Care Farming Network Cultivates Wellness and Opportunity for Farmers of All Abilities

Amidst greenhouses and garden beds, something extraordinary is blossoming on care farms across the country. These vibrant, inclusive spaces blend agriculture with an abundance of compassion, creating therapeutic environments where individuals with disabilities flourish. With every seed planted and animal fed, care farms are redefining what it means to grow well-being, purpose and possibility.

In 1996, armed with prior experience working in group homes, Woody Woodroof established Red Wiggler Care Farm in Maryland, which is committed to empowering individuals with differing abilities to simultaneously cultivate life skills and work skills. Red Wiggler Care Farm evolved into the Care Farming Network, a nationwide, member-driven movement that connects and supports inspiring care farmers, nurtures the community and elevates the transformative power of therapeutic agriculture.

At the core of care farming is the compelling notion that nature nurtures the mind, body and spirit. Participants in these innovative programs engage in hands-on agricultural tasks tailored to their abilities and interests. Whether it’s collecting eggs, harvesting vegetables or grooming goats, each undertaking becomes a comprehensive opportunity for physical activity, sensory engagement, mental wellness, skill-building and more.

The use of adaptive farming tools, for instance, can help strengthen muscles as well as bolster confidence. The routine of farm life may forge structure and foster responsibility, while being in the fresh air and connecting with animals can promote mental calm and emotional resilience. And the simple act of tending to a garden or caring for a flock can reduce anxiety and lift spirits. Care farming has the power to cultivate independence, joy and a sense of accomplishment  – one row at a time.

Sowing Seeds of Inclusion

The Care Farming Network is more than a directory of benevolent establishments. It’s an ever-growing community of over 300 farms across the U.S., building bridges between seasoned agriculturists, emerging care farms and those within the disability community. Through robust consultations, technical resources, monthly gatherings and a national conference, the Network empowers individuals and organizations to start, scale and sustain care farms with confidence.

The Care Farming Network helps potential members dig in with various tools and support, providing:

• Awareness & Education: The Care Farming Network shares evidence-backed research, motivational success stories and newsworthy features to spotlight the profound impact of farm-based care.
• Capacity-Building: Personalized mentorship and consultation help care farms thrive, from launch plans to fundraising to best practices.
• Community & Collaboration: The Care Farming Network’s cohort approach, farm meet-ups, peer support pods and online webinars create fertile ground for growth, innovation and inspiration.
• Research: Grants and projects validate the effectiveness of care farming, advocate for policy-friendly recognition and guide future program expansion.

See more: AgrAbility Provides Help and Hope to Hoosier Farmers with Disabilities

Growing Inclusive Employment

Adults with disabilities account for one-fifth of the population and yet are unemployed at a rate twice that of peers without disabilities. With 7.4 million open jobs in the current 2025 labor market (per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), people with disabilities are a largely untapped and valuable talent pool.

Through job training and employment opportunities, care farms often become stepping stones to greater liberty, including career pathways in agriculture and many other industries. Care farm participants gain transferable skills, such as time management, teamwork and communication – all skills that can organically translate to varied work environments. From farmers markets to CSA programs, many care farms also teach business insight, empowering individuals to play active roles in local food systems.

As awareness of care farm programming grows, so does the recognition of the valuable contributions people with disabilities bring to the workforce and community. Employers are taking notice too, seeing how inclusive, supportive settings lead to loyal, skilled and passionate employees. That’s why, instead of focusing on one’s limitations, care farm members highlight the unique abilities that individuals have, creating a shift in perspective that opens doors.

Care Farms in the U.S.

Members of the Care Farming Network nurture hope, healing, purpose and connection. Here’s a snapshot of  just a few of the many participating farms:

Blawesome in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

With an inclusive workforce, Blawesome operates as both an organic flower farm and a floral design studio. Customers can tour the farm, purchase bouquets, opt into seasonal subscriptions or have special events beautified with floral deliveries.

Cul2vate in Nashville, Tennessee

Cul2vate offers a unique blend of physical, emotional and spiritual nourishment through a two-fold mission: growing fresh produce to fight food insecurity and growing people through structured agricultural training.

Participants (affectionately known as “Cul2vators”) engage in opportunities that equip them with real-world farming skills, life management skills and employment readiness. Cul2vate also runs a farm store, CSA program and flower operation.

See more: How Cul2vate Provides Personal Growth Through Farming

Greens Do Good in Oakland, New Jersey

Greens Do Good is on a mission to shift the way their local community sources healthy produce. A labor of love of individuals with disabilities, Greens Do Good composes curated boxes of hydroponic produce.

Lettuce Work in New Albany, Ohio

Lettuce Work is a nonprofit social enterprise created to provide training and employment opportunities for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Inspired by their son Daniel, who has ASD and diabetes, Doug and Julie Sharp founded Lettuce Work. This therapeutic nursery space focuses on plant-based engagement, with 100% of plant sales benefiting this inclusive business initiative.

See more: Employees on the Autism Spectrum Bloom at Lettuce Work

Navarro Farm in Frankfort, Illinois

Nestled on a supportive thirty-acre family farm, Navarro Farm invites teenagers and young adults with special needs into a nurturing agricultural haven. Their signature Farmer Program runs seasonally, guiding participants through planting and harvesting garden-grown produce, cooking with farm-fresh crops, caring for animals and collaborating in raised bed cultivation, among other tasks.

With goals of social and motor skill development, self-reliance and environmental awareness, Navarro Farm transforms farming into a hands-on classroom of growth and empowerment. Navarro Farm also operates Carter’s Corner, a produce stand where inclusive employees are trained on inventory, packaging, customer engagement, sales and more.

See more: A Place to Grow: Navarro Farm Nurtures Capabilities for People of All Abilities

More Information on Care Farming Network

Care Farming Network aims to achieve thriving care farms nationwide. Membership is free of charge and the impact is invaluable. For more information, visit CareFarmingNetwork.org. And save the date for the 2nd Annual Care Farming Network National Conference, to be held in the Washington, D.C., region Feb. 9-11, 2026. The Care Farming Network attests, “whether you’re just getting started or have years of experience, this conference offers opportunities to share knowledge, access resources and be part of a movement rooted in healing, belonging and purpose.”