Newsletter Sept 2008
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A Place With Purpose…
“If we do not permit the Earth to produce beauty and joy, it will in the end not produce food either.”
— Joseph Wood Krutch, American Naturalist
2010 marks the 30th anniversary of the Agricultural Reserve! That is cause for celebration and we plan to herald the many success stories that stem from the creation of the Reserve and press for greater protection.
Some of the initiatives that MCA will be pursuing include:
-Help establish County’s “incubator farm” - this project, a collaboration of County, Maryland National Park and Planning and several non-profits, including MCA, seeks to establish an Intervale style farm project that will grow the next generation of table crop producers and plant them back in the Reserve.
-Promote a tree/hedgerow preservation program that aims to preserve our valuable edge habitats through educational outreach, land owner incentive and legislation.
-Undertake a Water Resources Awareness Program, providing educational materials for local schools and residents, with specific emphasis on the Piedmont Sole Source Aquifer that serves a large portion of the Reserve.
-Establish an interactive database that will connect farmers and prospective farmers with consumers, distribution and educational resources. The plan now includes links to area bee keepers in need of sites to host hives.
It must be noted that despite the best intentions of the County’s Master Plan for Agricultural and Open Space Preservation, there is constant pressure for development of our precious rural lands.
From 1998 to 2006, development outside smart-growth areas in Montgomery County consumed an average of 915 acres a year. Washington Post November 2, 2009
Our very best to you and your family,
MCA Board and Staff
Every minute of every day, America loses two acres of farmland. Help us save the land that sustains us in Montgomery and Frederick Counties.
