We thank our supporters for all we were able to accomplish in 2018. A recent trip back through the year shows that we often had to play defence this year- particularly against a a raft of proposed zoning changes - many of them problematic. The most troubling was 18-04 - a measure that would allow non-compliant (i.e- not farms)  uses in the Reserve to expand - in direct opposition to the master plan. Through testimony and working with the County we were able to amend the bill so that it allows expansion only for safety reasons.  At the time we wrote:

"As is always the case, the crafting of these types of bills in isolation of full impact analysis and stakeholder discussion does not yield good result and certainly requires needless expenditure of our collective energy. That said, if there is a single use with demonstrable public purpose and minimal impact that seeks a remedy, let's work collaboratively to that end. This ZTA as written, however, will do harm."

The Reserve is nearly 40 years old but the balancing act of farms on metro's edge remains fragile. Changes are part of managing a vibrant landscape, but we are the boots on the ground calling for careful respect of the ecosystem of farms, open space and rural communities that make the Reserve a place worth protecting in perpetuity.

Though we spent the year defending the Reserve, we also spent the year educating hundreds of local high schools students with farmer visits to classrooms and student field trips to farms. We educated voters with our 2018 Candidate's Survey to help them navigate a wide field of potential county leaders. 

We spent the year collaborating on reducing the county's waste and carbon footprint. We successfully advocated for a strengthened Water Sewer Plan and were victorious in a developer's suit on Ten Mile Creek.

We put on the "Best Festival of 2018" according to Montgomery Magazine - the Field and Fiddle Festival and celebrated the Rustic Roads with hundreds of bikers and volunteers on the 11th Annual Ride for the Reserve. 

It has been a great 2018 and we have bold plans for 2019. Our ability to Defend, Educate and Celebrate in Montgomery County relies on local support. When considering your end of year giving, please give where you live and support MCA with your tax-deductible donation. And Thanks!

A bit of fun from your friends at MCA. Peace of the Season to you and yours. We will just have to wait until MoCo's orchards open again in the spring. In the meantime take our quiz to find out what variety of apple you are. We'd love to hear the results on our Facebook page. 

Where to next?
It's a Wonderful Life in the Ag Reserve   
​Confronting Climate Change: The Ag Reserve's Role
​Get your 2019 Ag Reserve Calendar

Having just joined the family in the annual It's a Wonderful Life viewing, I thought, once again, about how truly remarkable and unique the Reserve is... and how fragile. Remember the film's gripping scene when there is a run on the local bank and George Bailey spots a crowd of frightened shareholders descending on the family's savings and loan?  George Bailey's earnest explanation of the benefits that the Savings and Loan provided, both individually and collectively, brought all but one, who still demanded his entire $242, to understand that there was a imperative to sustain the institution. They each took what they needed without crushing the savings and loan.

So it is, as I see it, with the Ag Reserve. We could easily wring every last dime out of the land for the benefit of a few at the expense of the many... sure we could. 

 And we could do so after expending millions of public and private dollars on preservation easements and countless hours establishing, supporting and defending land for farming and open space preservation. We could
deplete the Reserve by turning a blind eye to important preservation goals for open space and natural and historic resources. But much like the community service provided by Bailey Bros. Savings and Loan, the Reserve pays dividends in clean air, water quality, open space, food and fiber - the list goes on. The survival of farming and the Reserve is a commonly shared goal and we have all invested so much in it. 

 How do we arrive at a consensus as to the best means to keeping the land in farming and protecting open space and natural resources in the face of myriad challenges and pressures? Meeting this challenge is precisely what we do each day. 
 
  Since 2001,  we have been the organization on the ground protecting the quality of our farms, open space and water supply. Our collaborative and tenacious approach has lead us to be called "one of the best"  nonprofits in the region. Your tax deductible investment in our community stays here but goes far to ensure a future for local farms.

Peace of the Season to you and yours, 
Caroline Taylor, Executive Director

MCA has been an active member in the County's Zero Waste Task Force. While the recycling rate is at 50% currently, the County is aiming to recycle 70% of its waste by 2023. Zero Waste is a really big goal and we are proud to work on it with other local stakeholders. The first step in the undertaking has been gathering data- that is why both MCA and the County have undertaken surveys to find out what is working at the household level. Thanks to all those that took the time to participate. The results are below. 

A few takeaways: 

- Food Scraps make up 21% of total landfill-bound waste in the County. While much of that food would biodegrade to make soil in the right conditions, this does not happen in a landfill. Many respondents want to see curbside composting. 

- Residents also want to be able to recycle more of their waste (specifically plastics, styrofoam and bulk items such as mattresses). 

-Better education on what can be recycled and why recycling is important was seen by many respondents as a good first step toward waste reduction.  

Update - New Windsor in Carroll County has tried a "Pay as you Throw" approach to trash and it seems to be working.