Providing fresh produce and farming education to the Greater Fredericksburg Region.

A mission driven 501(c)(3) committed to reducing food insecurity by donating what we grow to our Food Bank and local food pantries.

OUR VISION

It Starts With a Seed

The Rappahannock Education Farm (REF) is a volunteer based, non-profit, Fredericksburg area farm with a vital social mission.

REF benefits the community in several ways, including:

1. Growing Fresh Produce

Providing high quality, fresh produce to those experience hunger and food insecurity.

2. Agricultural Education

Instructional programs on best practices in sustainable gardening and farming.

3. Community Inclusion

All are welcome to volunteer and to work side-by-side in the many aspects of planting, caring for, and harvesting the fruits of the land.

GET INVOLVED

Activities & Programs

Volunteer

Spring 2026 farm work and planting starts in March!  Many hands will be needed the whole season.

Nutritional Education

Farm fresh produce packs a nutritional punch!  Look for seasonal, tasty food preparation tips from area experts to make the most of it.

Gardening/Farming Classes

Learn the joy of growing food through hands-on volunteering or attending monthly classes starting March 2026.

Community

We’re gratefully growing our Community!  All are welcome to be involved in every aspect of an active farm and non-profit as we work together to produce healthy harvests for those who need it most.

A COMMUNITY EFFORT

Get In On The Ground Floor

The Rappahannock Education Farm is quickly moving from concept to reality. We can only do this if we all join together to make this happen. We recently finalized the acquisition of 9 acres of land here in the Fredericksburg area. These 9 acres will be the home of the Rappahannock Education Farm, where we as a community will band together to combat food insecurity and learn to grow more of our own food.

The idea of the REF grew from an awareness through the Hunger Action Coalition of a gap in access to fresh healthy foods in our community. The mission of our farm is to help close this gap. Together we can grow and donate whole, market fresh foods, to our Food Bank and local pantries to get healthy food into the hands of those who need it most. We know this can be done because we’ve seen other communities do this, here in Virginia, like the Fauquier Education Farm, Shalom Farms and JK Community Farm.

Everyone is welcome to be part of this effort in whatever way you can – through donating to the cause, volunteering at the farm, and even just spreading the word.

Blog

Latest On The Farm

We’re looking for Native Plants!

Native Plants? ? We are looking for native plants. Our awesome volunteer Kari Thompson, along with other volunteers are in the midst of preparing our new REF native pollinator garden. The native plant garden at our Rappahannock Education Farm will have walking paths,...

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New Class! And Tomatoes and Cucumbers are planted!

The warm season crops are going in! Tomatoes and Cucumbers have been planted!!! The rain this morning didn’t stop a dedicated dozen volunteers from having some fun at the Farm and accomplishing SO MUCH!! We planted about 150 tomato plants and 200+ cucumber seedlings —...

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