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News

Breaking: 4th Circuit Court Affirms Victory for Ten Mile Creek Protections

11/30/2018

 
A win for the backup water supply for 4.3 Million in our region
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A small resident of Ten Mile Creek meets a Poolesville High School Student
Full Court Opinion Here
Breaking news! Federal 4th Circuit Court affirms dismissal of Pulte Homes lawsuit that challenged Montgomery County's stage 4 Clarksburg development plan. Pulte sought to construct over 1000 homes in the creek's fragile headwaters and atop the sole source groundwater aquifer. The land use plan rightly set science based impervious surface caps in the important Ten Mile Creek watershed, providing a level of protection for the creek and Seneca Reservoir which serves as a back up drinking water supply for 4.3 million regional residents. MCA, Audubon and other partners labored for several years to ensure protection for high quality Ten Mile Creek and the back up drinking water supply.
Long story short - The court has found Pulte had no constitutional property interest in developing its land as it had contemplated, and local authorities had a plausible, rational basis for their actions in denying this development project. 

You may remember that along with many other small civic groups who stood up for water quality, science and the master plan - we were named in Pulte's suit and as result had to spend days wading through over a decade of of emails and handing over anything remotely related to Pulte. (See- Nothing Will Get Done Today)
​As we said that day and as the court has affirmed - water still runs downhill, and faster over developed land, picking up pollutants and depositing it into our streams, creeks, rivers and Bay. The Master Plan, science and common sense indicate that impervious surfaces should be carefully sited to protect water quality, and our elected leaders are doing their jobs when they make these decisions according to Master Plans and public health. 
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A process server visits our ED Caroline Taylor to deliver a subpoena from Pulte
The Background: 
​In 2004-2006, Pulte purchased 540 acres of Clarksburg land, then governed by the 1994 Master Plan, which divided development into four stages. In the fourth stage, the area containing Pulte’s land was to be developed into residential communities. Pulte’s land was designated as a receiving property for Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) and was zoned for one-acre lots. Pulte could increase the allowable density to two units per acre by purchasing TDRs from agricultural properties in other Montgomery County areas, which would restrict future development of the agricultural property. Pulte invested 12 million dollars in TDRs. Under the Plan, there were prerequisites to Stage 4 development. All had occurred by 2009. The Plan stated that Stage 4 developments can proceed once public agencies and the developer have complied with all “implementing mechanisms,” which included Water and Sewer Plan amendments. Pulte submitted its Water and Sewer Request to the County and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in 2009, with a $10,000 filing fee. The County never acted on Pulte’s application. In 2012, Pulte submitted a Pre-Application Concept Plan to the Commission, which rejected the plan. The agencies refused to meet and stopped responding to Pulte’s communications but reopened the Plan to study the watershed in which Pulte’s land is located and ultimately imposed regulatory changes that severely reduced the number of dwellings Pulte could build and imposed additional costly burdens. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Pulte’s due process, equal protection, and regulatory taking claims, stating that federal courts are not the appropriate forum to challenge local land use determinations
To see all the Ten Mile Creek background posts  click here. 

Hemp: The Misunderstood, Game Changing Crop Moves Toward Legality Across US

11/19/2018

 
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Update: The Farm Bill passed! Harmful provisions that would have limited SNAP benefits for our most vulnerable neighbors were not included but hemp can now be legally grown. If you think we are overblowing the benefits of this change, please see this article from Forbes "How Hemp And The Farm Bill May Change Life As You Know It" MCA will be working with the extension office and local farmers to help get folks on the ground taking advantage of this win for agriculture, waste reduction, carbon sequestration, soil health, the list goes on....
Industrial Hemp is a step closer to being a legal crop in the US.  As the US Farm Bill passed the Senate last week the bill has one final hurdle before the President's desk - the Senate Conference Committee, where it is expected to make it through unscathed. 
Everything you need to know about Hemp:

Hemp is Marijuana, right? Nope. While is is a kind of Cannabis, it contains none of the THC that makes its cousin a controlled substance in much of the US.  This is an instance of one responsible sibling being lumped in with their wayward brother. In fact, you certainly have interacted with hemp at some point in your day already- it is in your car interior, possibly your breakfast cereal, and almost certainly textiles or other materials you have come in contact with. However, the hemp you interacted with today was grown elsewhere and imported - because it is still a "schedule 1" drug like marijuana and cocaine. The Farm Bill along with the rolling back of regulations by many states seeks to take this hard-working crop out of detention and into the field. 

But is it worth the hype?  Actually, yes. If you remember the Dr. Seuss classic "The Lorax," you'll recall that the industry character, the Onceler, was describing what Truffula trees could be turned into "But it has other uses, far beyond that. You can use it for curtains, for pillows, for sheets - even the covers of bicycle seats!"  Hemp is a similarly useful crop as the whole plant can be used for different purposes, including stalks that when processed become the strongest natural fiber. 
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​The Dr. Seuss pitch would sound more like: "You can use it for medicine, milk and rope, It can be paper, plastics, food, and soap!"
   All these uses and it regenerates quickly (unlike a forest of Truffulas, or real trees for that matter), requires few pesticides or fertilizers to grow and actually improves soil unlike other commodity crops. It also fetches much higher prices than these other pesticide heavy commodities. In Virgina, corn will go for $5/ bushel, Hemp Seed $40/bushel with a shorter growing season. ​

I thought it was already legal in Maryland? Yes, with many caveats. The bill that passed, like others in other states, has paved the way for farmers to grow hemp in a research capacity in close partnership with an academic institution. We were proud to to support this successful first step and local growers will benefit from this much needed expertise being built with a new crop but the economic benefits of this crop will only be realized once the stigma and federal classification is removed - as the Farm Bill will do. ​
There was a productive stakeholder meeting on Hemp in May 2018 at the MC Farm Bureau. To learn more drop us a line info@mocoalliance.org
See also: Coverage in Forbes and the Staunton News Leader 
Maryland Farm Bureau Coverage
National issues have local impacts. Please consider a gift to your small (but mighty!) local farm protection nonprofit with boots on the ground here in Montgomery County. Your gift is tax deductible and much appreciated!
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The 2019 Ag Reserve Calendar

11/15/2018

 
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Enjoy our third annual Ag Reserve Calendar with photos from the many farms and open spaces that make up the Reserve. Ready to ship in December  with your gift of $100 or more with the donate button below or a new automatic monthly Sustainer donation  in any amount. Makes a great gift! Check out some pictures from last year's calendar. 
please choose a sustainer level
Do you want a calendar? (while supplies last)
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Sourcing Thanksgiving Locally

11/13/2018

 
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Photo: Terri Pitts
There are still a few days remaining to secure your turkey, pies and makings for sides locally. Have a farm to add to our list? - please let us know. 
Plow and Stars Farm and Pizza Brama are offering a full heat and serve meal lovingly raised and expertly prepared. Order before the 19th
Red Wiggler Community Farm is doing their annual Thanksgiving Market 11/14 to 11/17
Lewis Orchard is taking pie orders till 11/18 and hams till 11/16
Kingsbury Orchard has their last days for the season this weekend. For those that want to do their own pie, they have Granny Smiths for your apple pie and delectable Asian Pear cider that will please everyone around your table. 
Fox Hollow Farm Market has stoked up their ovens and are turning out pie after pie along with lamb, chicken and eggs. 
R B Savage + Sons is taking turkey orders by phone - 301-370-7111
Common Root Farm in Derwood is still hosting their on-farm market with regular Saturday hours and also Tuesday (3-6)
Rocklands Farm and Winery has pasture raised meats and award winning wine for your table. 
Your Local Farmers Market - Thanksgiving is our most culinary holiday and if you aren't a frequent visitor to your local farmers market, now is a great time. This weekend is the last market for many open air markets but some go all year-round. See this MoCo Office of Agriculture nifty tool to find a market near you. 
Non food items: 
Grateful Gardeners is a new flower farm in MoCo. They are offering gorgeous holiday wreaths. Check out their instagram and email them at ​gratefulgardeners2018@gmail.com
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We are thankful for our supporters. MCA works to protect the Ag Reserve to benefit the whole region. Our local focus relies on local support, please make your tax deductible gift today. 
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Celebrating Reserve Advocate Ute Schulze-Aminzadeh

11/5/2018

 
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Ute helping set up at the Royce Hanson Award, October 2018
​All of us here at MCA were heartbroken at the sudden loss of Ute Aminzadeh in October 2018. Residents of Boyds, Ute and her family love the Ag Reserve and were steadfast volunteers at MCA events. We were always struck by her cheerful can-do spirit and no-nonsense problem solving abilities. Ute was a beloved member of the elementary school faculty at the German International School in Potomac. 
 To honor both her love of the Ag Reserve and commitment to education, we have launched the Ute Aminzadeh Ag Reserve Education Fund. This fund will enhance continuing efforts to educate students on the importance of Agriculture and farmland natural resource protection. Our education program includes class visits from farmers and field trips to farms for local high schools along with a partnership with the Montgomery County Farm Bureau that has brought Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation (MAEF) Mobile Ag Education Labs to all Montgomery County Elementary Schools. It is our goal to scale up our efforts to ensure that in a County with 1/3rd of its land set aside for farmland and open space protection, agriculture becomes part of the formal curriculum. 
​Gifts to this fund will provide for Ag Reserve curriculum materials crafted specifically for elementary aged students to provide engaging, hands-on lessons to connect our youngest students to the importance of farms. As Ute did, we love engaging with these future Montgomery County residents, leaders and stewards so they may carry on the legacy of the Ag Reserve. 
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ABOUT US
What We Do
A Brief History
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ABOUT Ag RESERVE
History of the Ag
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Montgomery Countryside Alliance
P.O Box 24, Poolesville, MD  20837
301-461-9831  •  ​info@mocoalliance.org
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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.
COPYRIGHT © MONTGOMERY COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE 2008