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A few spices and a bit of citrus - the only things necessary to add to Reserve grown food, flowers, views, talent and hospitality at Farm to Fork. It was a magical evening for a great cause and we at MCA are so thankful, not just for the support that came from the event, but the way that all the different pieces of our local community came together to make the event happen. It was the manifestation in edible, sippable, memorable form of the work MCA has been doing to strengthen and protect Montgomery County's working landscape. We'd like to thank all that attended in support of MCA and the Ag Reserve, particularly our hosts the Langstaff family. David Langstaff put the evening and the Reserve in a wider context in his excellent remarks): But, we need to do more. I encourage you to think about MCA and the Agricultural Reserve in a broader context – as a push-back against the prevalent short-term thinking of our time, and as an investment in our long-term, and in our values, It is our moment to act on our values… on the principles that bind our community -- as our founding fathers did in establishing the framework and principles of our country …. as President Roosevelt did in establishing national parks; as Frederic Law Olmstead and others did in setting aside land for Central Park; and as Royce Hanson, working with many of you here, did in envisioning the Agricultural Reserve in Montgomery County, MD. Fall is a colorful time both on the trees and around the table - but for all the oranges and reds the dominant color at your farmers market is similar to what you'll find in early spring - green. As the weather chills, kale, spinach, chard (above) and other greens find relief from the heat of summer and grow well. Our friends at Plow and Stars Farm run a year round CSA and have shared a guide to greens along with a pinterest page full of local food recipes for year-round enjoyment. Just don't click over there on an empty stomach. Apple picking weather is also here. You can find great local orchards where you can make a day of picking your favorite variety. Pick a few extra and make a freezer full of applesauce to last you till spring - all in your crock pot! Your house will smell like fall all day.
Two opportunities to see art inspired by local food and the Ag ReserveIf we do not permit the earth to produce beauty and joy, it will in the end not produce food, either. ~ Joseph Wood Krutch The Ag Reserve is preserved as a working landscape to benefit the entire region in a number of practical ways. The food it makes is meant to nourish people, the landscapes protected to filter the water and air. That being said - it is gorgeous. The beauty of both the land and the food that comes from it will be on display in two gallery shows this fall. Countryside Artisans Farm to Gallery Black Rock Center for the Arts Sept. 16 - October 28 Opening Reception on September 17 2-4pm This collection of rural Montgomery County artists has moved the Reserve to the gallery featuring pieces in textiles, fiber, stone, oils, watercolors, pastels, glass, wood, clay, stoneware, and porcelain. This show will be up during our Royce Hanson Award Ceremony at Black Rock on October 22 where we celebrate David Scott Jr. and his family. Stay tuned for details. "Foodies" A Juried Photo Exhibit ~ September 16-October 22
Glen Echo Photoworks Reception and Gallery Talk: September 15 7-9pm Calling all Gastronomes! Photoworks Gallery announces FOODIES, our Fall 2017 Photography Exhibition. Juried by Debra Moser (VisArts, Edible DC), this exhibit will highlight the good, the bad and the tasty of our cultural obsession with eating as a hobby. We are inviting our supporters to celebrate the Reserve with their palate at our first ever Farm to Fork benefit dinner on September 16. Currently, we are working with our chefs, Brian Patterson, of L'Academie de Cuisine and Mark Mills, Chocolates & Tomatoes Farm to source as much as possible solely from Agricultural Reserve Farmers for your meal and you may be lucky enough to have one of the featured farmers at your table. Click over to see the menu.
One of the evening's chefs, Mark Mills of Chocolates and Tomatoes Farm, is a graduate of the New Farm Pilot program in which MCA partnered with the County to train the next generation of Montgomery County's Farmers. Mark was a successful pastry chef until he decided to get closer to the ingredients. His exquisite confections now feature ingredients grown on land he has leased through our Land Link program. Join us to find even more delicious local food connections and enjoy an amazing meal for a great cause.
Forget the Beach - Eat a PeachWhen the calendar turns to August we are on the downhill toward September. This is the time that thoughts turn to new school outfits and a return to routine. But wait! There is time left to have uniquely summer adventures and you don't have to get out of town to do so. Wonder is waiting out your back door in Montgomery County's Ag Reserve. 1. Ice Cream, with a storyOf course Ice Cream is first on the list. Your local scoop shop has nothing on Woodbourne Creamery in Mt. Airy. The farm is a stop on the Maryland's Best Ice Cream trail. The farm boasts North America's first all robotic milking system for its pasture raised cows. Tour the creamery and grab a scoop of MoCo's finest ice cream! (they offer pick your own too, click Rock Hill Orchard below) 2. Pick your own ___ (or get pre-picked)
3. Get your feet wet (in the Nation's River)The Nation's River provides great recreation opportunities close by. Join an event with our friends Potomac Conservancy or Canoe Cruisers . We are working with Canoe Cruisers to find a solution to closures of 2 miles of river coast to coast while President Trump is golfing at his resort on the Virginia side. 4. Sips on the Farm
5. Celebrate the Harvest -Support MCAJoin us for the first ever Farm to Fork dinner on September 16. Celebrate with purpose and help protect the Beauty, Bounty and History of Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve, while mingling with the farmers whose livelihood depends on its preservation and enjoying the carefully grown fruits of their labors. A bountiful banquet of locally sourced vegetables, meat, baked goods, fruit & libations ~ masterfully orchestrated by chef Brian Patterson of L'Academie De Cuisine. The venue is gorgeous Shepherd's Hey Farm at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain. 6. Get ready for a Fall Classic- Ride the Rustic Roads with Us!
This afternoon the Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU took up the topic of the Potomac bridge project. (click here to listen) In attendance were Bob Buchanan, a developer and member of the 2030 group, one of the main backers of the bridge and Stewart Schwartz from our partner organization Coalition for Smarter Growth. Stewart revealed the lunacy of this project point by point and highlighted the immense personal financial stake Mr. Buchanan and his development partners have in building the sprawl that would come from this boondoggle.
Right out of the gate, Mr. Buchanan casually brushed aside concerns about the sprawl and detriment to established communities and again cited a poll that has been discredited in the media. The 2030 group had a polling firm call up 800 residents and ask them if the bridge is a good idea - no budget figure, no location - as you might imagine, most traffic weary residents said yes. Stewart Schwartz rightly called the poll's validity into question. What followed in the time remaining was a chorus of listeners (one being MoCo Council President Berliner who called in) on both sides of the river calling this project into question for its negative impact on communities, water, habitat, agriculture and its efficacy as a traffic solution in the first place. Our friends across the River at Piedmont Environmental Council have prepared a great list of 8 myths used to sell this zombie project yet again. For those wondering why this project is called the "zombie" bridge and why it gets re-animated so often, this is a great summary. The bridge segment today was cut a bit short so the show could properly honor dearly departed DC broadcaster Jim Vance. There is much more discussion to be had and much, much more work to do. Join us won't you?
Read on for our favorite tweets and observations about the Kojo Show today:
"It endangers several communities that plan to use and need clean water. That area has been designated as a Sole Source Aquifer:
Update: The Coast Guard is working with local paddling clubs to find ways for the MD side of the river to be open. Thanks to all for their comments on this issue to the Coast Guard. See Post Coverage here.
The US Coast has issued a final interim rule that allows the full width of the Potomac River (and access at highly popular Riley's Lock in Montgomery County) and a length of two miles to be closed at any time due to use of Trump National Golf Course in Sterling, VA. See our comments below. As our partners at Canoe Cruisers Association have said, "This is clearly a case of overkill." Action Needed: A Terrible Idea Gets New Life: The Zombie Potomac Bridge Rises Again UPDATE7/19/2017
Update (8/28): What are the proposed routes for the highway? There are a whole, whole lot of them: Update: 7/19 saw a meeting of the Transportation Planning Board (TBP) of the regional Council of Governments. One of the 10 items being considered for study between now and December when the board will make decisions based on said studies is ----yes --- a re-re-re-study of the Potomac Bridge. Along with our partner Stewart Schwartz from Coalition for Smarter Growth, our own ED Caroline Taylor was there to provide testimony cautioning the board to not look at transportation in a vacuum - this project would impact land use, the Ag Reserve and particularly water resources - the federally designated Piedmont Sole Source Aquifer and the fact that the proposed connection point would be just upstream from the WSSC intake. Board member and MoCo Councilmember Elrich attempted to float an amendment to remove the Bridge from the list of other reasonable projects the Board was voting to study - many of them transit oriented and proven to reduce gridlock. The amendment failed to get enough votes, the Bridge will be studied, for the 4th time. To be fair, a number of votes in favor of yet another bridge study are not in favor of the bridge being built. The bottom line: The TBP has only until December to study and report on all of these 10 projects at which time they will vote to move ahead with some of them. We are concerned that there is not enough time to make this a comprehensive study, the kind of solid investigation that has shown time and again that this bridge will not objectively ease, and may even exacerbate current gridlock. See the map below for all the different routes that have been studied over the years. There is much work to do on this, we give thanks to those who have written in comments so far. Please sharpen your pencils, stay tuned and if you have not already done so- please become a member of MCA with your tax deductible donation.
Thanks to all who made it out to Field and Fiddle this year - we once again had great weather and great company.
Thanks to our musicians: Barry Louis Polisar, Jokgu and her Flockstars (follow her hollywood journey on America's Got Talent), Medley District, and Justin Trawick and the Common Good (Justin plays all over the area - find him live here) Thanks to our food vendors: Cipolla Rossa Pizza, 3rd Alarm BBQ, and everyone who baked for the bake sale. Local libations came thanks to Rocklands Farm and Winery and Waredaca Brewery and hibiscus tea from Lady Farmer Thanks to our Equestrian demonstrators Molly Xanthopoulos, resident trainer at Wyndham Oaks and her magnificent horse Vega Kathy Curtis and fabulous friesian Jimi Sarah Phelps and Company from Great Falls Vaulters Sound by indefatigable Folk Festival wizards Van Mertz and friends Dwain, Bob, Bill and Betty Volunteers too numerous to mention but to whom we are deeply indebted. (Join them, won't you - contact [email protected]) We have lots of great upcoming events - find those here. Join us for a very special benefit dinner at this exquisite farm in the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain.
Meet and celebrate your local farmers while dining on their carefully grown foods prepared by Chef Brian Patterson of L'Academie de Cuisine. You’ll enjoy a cooking demonstration, locally made wine and beer pairings, and take a sneak peek at the new cookbook Bread & Beauty: A Year in the Life of Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve
Pssttt... we sent our current members and sustainers a discount code for this event by email on 5/24. Didn't get it? Check your spam, still can't find it- contact Kristina @Mocoalliance.org
Field & Fiddle is a annual festival and fundraiser for Montgomery Countryside Alliance. Held this year on a farm in Boyds. MD, June 24.
Barry Louis Polisar is joined on stage by Jokgu the Chicken and the Flockstars and last years great time Justin Trawick and the Common Good. Watch this chicken play "America the Beautiful" on piano and try not to feel things.
Jokgu and her poultry backing band The Flockstars will join us to perform live at Field and Fiddle June 25.
Also performing, kids music legend and Emmy awarded musician for "All I Want is You" from the Film Juno, Barry Louis Polisar and last year's fantastic headliner, Justin Trawick. Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail What effect will climate change have on the Washington region’s water resources? According to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin – Plenty. Their report indicates that by 2040 climate change could cut stream flows by as much as 35% on an annual average.Science should inform the region’s planning and goals of resource protection. AP Coverage Some more resources about our coming water crisis: How Maryland is adapting its drinking water plans to climate change Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin Climate Change Fact Sheet EPA Addressing Climate Change in the Water Sector A Case Study: The City of Frederick's plan for addressing Climate Change Impacts on Watersheds Water Storage: Evaluation of Travilah Quarry for Water Supply Storage (Phase 1 and 2) The Journal of the American Water Resources Association- "Benefits of Water Supply Forecasting in the Washington, DC area. Montgomery County Park and Planning Water Resources Functional Plan (May 2010)
Seven scenic routes of varying mileage, with a NEW shorter family friendly loop, delightful, fully stocked stops at Dickerson Market, Rocklands Farm and more, followed by the sumptuous gourmet picnic at Kingsbury’s Orchard. After an enjoyable ride around Montgomery County's countryside, you'll relax with friends, listen to great music and celebrate our cherished Ag Reserve. (Check out last year's fun). In keeping with tradition, volunteers will deliver apples, preserves and fresh meat that you purchase from Kingsbury’s Orchard and Rocklands Farm back to your cars. Come ride with us! MCA really needs volunteers to make this popular event work and we can offer SSL hours for students. Contact [email protected] to sign up!
Sign up for secure automatic monthly gifts to support the Ag Reserve all year round and get discounts on MCA events!
We are about to unleash a bunch of 2017 perks for our sustainers - make sure you are one of them!
"I hate to see the farmland and open spaces around the DC area being developed. The Ag Reserve is crucial, but somehow had dropped out of my consciousness."
Please join Susan and many others in supporting MCA. Gifts are automatic, easy, secure and protect local farms all year round while you do other things.
Protecting our water and food supply, public health, providing greater economic opportunity/benefits for farmers - a number of well aimed bills in Annapolis, in addition to a recently passed provision for urban farming tax credits in Montgomery County, should make residents proud. The session is not over but for several key bills there is reason for optimism.
The answer is that you don’t have to look very far in the Agricultural Reserve to find good suppliers of fresh beef. One such farm is located in Dickerson, Maryland, where Bruce and Sandy Savage manage the R.B Savage & Sons Farm together with their three sons - Cody, Cory and Colin. The Savage family’s roots run deep both on their farm and in the Ag Reserve. Together, they manage about 1,000 acres farmland, including property on their home farm and acreage rented from other landowners in the area.
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MCA is proud to announce that we have been recognized for a third time as one of the best small charities in the D.C. region by Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. A panel of 110 expert reviewers from area foundations, corporate giving programs, and peer non-profit organizations evaluated 270 applications.
MCA is known as an effective and innovative non-profit whose efforts to preserve and promote Montgomery County’s nationally recognized 93,000 acre Ag Reserve have brought increased public and governmental support of local food production and farmland and open space preservation. Most importantly, MCA’s efforts are putting more farmers on the ground and keeping them there. |