MCA has been so proud to be invited to work with the FRSAN -NE (Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network) chapter as part of the new farmer/land access cohort - a project run by the National Young Farmers Coalition bringing farmers and farm service providers together to tackle some of the root causes of farmer stress.
Finding and maintaining land to farm is a constant stressor in a farming career. Toward the end of last year MCA staff partnered with farmers and farm service providers in the cohort to create a decision tool to help new farmers consider different ways of accessing land besides just the typical rent/buy dichotomy. The cohort was particularly interested in sharing newer solutions for group farm tenure that are becoming more common like farm incubators or land trusts. Pooling your resources with like minded farmers can help you get farming faster. 
Land for Good is the clearing house for the new toolkit, just one in a treasure trove of resources they offer to farmers and landowners seeking to access and secure land. 
We'd love to hear your experiences with this tool - [email protected] 

Check out the tool here

This is a two minute action request of you.
Montgomery County Council currently has before it the draft update to the general land use plan - dubbed Thrive 2050. Among the myriad troubling deficiencies of the draft- scant reference to water - whether drinking or stormwater flooding, whether River, stream, or groundwater aquifer. And certainly absent is  the effect of and response to the changing climate on water resources- climate change is relegated to reference in a non-binding appendix.
​The Thrive process was paused, rightly, to address the identified absence of racial equity language.
​But a deadline, September 1, to complete contractor product addressing equity is looming… and even the contractor has publicly expressed deep concern that the time is not adequate to properly engage the public and provide improvement.

​​The Planning Department describes this document: “The foundation of planning for Montgomery County is the General Plan. This vision has guided all plans and policies for more than five decades.”

Notwithstanding the frustration over length of update process… during a pandemic… with lack of public transparency and full stakeholder participation… the Council must provide the means to improve both process and substance by giving the needed time and attention to get this plan right. 

On a gorgeous early summer day, Council President Gabe Albornoz met with a number of MoCo's wonderful women and BIPOC producers. Five of the producers that joined the gathering have successfully found land through our Land Link program. Abundant Dodo Farms was the backdrop for a conversation that fostered a real sense of uplift and common purpose.  
We are  so deeply grateful to everyone for their time and energy as we collaborate to build a robust and equitable local food system. 
Thanks to Wib Middleton of Plenty Magazine for photos. Please peruse the videos below. 

In Attendance: 
Tope Fajingbesi  and Niyi Balogun- Dodo Farms, Brookville
Tanya Doka Spandhla, Passion to Seed Farm and MCA board member, Brookville
Nia Nyamweya - Beauty Blooms Farm, Barnesville
Indu Balasubramaniam, Vijay and Suriya Kandaswamy  - Amaranth Acres, Dickerson 
Truphena Choti - Afrithrive Farm, Poolesville
Nazirahk Amen - Purple Mountain Organics
Amanda Cather - Plow & Stars Farm, Poolesville - American Farmland Trust
Lee Langstaff - Shepherd's Hey Farm, Comus - MCA board president
Jane Thery - Maryland Horse Council Stewardship Committee, boards at Wyndham Oaks
Marci Guramatunhu - Chirandu Farm, Barnesville
Anne Davies - Stone Field Farm, Boyds, MCA board
Laura Van Etten - Monocacy Mills Farm, Dickerson 
Mohammed Iqbal Khan - Neelamga, Potomac 
Jane Perini and Wib Middleton - PLENTY Magazine, Darnestown
Caroline Taylor - Poolesville, MCA

​Here's What We Discussed:
- appreciation for the Agricultural Reserve (of course)
- good news of growing diversity of producers and products notably culturally relevant foods
-the many layered contributions of agriculture, notably by BIPOC and women producers with emphasis on meeting food insecurity 
- farming, to exist and expand here, must be profitable 
- Ag Census data (handout) that underscores diversity within ag sector
-Equestrian: Over 12,000 horses, 111 licensed stables including therapeutic riding, kid’s lessons, trails and horse operations on county land like Meadowbrook, Wheaton Stables and Potomac Stables. Great environmental stewards with grasslands, woodlots and wildlife habitat. Outdoor recreation and economic drivers with employment and many related services from hay to farriers to fence builders. 

Challenges and potential solutions:

-Access to affordable land and resources such as fencing/wells/power/equipment 
-labor shortages as well as absence of critical farm labor housing proximate to farms
-equitable access to capital cited as ongoing challenge
-establish in-county processing centers for protein/produce - this has become big issue
-provide clear resources to navigate various requirements for farm start ups and better facilitate approval for farm labor housing units 
-inclusion: gaining a place at the table where decision making occurs
-educating consumers about local farms/products/challenges/opportunities (I.e. support for local media such as PLENTY magazine)
-Community land trusts/ incubators and building equity and opportunities for BIPOC/women producers to own land and long-term farm leases for small-scale producers 
-For labor: facilitate connection with immigrants and under employed with ag backgrounds/ interests 

 Thanks to the farmers and Councilmember Albornoz for their time. We here at MCA are committed to dig in on these important issues. 

Update (11/23): In line with the stronger forest conservation law, the Council has been supportive of a much needed increase in the fees developers pay for disturbing street trees and forest canopies. MCA signed onto a supportive letter with local civic partners here. 

Read on for stories of what forests mean to MoCo residents. If you have a forest story to share please get in touch - [email protected]

You can speak for the trees of MoCo - the Council will be working on the Forest Conservation Law in the coming weeks. We need no-net-loss and also a net gain of forests. To make this provision as strong as oak the Council needs to hear from you. The MoCo Forest Coalition released an Op-Ed in Bethesda Beat "Montgomery Must Update and Strengthen Outdated Forest Protections"

The question was raised in the County Executive Green Forum ​- what actually grows in the Ag Reserve? Quite a lot! Here is our attempt to cram all the fruit, vegetables, livestock, herbs, dairy, fiber, spirits, partnership, resilience and joy that grows in the Reserve in just 2 minutes. (Rather just the dry data? We digest the most recent Ag Census results for the county here) 

But Wait! There is even more! There is a misconception that commodity crops grown in the Reserve are somehow "not food." Check out what happens to all that winter wheat. 

What are the candidates' views on the highest and best use of our protected farmland (plus climate, transportation, Thrive and more? We asked and here are their unedited answers. 

Our thanks to all those that worked to make the County Executive Green Forum a robust discussion of our County's pressing issues.
Thanks to our Partners: Conservation Montgomery, Sugarloaf Citizens Association,  One Montgomery Green, Rock Creek Conservancy, Audubon Naturalist Society, Friends of Ten Mile Creek, and the Storm Water Partners Network. 
Thanks to the candidates and our moderator Kathleen Matthews.
Thanks to Sylvia Tognetti for keeping time and Caren Madsen for her warm welcome. 
And thanks to all that were able to join both in person and online. In case you missed it the recorded forum is below: 

On the chat there were some questions about what is grown in the Reserve, the data from the most recent Ag Census for the county can be found here. 

​With the change in the election calendar we have delayed sending out our candidate's questionnaire as in past years. The filing deadline for candidates has been pushed to April 15, we will release our questionnaire to all active local candidates soon after and publish their unedited answers a few weeks later. In the mean time, your sample ballot can be found here. 

Your Action Mattered! Thanks to the many hundreds that wrote in to the County Executive and Council in support of proper staffing levels for the County's Office of Agriculture. The funding made it into the County Executive's budget and is expected to remain there in the Council's budget.  We received the thank you note below from Office of Ag staff. We look forward to working with the OAG on even more proactive projects to support local farmers, the food system and rural lands. Thank You!

"​The Office of Agriculture and its staff would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to you both and to the Montgomery Countryside Alliance Membership.
We were pleasantly surprised to learn of the letter writing campaign you initiated in support of our office and were elated by the extent and outpouring of letters received by the County Executive requesting that he provide much needed resources to our office. The MCA campaign was a success – the CE included one position for the Office of Ag and one position for the Soil Conservation District in his FY23 recommended budget.
MCA and its members recognize and appreciate the County’s agricultural heritage and understand the vital role that it continues to play in terms of climate change, food and fiber production and quality of life for all county residents.
We are thankful for your leadership and for your members standing with us to ensure that our office has the resources it needs to support the rural community and the ag industry in Montgomery County. We look forward to continuing our partnership on ag initiatives for years to come."

When ZTA 20-01 passed in winter 2020, the provision balanced large scale solar generation with viable farms. Among the changes - farms can now install solar arrays generating up to 200% of their use (up from 120%) as well as larger arrays to provide community solar.  Office of Agriculture has compiled the specific stipulations for solar on farms. But you may  have specific questions as to whether new opportunities for solar generation make sense for your farm, but may not know where to start- we are here to help.

MCA is teaming up with the Montgomery County Green Bank and County's Office of Agriculture to help you navigate decisions on solar installation. This is our second in a series of three webinars covering solar installation for different types of residences. Be sure to pick the webinar that best applies to you:

• Our first webinar back in May covered solar installations on single family residences and businesses. 
• This session covers solar generation as an accessory use on farms. 
• The third webinar, date TBD, will cover the provisions for large scale community solar. 

​

Farms looking for an in-depth look at community solar information, stay tuned for a future webinar focused exclusively on this topic. 

In another very different year, MCA once again found success on a number of fronts in protection of our  critical resources. As is true this and every year of our 20 year history, our tenacious advocacy and some notable successes are the result of local support. Put plainly... we cannot do what we do without you.
​
We would be honored by your end of year tax-deductible gift. 

On this final day of the year we thought we would roll the tape on a few notable things we accomplished together this year.  

All the while, the sun shone, the rain fell and MoCo's farmers continued to do what they have always done - albeit requiring big pivots to keep customers and staff safe. Local food demand continues to grow and no wonder- the tastiest, freshest food can be found at your local market or through a Community Ag Share directly from your farmer. We give thanks year round for the essential work and herculean efforts of those who tend the land and feed us. 

That's why we were so pleased to have two recent profiles of the program that showcase these farms.
First two articles in Bethesda Beat highlighting the nuts and bolts of the program and profiling some of the farmers and land owners who have matched as a result of the program. 

Next, a video from Montgomery County Cable focusing on Beauty Blooms Farm - the partnership between landowner Susan and Farmer Nia that sent 900 lbs of food to Manna Food Center this season. 

More to Discover:

• Dodo Farms Profile on Maryland Farm and Harvest
• Is a CSA For Me?
• Tips for a successful match: Farmer and Landowner
• Landowner Information Session Recording

MCA stands with our colleagues in Frederick working towards transparency and public process as they endeavor to find out why a 500 acre area has been left out of the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan section of the larger Master Plan revision for some as yet unspecified development. A Public Information Request has been filed by Envision Frederick. 
As you can see above - the 500 acre carve out is west of 270 - the highway has historically the defining eastern border of the Sugarloaf planning zone  just as the Monocacy River difines the zone to the west.
​ 
More Background here from Kai Hagen, former County Commissioner in a piece titled "Hold the Line"

Frederick News Post (8/23): "Frederick County residents voice concerns with Sugarloaf preservation plan"
​Op-Ed- Development Trumps Preservation in Sugarloaf Plan

LAND has provided Poolesville Elementary students with opportunities to make an impact on nature right on our own school grounds. They are able to differentiate for every age to make each child feel engaged in projects they will feel proud of for a season and sometimes even years. Amy and Garth have a passion about nature that is contagious even for those that are afraid to get a little dirty. Children will carry these hands-on learning experiences they provide with them throughout their lives to make our Earth a better place. We are so thankful to have LAND as part of our school community.”
Amy Hufnagel
K Teacher Poolesville Elementary School

Have you seen them? - Pods of eager kids gathered outdoors in and around the Agricultural Reserve with gloves and rakes and shovels and questions, lots of great questions… Somewhere in the middle you will find husband and wife Garth and Amy Seely, the dedicated movers behind non-profit Landscape and Nature Discoveries (LAND) for 15 years. Connecting kids with, and building affinity for, the natural world through hands on projects at local schools has garnered respect and praise from educators, parents, and most importantly, budding ecologists. MCA recognizes that our best future, and that of the Reserve specifically, will require new hands and voices committed to conservation. Amy shares: “Often, we run across kids who are hesitant to be in nature, hesitant to explore new things or get their hands dirty. Watching a child move through some fear and fully participate in the activities is very impactful.”
In addition to the work through LAND, the Seely’s with their two son’s Thayer and Cade, work the family landscaping business Gardens by Garth, launched the same year the Reserve was created in 1980.
 Join us in celebrating the work of LAND and the Seelys. Event Information coming soon.
​

"The headline will be solar to be sited in the Ag Reserve, " said Councilmember Craig Rice.
​The amended ZTA 20-01 was passed 7-2 with Councilmembers Rice, Albornoz, Navarro, Katz, Friedson, Jawando and Glass For and Riemer and Hucker Against. The straw vote taken last month held with the addition of CM Glass supporting the amended ZTA to get some solar, rather than none, sited in the Reserve.

The Councilmembers who voted for the ZTA on why they support it, in their own words  (these are clips the full council meeting can be found here) : ​

The passed ZTA includes:

1) up to 200% accessory solar generation on farms (up from 120%) see the farms already taking advantage of on-farm solar.

2) conditional use designation for community or net aggregate metered facilities up to 2MW on no more than 1800 acres in the Reserve. The conditional use amendment was sponsored by CM Rice. 

3) exclusion of soil class I and II from solar siting (Soil Class II was added under CM Friedson's amendment. No farming really takes place on Class I soils as most are on Potomac Islands or stream buffers. Class II is where the bulk of current farms operate - check out the soil class chart. (New mapping from the county suggests that over 400 parcels remain for siting solar while avoiding productive class II soils.)

4) mandatory assessment/review provision with impact report by December 31, 2023 provided by Councilmember Jawando's amendment. 

Councilmember Rice opened the meeting by highlighting the fact that the ZTA as amended was a pathway for siting solar in the Ag Reserve. Despite the call from some solar industry supporters that wanted to see the amended ZTA pulled because of the perception that no solar would be constructed, Rice characterized the ZTA as opening the door to solar in the Reserve with the opportunity to revisit the provision in two years to see if a meaningful amount of solar is in fact sited under Councilmember Jawando's amendment creating an assessment point in two years. 

Other councilmembers chimed in with their feeling that opening the door to some solar with protections is still a big step forward toward the County's climate goals. 

Councilmember Albornoz said, "It's not a question of if we support solar in the Ag Reserve, it is a question of when and how. We have to take into account the nuances and complexities of this issue." 

Katz "I believe we will have more solar than less." He asked that the solar industry sit down with farmers to get started siting on the 4000+ available acres available under the ZTA. 

Councilmember Navarro called for an end to the divisive and binary tone that the issue had brought to discussions. "We have to be able to deliberate." 

MCA is deeply grateful to the thoughtful action of Councilmembers, our coalition partners including SCA, Clean Water Action, Montgomery County Farm Bureau and 58 other groups and our supporters who wrote,  called and spoke up for solar siting with care in the Ag Reserve. 

What's next?

• Our Board Member and Climate Liaison Joyce Bailey has been busy providing testimony in support of a number of climate and water quality bills in Annapolis. 
• Councilmembers discussing this ZTA spoke to the Reserve's importance primarily as a source of local food.  We are working to match aspiring farmers with land to strengthen our local food system. Land Link Montgomery will host an info session for Landowners on March 24. 

On November 5, Council President Sidney Katz and Councilmember Hans Riemer convened what was to billed as a "Town Hall" for those with opposing view points on ZTA 20-01 (CM Riemers's proposal to allow 3 square miles of industrial solar in the Ag Reserve with scant protections for productive soils, forests, water quality, etc) to get together and work toward a more balanced compromise. While this is an important aim, the meeting's design seemed to hinder that goal. 

Additionally, it seems that it was only after the first few speakers, almost entirely in support of the ZTA, that the meeting's conveners realized that it would be necessary to keep the following speakers to a three minute time limit. 

Other than the fractured communication brought on by the structure of the meeting, there were a few important takeaways. 

More stakeholder input on this ZTA is very necessary and we look forward to more opportunities to hear from not just those that have been expressing their concerns from the beginning but also farmers who would be directly impacted by this proposal, and for whom the lack of broadband makes civic engagement challenging during the pandemic. 

Click "Read More" below to see the previous post about this "Town Hall."  

Quick Update: 10/12 - The Council will take up ZTA 20-01 10/13 starting at 2:45 (you can find the link to watch on you tube here) - we understand that this will just be a discussion, not a vote. The full packet is here. 
There continue to be many, many problems with this ZTA - the lack of water quality and forest protections (full fact sheet here) all requiring the stakeholder involvement that will be brought by the Task Force Council President Katz will be proposing at this work session. 
Specifically, fans of pollinators (which should be everyone) should note that a landowner can still get the "Pollinator Friendly Certification" required by this ZTA by regularly spraying insecticides on the carefully chosen plants allowed by the program and actually gain points for use of herbicides (p. 27 of the packet linked above).

Update 10/5: Though many of the Councilmembers we spoke with last week are pushing to pause this ZTA so a task force can work on getting solar right in Montgomery County- the proponents of ZTA 20-01 are still instant on pushing this proposal that still lacks protections for soils, forests, water quality and regulations that would govern the cost of the resulting energy.
Please let the council hear from you yet again today before they possibly vote tomorrow - a task force is the way to make progress toward renewable energy generation that balances natural systems and food production.
We also just heard from our friends at Sugarloaf Citizens Association that the solar experts they had look over the ZTA have just published their findings - only about 4% of the energy produced under this proposal would stay in the County. (p. 8 Executive Summary)

Breaking news: ZTA 20-01 ( up-to date amended version) would have allowed 3 square miles of commercial solar arrays in the Ag Reserve without protections for productive soils, forests or water quality. Council President Sidney Katz shared news with us last Friday that the zoning change will now be taken up through participation of a task force.

Deep gratitude to all the action takers that shared their concerns with the Council. Make no mistake - the hundreds of emails sent provided the needed oomph to make our case before an understandably otherwise occupied Council. You were fact based, respectful and tenacious.

We are grateful for CM Katz's leadership in ensuring public process thoughtful and collaborative outcome. This process will afford stakeholders, notably farmers, a voice in how best to advance solar while not supplanting agriculture and damaging our critical natural resources.

While this is a welcome opportunity to get solar right in Montgomery County, concerns remain about how we balance growing food and ground mounted commercial solar.

Please take two minutes to thank the council and reiterate your concerns about this proposal.

There are many ways this ZTA lacked protections - scant protections for forests, productive soils, water quality, etc. It also lacked equity as the same 3rd party electric suppliers that would sell this power are under investigation for predatory pricing in low income communities. To take a deeper dive into all this, please see our fact sheet here. 

It was a different but joyful ride this year as cyclists tackled rides of 8-62 miles on their own over the first weeks of Fall. Here at MCA, we were both humbled and blown away with the number of riders that took part to support the Ag Reserve in its 40th year, including the intrepid folks above who sent in photos from both their 62 mile and 40 mile rides they tackled over the two week event.

We want to thank our riders, the farms that they visited along the routes, our board members who double checked routes and most especially the incredible Vivien Bonazzi, our ride chair who made it all happen. 

Who knows what the future will bring but we look forward to hopefully holding a "normal" ride next year to celebrate MCA's 20 years of protecting the Ag Reserve. 

Riders should have gotten a discount on our US-Made and incredibly soft 40th Anniversary of the Reserve t-shirts. If you missed the link - let us know - [email protected]

Check out a few of the photos of the ride submitted to us below, including a turn by turn view of the 62 miler! More photos are on our facebook page.  (it's not too late to send yours in! [email protected])

Update: July 2020:
It seems that despite the pandemic, the council will be taking up this ZTA allowing siting industrial solar arrays in the Ag Reserve with no protections for productive soils or forests. The findings of the county's climate working group are clear as the Working Group Chair (reiterated in an email here to the Council here  and again by MCA  and also by Reserve Architect Dr. Royce Hanson. ) - the Ag Reserve is not the place for industrial solar. (The Maryland Farm Bureau agrees)

​An Electrical Systems Engineer Expert Weighs In "You can't change the laws of Physics....ZTA 20-01 is not the answer."


The pandemic makes it very difficult for people to properly participate in the public process (particularly in the Ag Reserve where broadband is not universal) but it has put a fine point on the critical value of local farms and local food. Our Land Link program has connected new and expanding farmers with over 500+ acres of leased land. Non-Ag uses like industrial solar make land leases, the lifeblood of farm ventures large and small in MoCo, much less likely to happen with severe impacts on next generation table crop producers - particularly those from under represented backgrounds.  Multi generation ag producers are also opposed to this ZTA.
Click Read More on below for all the background on this issue. 
​

The first committee hearing on this issue was on July 9, read our wrap up here.  The second was on July 16 and is wrapped up here.  The final committee hearing was on 7/22 and the ZTA - still lacking soil/forest/water protections is headed to the full council in September. 

Update: MCA staff is taking time to learn more about our place in the important work toward equality. To this end we are reading "Farming While Black" and sharing some insights. See those posts here.

The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of large scale industrial systems, their lack of resiliency and their susceptibility to serious disruption in a specific point in the food production, processing and delivery chain with far reaching negative effects. A system of smaller scale, local and accessible growers, processors and related businesses can step up to the plate and be more responsive and resilient, keeping people safer and less vulnerable to industrial scale disruptions, while providing needed food and community building. Resources for farmers and consumers here.

Also laid bare this past week, again and again and again, is the deep wound of systemic inequality across our country as witnessed by the brutal violence and often ignored mistreatment of people of color every single day. We are reminded that Dr. King warned against the "appalling silence of the good people.” It is our hope that all will listen, then use our collective voices and positive actions to uplift others.

We can be part of badly needed change.

 We've compiled a number of resources for folks to help both understand what is going on and think about what can be done in this moment to make a difference. If you have a resource to share you think belongs here  let us know - [email protected]. 
​
Why is this happening? 
Op-Ed from Kareem Abdul Jabarr "Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge."

A heartfelt explanation from Trevor Noah of the Daily Show (who grew up under Apartheid)

For those who don't yet feel comfortable with "Black Lives Matter", 9 explanations on why "All Lives Matter" is not a helpful thing to say

​Now What? 

Becoming an ally means more than being "not racist," the brutality we are witnessing and the change needed to change entrenched systems calls us to be "anti-racist" and we are sharing here a document of resources to help.  

Once you've educated yourself, you can educate others. It can be difficult to take a stand to challenge a family member or co-worker's racist "jokes" or gently question a friend's insensitive Halloween costume but this is how systems change. Teaching Tolerance has resources for how to handle these interactions. 

For our part at this time, MCA is stepping back to let the voices of others come to fore, but we will continue to advance a strong healthy local food system, clean air and clean water for ALL our regions residents. We are dedicated to working together to promote real systemic change that will achieve equity. 

Good news from the Reserve! This flock has found pasture through MCA’s Land Link program! (Photo - flock’s arrival last month)
Cheers to the land owners who offer acreage so that agriculture can thrive... right here in Montgomery County! Cheers to the farmers whose labor sustains us!
What’s Land Link you ask? Our program to connect new and expanding farmers with local landowners offering long term leases. ​ http://www.mocolandlink.org