Where to next? 
- Manna and Community Food Rescue - Feed More, Waste Less
-Happy Black History Month - Meet the MoCo Residents Preserving the History of a community of Freed Slaves in Poolesville
​-Your Donations Keep the Ag Reserve Strong

​Kingsbury’s farm keeps Gene busy as there is work to do for every month, commenting that “orchard work is a year round job.”  Pruning goes on throughout the winter months, followed by the planting, fertilizing and thinning seasons. Harvest begins in mid-June starting with sweet cherries, followed by apricots and peaches, and the first peaches ripen in late June and last through September 15th. The apples begin in early August and end in early November.  Finally pears begin to ripen in mid-August and last through the end of September. Kingsbury's Orchard uses a specialized integrated pest management plan that has targeted pesticides which reduces the chemicals used on the farm. 

During the past year weather has been a challenging factor for the farm. “Our record rainfall last year made it extremely difficult to grow and harvest good quality fruit.” This record rainfall is likely a result of the continuing climate change which also creates other difficulties such as spring frost damage, hail, drought, and fruit sunburn from excessive heat. Despite those obstacles Kingsbury Orchard still finds a way to produce, selling 75% of their crops through a retail market on site and the other 25% through local stores such as Giant and Whole Foods. 

Gene is very appreciative of the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, stating that “Kingsbury’s Orchard would not be in business without the help of the Agricultural Reserve, it keeps the land safe and benefits the county's urban areas.” To view harvest schedules, and when to visit the farm please check out the the Kingsbury’s Orchard.

Announcing a new MCA Program that will help reach the county's climate change goals and enhance stream buffers for better water quality. 

In the County, developers chopping trees must either replant the same number on the site or pay into a "fee in lieu" fund that will re-forest other areas. The Planning Department has used some of this now million dollar fund to re-forest 32 acres of stream buffers in county parks. 

But we think we can do more, much more. 

The Reserve is ripe for reforestation on lands that are not suitable for crops. MCA will be matching private landowners with the Planning Department to plan tree plantings. 

An acre of trees can absorb 68 tons of carbon - the same as taking 17 cars off the road for a year. In rural locations, one acre of forest can produce between $12,000-$77,000 in environmental benefits each year. See more on the impact of reforestation from Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Our global climate challenge needs all the solutions we can throw at it. However, along with promotion of Regenerative Agriculture, another project we are taking on this year, reforestation represents huge carbon cutting potential with lower costs than transportation or retrofitting projects. 

To learn more - Visit our ReLeaf Information Page 

A recent Civil Eats Article about mentoring, land linking and other services to farmers drove home to us that as the average age of farmers hits 70, not only do these elder farmers have an important role in mentoring the next generation, but the new generation can't farm without it. 

They also can't farm without land - that is where programs like Land Link Montgomery - based on successful programs across the country, comes in. As the article pointed out, these programs need investment to help them better connect landowners with land seekers. 

This year, we are going to invest more time in adding more landowners to Land Link and making more matches happen. If you have been considering offering a land lease, contact us to get started -info@mocoalliance.org

Read More:
The Case for Land Link
​The Ag Reserve's Role in Climate Change
​Hemp, Hemp Hooray! A game changing super- crop is legal - now what?