Red Wiggler Community Farm (RWCF)

What Red Wiggler Community Farm (RWCF) does

Red Wiggler Care Farm (legal entity Red Wiggler Foundation Inc., EIN 52-1973795) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 12-acre USDA-certified organic farm in Ovid Hazen Wells Park, Germantown, Maryland. Founded in 1996 by Woody Woodroof and rebranded to Red Wiggler Care Farm in 2024, the organization functions as a care farm: it provides meaningful paid employment to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (17 Growers earned $87,627 in wages across 5,479 hours in 2025), and simultaneously cultivates organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers that are split roughly 50/50 between paid CSA distribution and charitable food donations. The core programs are the CSA Program (120-200 seasonal shares across Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions at $175, $250, and $325 respectively), the Grower Program, the Harvest Share Program (50% of produce to food-insecure households via partner agencies, $74,495 of food distributed in 2025), Education & Service Learning (265 students, 500 hours of instruction in 2025), and the Volunteer Program (495 volunteers, 4,000+ hours in 2025).

The underlying agricultural operation uses traditional organic methods — greenhouse propagation, crop rotation, cover cropping, and integrated pest management — supplemented by a partnership with Compost Crew for member-facing food-waste composting. The supporting technology stack is operational rather than product-oriented: CiviCRM for newsletter and donor list management, and GivePulse for volunteer scheduling and hour tracking. There is no proprietary software, no AI/ML capability, and no app or API surface. Beyond the local farm, Red Wiggler operates the Care Farming Network, established in 2021 as a permanent national program that has grown to 350+ member care farms across the U.S., runs the first National Care Farming Conference, and maintains the nation's first online care farm directory.

The revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix: CSA subscription revenue (transactional per session), individual and corporate donations including foundation grants and planned giving, event revenue (annual Harvest Celebration with $250-$5,000 sponsorship tiers; Friends in the Fields private events at $1,000 for up to 10 guests), education program fees on a sliding scale ($25 Sprout to $75 Harvest), corporate volunteer suggested donations ($250 per group of 5-20), and farm tour admissions ($10 adults, $5 children). The customer base spans local CSA households within a 15-mile radius, partner food banks and schools (Manna Food Center, Community FarmShare, So What Else, AfriThrive, CCAN, Community Food Rescue), educational institutions, corporate groups, and individual volunteers. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed. Leadership comprises Executive Director Kara McCall, founder Woody Woodroof (still active), Farm Production Manager Spencer Ellsworth, Farm Manager Andrea Barnhart, Co-Farm Manager Melissa McLearen, and Education & Outreach Coordinator Molly McCracken.

Name

Red Wiggler Community Farm (RWCF)

Legal name

Red Wiggler Foundation Inc.

Website

https://redwiggler.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Red Wiggler Care Farm is a 12-acre USDA-certified organic care farm in Montgomery County, Maryland, employing adults with developmental disabilities as Growers while distributing produce via CSA memberships, food-bank partnerships, and educational programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Care Farming Services

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic Herb, Spice & Medicinal/Aromatic Plant Farming (AFAGAKAE), Farm-to-Consumer Produce Boxes / CSA Delivery (AFAIANAC), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Organic care farming
• Community supported agriculture
• Inclusive employment services
• Therapeutic agriculture programs
• Nonprofit food distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarksburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CSA Memberships: Community Supported Agriculture program where members purchase seasonal shares of produce. Three sessions offered: Spring ($175), Summer ($250), and Fall ($325). Members pick up weekly shares on-farm and receive 4-6 vegetable items plus access to Pick-Your-Own flower and herb gardens.
2. Harvest Share / Food Distribution: 50% of organic produce distributed to low-income households through partnerships with food banks, schools, and hunger-relief agencies. This is a charitable distribution model rather than direct revenue generation.
3. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and planned giving support the farm's operations. The farm is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 52-1973795).
4. Educational Programs: Fees for school group visits, service-learning programs, and educational farm tours. Sliding scale fees from $25-$75 for school groups; $10 adults/$5 children for general farm tours.
5. Corporate Volunteer Programs: Corporate groups pay suggested donation of $250 for team-building volunteer experiences on the farm. Includes hands-on farm work alongside growers.
6. Special Events: Revenue from events like Harvest Celebration (tickets $30-$5,000 sponsorship tiers), Friends in the Fields private events ($1,000 for up to 10 people), and Farm Tour participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Red Wiggler Community Farm operates a 12-acre USDA-certified organic care farm in Germantown, Maryland, providing seasonal Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce shares (Spring $175, Summer $250, Fall $325), paid employment for adults with developmental disabilities as Growers, hands-on educational programs for schools, structured volunteer opportunities, and a Harvest Share Program that distributes 50% of produce to food-insecure households. The organization also operates the Care Farming Network, a national initiative connecting 350+ care farms across the U.S.

Product overview

Red Wiggler Care Farm operates as a multi-program care farm rather than a traditional product company. Its core offerings center on a 12-acre USDA-certified organic farm in Montgomery County, Maryland. The primary programs include the CSA Program (seasonal produce shares), Grower Program (inclusive employment for adults with disabilities), Education & Service Learning, Volunteer Program, Harvest Share Program (food access), and the Care Farming Network (national initiative). Supporting offerings include a Compost Program, Farm Tours, and annual events like the Harvest Celebration. All programs integrate to fulfill the farm's mission of cultivating belonging and well-being through care farming and community-building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSA Program Community Supported Agriculture program offering seasonal shares of USDA-certified organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers across three sessions (Spring $175, Summer $250, Fall $325). Members receive weekly produce shares with 4-6 vegetable items plus Pick-Your-Own flower and herb garden access; pickup on Wednesdays or Saturdays on-farm.
• Grower Program Inclusive paid employment program providing meaningful work and skills training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Growers participate in all aspects of farming from planting to harvesting to customer interactions; in 2025, 17 Growers worked 5,479 hours and earned $87,627 in wages.
• Education and Service Learning Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 17 Growers employed with $87,627 in wages earned (2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community FarmSharecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founded during COVID pandemic, Community FarmShare operates mobile farmers markets in food deserts, sends produce bags to elementary schools, and coordinates a 'veggie Rx' program where doctors prescribe fresh produce.
• Future Harvest: Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2018Produced the first-ever Mid-Atlantic Care Farming Summit in October 2018 at Red Wiggler's campus, partnering to unite care farms and advance the field.
• Manna Food CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Since 1983, Manna has distributed over 12,000 pounds of food daily. They fund Red Wiggler's Farm to School CSA program and help organize gleaning groups to harvest excess produce. A foundational partner for food access mission.
• So What ElseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginally an after-school program, expanded to food assistance during COVID. Red Wiggler donates produce regularly and has taken staff/volunteers to help at weekly food distributions.
• AfriThriveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to helping immigrant and minority families with food assistance, business development, and financial literacy. Red Wiggler donates gleaned sweet potato greens, a nutritious vegetable popular across the African continent.
• Community Food RescuecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA program of Manna connecting food donors with pantries through volunteer drivers. Helps county reduce food waste while alleviating sourcing and transportation challenges for food pantries.
• Clarksburg Community Assistance Network (CCAN)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmall all-volunteer food pantry operating monthly from a church basement in Clarksburg. Red Wiggler donates produce monthly and has volunteered together with CSA members.
• The Arc of Montgomery County MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral source for workers with developmental disabilities. One of the primary channels through which Growers learn about and join Red Wiggler.
• Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children, Inc. (CSAAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral source connecting adults with autism to meaningful employment at Red Wiggler. Multiple growers found the farm through CSAAC.
• Compost CrewminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal composting provider partnering with Red Wiggler's CSA to divert food waste from landfills. CSA members receive compost bins and liners, with food scraps turned into nutrient-rich soil.
• Butler's OrchardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal orchard that Red Wiggler Growers visit for social outings including berry-picking activities.
• Care Farming NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2021 as a permanent program of Red Wiggler. Provides expert consultations, mentorship opportunities, and hosts gatherings for care farms across the U.S. Features the nation's first online care farm directory. Membership grew to 350+ care farms.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Homeless Garden Project: The Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz, California provides paid transitional employment, organic CSA, and education for people experiencing homelessness. It parallels Red Wiggler's model of using organic farming as a vehicle for workforce development and community building.
• Soul Fire Farm: Soul Fire Farm is a nonprofit BIPOC-centered community farm in upstate New York that combines CSA distribution, food justice programming, and farmer training. It is directly comparable to Red Wiggler's mission-driven farm model with strong food access and education components.
• Project GROWS: Project GROWS is a nonprofit farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley that runs CSA, K-12 education, and food access programs. It is comparable to Red Wiggler in its integrated approach to organic farming, education, and charitable food distribution.
• Mill Creek Farm: Mill Creek Farm is a nonprofit urban farm in Philadelphia that combines CSA, educational programming, and food donation. It mirrors Red Wiggler in its combination of organic farming, community education, and food justice work.
• The Food Project: The Food Project operates sustainable farms in Massachusetts that integrate youth employment, CSA, and food donations. It shares Red Wiggler's model of combining sustainable agriculture with workforce development and food access.
• Coastal Roots Farm: Coastal Roots Farm is a nonprofit Jewish community farm in Encinitas, California that offers CSA, food donations, and educational programming. It shares Red Wiggler's care farming ethos, organic certified production, and food-access mission.
• Camphill Village: Camphill Village communities are intentional care farms that provide meaningful employment and life-sharing for adults with developmental disabilities. Camphill is the original care farming model that Red Wiggler draws upon, with shared emphasis on inclusive employment within agricultural settings.

Others

• Manna Food Center: Manna Food Center is a Montgomery County, Maryland food bank that distributes over 12,000 pounds of food daily and is a foundational partner for Red Wiggler's Harvest Share Program. It is a key distribution partner and a natural peer for understanding the food access ecosystem in Red Wiggler's geography.
• Future Harvest: Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture: Future Harvest is a regional nonprofit that advances sustainable agriculture across the Mid-Atlantic through education, networking, and advocacy. It co-hosted the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Care Farming Summit with Red Wiggler in 2018 and is an ecosystem partner in the care farming movement.

Regional players

• Common Good City Farm: Common Good City Farm is a nonprofit urban farm in Washington, D.C. that produces organic vegetables, offers education, and donates to food-insecure residents. It is comparable to Red Wiggler in its CSA and food access programs, and is a notable alumni employer of Red Wiggler's Farm Production Manager.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheRedWigglerFarm
• Facebookfacebook.com/RedWigglerCommunityFarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/red_wiggler
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/red-wiggler-community-farm

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Red Wiggler Community Farm (RWCF)