Sweet potatoes can be found in nearly every grocery store, and are a common ingredient in American cuisine. However, many people don’t realize that sweet potato greens are an edible, tasty treat that can be prepared like any leafy greens–steamed, boiled, or sauteed with olive oil and garlic. In fact, sweet potato greens have been a staple in West African and Asian cuisine throughout history. Most local food-producing farms tend not to harvest this part of the plant because of the lack of demand. But Red Wiggler Farm is not like most farms.
Red Wiggler Community Farm was founded in 1996, as a sustainable farm where community members come together to work, learn, and grow healthy food. The farm aims to address several issues at once: the lack of job opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities, a lack of nutrition education and food security amongst the disabled population, and food insecurity more generally in Montgomery County. The vegetables grown at Red Wiggler are sold to members of their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program or donated to food assistance providers throughout the county. On August 20th, the Food Council, led by our Environmental Impact Working Group, and along with members of the Montgomery County Master Gardener’s Association and Community Food Rescue, had the opportunity to visit Red Wiggler Community Farm, meet several of the staff members and volunteers, and glean sweet potato greens to donate to Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring. 
