Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center

What Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center does

Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 47-3594106) headquartered at 101 Main Street, Lancaster, New Hampshire that delivers an integrated portfolio of food access, environmental education, and local food system programs to the North Country region spanning Coös County, NH and Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. The organization operates three interlocking program lines: Education (the year-long Farm & Forest School Program delivered inside partner K-5 classrooms, six Summer Day Camp sessions at a new 60-acre Lunenburg, VT campus, after-school Wild Wednesdays and Junior Chefs, and donation-based cooking classes); Food Access (the Local Food Fund that bulk-purchases from local farms for food pantry donation, monthly Taproot Dollars accounts for SNAP recipients, and year-round SNAP/EBT acceptance with 50% Double Up Food Bucks incentives through Fair Food Network); and the Taproot Marketplace and Food Hub, a retail storefront at 101 Main Street aggregating supply from 150+ local and regional farmers, producers, and artisans while also serving as a wholesale food hub for institutional buyers including NH Feeding NH, SAU 36, the local Backpack Program, restaurants, and hospitals. The Lancaster Community Garden at 30 Elm Street operates 30 raised beds under a tiered rental model with dedicated donation beds.

Taproot's technology stack is a standard small-nonprofit configuration: a Squarespace-hosted website, QuickBooks Online for accounting, a point-of-sale system that tracks per-shopper spending for the loyalty program, Mailchimp for newsletter distribution, PayPal for online donations, Google Forms for program registration, and EBT card processing integrated with the Double Up Food Bucks program. Notable proprietary features include the Taproot Eats Local Rewards Program (a two-tier annual cash-back loyalty scheme paying 1.5-3% Taproot Dollars), the Local Food Fund stored-value account system with a 15% additional discount, and the SNAP/DUFB integration that automatically applies a 50% discount on eligible fresh produce at checkout.

The revenue model blends earned and contributed income: Marketplace retail sales aggregating 150+ vendors, education tuition ($140-$280 per camp session, $80 Junior Chefs), tiered Community Garden bed rentals ($20/$15/$10), and pay-what-you-can cooking class donations on the earned side; and individual donations, planned giving, iGive.com affiliate commissions, Round Up at the Register micro-donations, and grants from USDA, NH Charitable Foundation, Whole Kids Foundation, Agnes Lindsay Trust, Eversource, VT Community Foundation, Cogswell Benevolent, Block Foundation, Saul Sidemore Foundation, and a $294,400 Northern Border Regional Commission grant dated December 8, 2025 on the contributed side. Founded circa 2014 by Dr. Melissa Grella, the organization operates with a small staff (5 named roles plus seasonal hires) and a board, serving K-8 youth, SNAP recipients, local food consumers, institutional buyers, and donor/foundation supporters.

Name

Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center

Legal name

Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center

Website

https://taprootnh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Lancaster, NH that integrates food access, environmental education, and local food systems. It operates a Marketplace/food hub with 150+ vendors, a Community Garden, SNAP/DUFB food access, K-8 nature education, and summer camps on a new 60-acre Vermont campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Local Food Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD), Natural/Organic Food Co-ops & Community Natural Grocers (CRAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Local food marketplace
• Community garden services
• Farm and forest school
• Food access programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marketplace retail sales: Direct retail sales of local/regional food, farm products, artisan goods, craft beer, wine, and CBD products through the Taproot Marketplace storefront at 101 Main Street, Lancaster, NH. Open six days a week; accepts cash, all major credit cards, and EBT/SNAP. Drives the food-hub volume across 150+ local vendors.
2. Donations and grants: Tax-deductible charitable contributions (EIN 47-3594106) collected via PayPal, check, planned-giving bequests/wills/trusts, iGive.com affiliate shopping, Honorary/Memorial gifts, Workplace Matching Gift Programs, and Education Scholarship Fund. Major funding partners include USDA, Whole Kids Foundation, NH Charitable Foundation, Agnes Lindsay Trust, Eversource, VT Community Foundation, Cogswell Benevolent, Block Foundation, and Saul Sidemore Foundation, among others.
3. Education program fees (summer camps, after-school, cooking classes): Tuition for six summer-camp sessions (Early Bird pricing $140–$280 with 20% discount), Junior Chefs after-school ($80/2026 with 20% early-bird discount), and cooking classes (pay-what-you-can donation, suggested $25). Scholarships and half-day options available.
4. Lancaster Community Garden bed rentals: Seasonal rental of 30 raised garden beds at $20 (first), $15 (second), $10 (third), plus a $10 refundable deposit. Scholarships available. Funds support garden operations and food-donation beds.
5. iGive.com affiliate / Round Up at Register: Passive revenue streams: (1) Affiliate commissions when supporters shop online via iGive.com linked to Taproot, and (2) customer-driven micro-donations via the Marketplace's "Round Up at the Register" program, which supports the Local Food Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs an integrated set of community programs: a retail Marketplace and regional Food Hub at 101 Main Street, Lancaster, NH connecting consumers to 150+ local farmers and producers; K–8 environmental education through a Farm & Forest School partnership program, six themed Summer Day Camp sessions, Junior Chefs and Wild Wednesdays after-school programs, and donation-based Cooking Classes; and food access work including SNAP/EBT acceptance with Double Up Food Bucks 50% produce discounts, the Local Food Fund stored-value program, and the 30-bed Lancaster Community Garden. Programs are funded through retail sales, tuition, donations, planned giving, employer matching gifts, iGive.com affiliate commissions, Round Up at the Register micro-donations, and grants from regional and national foundations.

Product overview

Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center operates a non-profit, integrated portfolio of community programs centered on nourishing food, a healthy environment, and a strong community, anchored by its Taproot Marketplace and Food Hub (formerly Root Seller) retail store at 101 Main Street, Lancaster, NH, which connects consumers to 150+ local farmers/producers and serves as a food hub for institutional buyers. Surrounding the Marketplace are the Lancaster Community Garden (30 raised beds for rent and food donation), the Farm & Forest School Program (year-long nature-based school partnership), Summer Day Camp (six 2026 sessions for ages 5-13 on a new 60-acre Lunenburg campus), Cooking Classes (donation-based community cooking workshops), After School Programs (Wild Wednesdays and Junior Chefs), and Food Access programs (Local Food Fund, SNAP Incentive Programs via Double Up Food Bucks). All programs are funded/operated by a 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN 47-3594106).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Taproot Marketplace: Retail store and food hub (formerly Root Seller) at 101 Main Street, Lancaster, NH, connecting consumers with 150+ local and regional farmers, producers, and artisans; offers Taproot Eats Local Rewards Program.
• Lancaster Community Garden
• Taproot Eats Local Rewards Program
• Local Food Fund
• Taproot Wild Wednesdays
• Junior Chefs

Products and services

• Taproot Marketplace and Food Hub Retail grocery storefront and regional food hub at 101 Main Street, Lancaster, NH, connecting consumers to products from 150+ local and regional farmers, producers, artisan crafters, brewers, and vendors, and sourcing product for institutional buyers including NH Feeding NH, SAU 36, the local Backpack Program, restaurants, and hospitals. Accepts all major credit cards, EBT/SNAP with 50% Double Up Food Bucks, PayPal, and Taproot gift coupons.
• Lancaster Community Garden 30-raised-bed community garden at 30 Elm Street, Lancaster, NH, with beds rentable by individuals, families, and organizations (scholarships available). Includes dedicated donation beds and hosts educational programming May through October. Pricing tiered at $20/$15/$10 per bed plus a refundable $10 deposit.
• Farm & Forest School Program Year-long weekly nature- and garden-based school partnership program working with one grade at a partner school (e.g., Lunenburg Elementary). Includes nature exploration, gardening, cooking, fiber arts, woodworking/whittling, fire building, unstructured nature play, and field excursions to state parks, national forests, and conservation areas.
• Summer Day Camp Outdoor nature-immersion day camp for children ages 5–13, hosted on Taproot's new 60-acre campus in Lunenburg, NH/VT for 2026. Six sessions include Pea Shoots & Polliwogs (K–1), Young Naturalists (K–5), Luna Camp (girls grades 4–7), Farm to Fork Camp (grades 5–7), and Explorers Camp (grades 6–8) with overnights. Fully licensed Youth Camp Program with NH DHHS.
• Cooking Classes Donation-based community cooking classes held in the Taproot Kitchen at 101 Main Street, led by Taproot staff and guest chefs (e.g., "Pastabilities" pasta class with Notch Above Bakery). Registration by donation starting at a suggested $25.
• After-School Programs (Wild Wednesdays and Junior Chefs) After-school outdoor enrichment programs for local youth: Wild Wednesdays (nature play, fort-building, hiking, and nature crafts for grades 4–5; free with suggested $5/week donation) and Junior Chefs (six-week cooking program for grades 6–8 at the Taproot Kitchen; $80 with 20% early-bird discount). Registration via Google Forms.
• Local Food Fund Food access initiative that bulk-purchases food from local farms for donation to the food pantry and provides Taproot Dollars accounts loaded monthly to SNAP recipients and others in need (with an additional 15% discount on all purchases). Includes the annual Pie Project with the WMRHS culinary team and Project Homebound Thanksgiving boxes. Funded by Round Up at the Register and donations.
• SNAP Incentive Program (Double Up Food Bucks) Year-round EBT acceptance at the Taproot Marketplace with 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables via the nationwide Double Up Food Bucks program operated by Fair Food Network (Double Up NH), which operates in New Hampshire and 24 other states.
• Taproot Eats Local Rewards Program Two-tier annual cash-back loyalty program at Taproot Marketplace: 1.5% Taproot Dollars reward on annual spending of $2,600–$4,999, or 3% on $5,000+. Tracked by the point-of-sale system and dispensed in March of the following year as Taproot Dollars redeemable at the Marketplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% discount on fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP recipients via Double Up Food Bucks
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Fair Food Network / Double Up NHflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program at Taproot Marketplace, providing 50% off fresh fruits and vegetables for SNAP/EBT customers year-round. Taproot is one of 24+ state participants in this nationwide Fair Food Network program.
• Catholic CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based human services organization listed as a Taproot donor and likely aligned with regional food access and anti-hunger programming.
• Coos Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation district listed as a Taproot donor and partner for environmental education and land stewardship work in Coös County.
• NH Environmental Educators (NHEE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState professional association listed as a Taproot partner supporting environmental education programming.
• Coös Economic Development Council (CEDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic-development entity listed as a Taproot donor and partner supporting local food-system economic viability.
• NBRC (North Branch Resource Center / Nature-based preschool consortium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Taproot donor; regional nature-based education peer organization.
• NFC (Northern Forest Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Forest Center listed as a Taproot donor aligned with regional conservation and community-development goals.
• Aubuchon (hardware)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional hardware retailer listed as a Taproot donor; aligned with farm/garden operational needs.
• Garland MillminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Taproot donor; local mill / food producer in the regional supply network.
• Polish PrincessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Taproot donor; local artisan producer supplying the Marketplace.
• Von WeberminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Taproot donor; local vendor supplying the Marketplace.
• Rugh GalleriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a Taproot donor; local vendor supplying the Marketplace.
• Notch Above Bakery (led by "Buzz")coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuest-chef partnership: Notch Above Bakery's "Buzz" leads Taproot cooking classes (e.g., Pastabilities on March 14, 2026) in the Taproot Kitchen at 101 Main Street.
• Project HomeboundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Pie Project collaboration: WMRHS culinary team bakes pies from Taproot-purchased local apples/squash/pumpkins, distributed in Project Homebound Thanksgiving boxes for local families.
• White Mountains Regional High School (WMRHS) Culinary TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-bakes the annual Pie Project with locally sourced produce from Taproot's Local Food Fund, feeding Project Homebound Thanksgiving boxes.
• Colonel Town RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides drop-off and pick-up location for Taproot's Wild Wednesdays after-school program; partners on transportation (LES busing) and facility access.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processor powering Taproot's online donations (Make A Donation, Education Scholarship Fund, Honorary/Memorial gifts) and gift-coupon sales at the Marketplace.
• NH Feeding NHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide anti-hunger network sourcing local food through Taproot's food hub for distribution to communities in need.
• SAU 36 (Lancaster School District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the SAU 36 Summer Food Program with Taproot as a local food supplier, and is a partner on school-garden and Farm & Forest School programming.
• Lunenburg Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner classroom for Taproot's Farm & Forest School Program (Farm & Forest Fridays), with teacher Cheryl Miles quoted positively on student outcomes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Hanover Co-op Food Stores: Hanover Co-op is a community-owned grocery co-op in the Upper Valley NH/VT region that sources heavily from local producers and has an education/community-giving mission. It is comparable to Taproot Marketplace as a retail food-hub aggregating many small local producers in rural New England.
• Monadnock Food Co-op: Monadnock Food Co-op is a community-owned natural foods grocery in Keene, NH with a strong local-producer focus and SNAP/EBT acceptance. It is a regional comparable to Taproot Marketplace on the retail food-hub side, though it is not an environmental-education nonprofit.
• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is a nonprofit nature-education organization in Holderness, NH offering wildlife programs, summer camps, and outdoor learning for K-8 students. It is a regional peer to Taproot's environmental education and summer-camp programming in New Hampshire.

Direct peers

• Stonewall Farm: Stonewall Farm is a nonprofit educational farm in Keene, NH that operates a working farm, summer camps, school programs, and a community-supported agriculture program. It is highly comparable to Taproot's combined Marketplace + Farm & Forest + summer-camp model in another rural New Hampshire community.
• Shelburne Farms: Shelburne Farms is a nonprofit education center and historic 1,400-acre farm in Shelburne, Vermont, operating an inn, restaurant, and year-round K-12 environmental education programs. It is the most direct peer to Taproot in the Northeast, combining working agriculture, place-based education, and food-system mission work.
• NOFA-NH (Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire): NOFA-NH is a nonprofit that promotes organic agriculture, food sovereignty, and farmer education across New Hampshire. It overlaps with Taproot's sustainable food systems mission, vendor network, and educational programming, and is a natural statewide peer and potential partner.
• The Fells (John Hay National Wildlife Refuge / Fells Historic Estate): The Fells is a nonprofit historic estate and woodland garden in Newbury, NH operating environmental education, horticulture, and trails programming on conserved land. Comparable to Taproot in combining environmental education, garden programming, and New Hampshire regional nonprofit operations.

Emerging players

• Fair Food Network (Double Up Food Bucks): Fair Food Network operates the nationwide Double Up Food Bucks SNAP-incentive program that Taproot participates in. As a national nonprofit deploying the program across 25+ states, it is the program-level parent/comparable to Taproot's DUFB implementation and food-access strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Vermont Foodbank: Vermont Foodbank is the statewide food bank serving Vermont, including areas near Taproot's new Lunenburg campus. Comparable to Taproot's food-access work and a likely partner given the cross-state operations.
• NH Food Bank: NH Food Bank is the statewide hunger-relief organization that distributes food through partner pantries including the local Backpack Program that Taproot supplies. It is a comparable food-access organization operating at much greater scale, and a logical upstream partner/customer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Root-Seller-Marketplace-314355625610347
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/root-seller-marketplace

Compliance3 records

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 Taproot Farm & Environmental Education Center