idle No MoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Idle No More movement to place sustainable food production domes on Native American reservations.
• Pinnacle - Restore Rastafari LandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary of Root Camp 2014 fundraising efforts through #OccupyPinnacle campaign.
• We Grow Food, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary of Root Camp 2014; aligned mission of food production for communities in need.
• Mountain Warrior FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkshop provider at Root Camp 2014 for sustainable agriculture and homesteading education.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Soul Fire Farm: Black-led nonprofit farm in upstate New York that grows and distributes organic produce to food-insecure communities while training new farmers. Directly comparable as a small-scale sustainable agriculture nonprofit with food justice mission and educational programming.
• Plant Chicago: Nonprofit urban agriculture and aquaponics organization operating closed-loop food systems. Directly comparable technology stack (aquaponics, controlled environment agriculture) and nonprofit/community education mission.
• Heifer International: 501(c)(3) nonprofit working at the intersection of sustainable agriculture, food security, and community development globally. Highly comparable mission and donor-funded model, though at substantially larger scale and with international program infrastructure.
• Hunger Free Vermont: Vermont-based nonprofit addressing hunger through food access programs and advocacy. Direct distribution partner and peer organization operating in the same regional food security ecosystem.
• FoodCorps: 501(c)(3) that connects kids to healthy food in schools while building school gardens and delivering food education. Comparable grassroots nonprofit model focused on food access and education for children and families.
• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit farm and education center operating a working farm with greenhouse and controlled-environment growing systems while training farmers and hosting public programming. Comparable in combining production agriculture with public education and sustainable technology demonstration.
• Growing Power (Milwaukee): Historically iconic nonprofit urban farm that pioneered community-based aquaponics and year-round growing for food-insecure populations. Closest historic analog to The Root Center's integrated technology-plus-food-justice model.

Emerging players

• AeroFarms: Commercial indoor vertical farming company using aeroponic technology - the same core growing method The Root Center deploys at smaller scale. Comparable on technology, divergent on business model (for-profit commercial agriculture vs. nonprofit food donations).
• Freight Farms: Commercial company deploying containerized hydroponic farming units for distributed food production. Operates adjacent controlled-environment agriculture technology that overlaps with The Root Center's hoop-house hydroponic systems.

Broad incumbents

• Vermont Foodbank: The state's largest hunger-relief organization and primary produce recipient of The Root Center. Functions as both a distribution partner and a donor competitor, operating at much larger scale across Vermont.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheRootCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/50944368625
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-root-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Root Center