Everyone has heard of Black Friday. But there is a far more thoughtful way to kick off the holiday season. On Black Friday, many are choosing to skip the stores and instead "Opt Outside" - a campaign started in 2015 when outdoor retailer REI closed its stores, website and fulfillment center on the busiest shopping day of the year and paid its employees to go recreate with their families. Another successful campaign, "Small Business Saturday" invited shoppers to keep their dollar in the local economy and shop the small local stores that make a community thrive.
This year - local is the new normal, outside is the new inside and resilience is the new way- the Ag Reserve has offered resilience to our region in this crisis and this will continue into the colder months with unique gifts and recreation close by. And speaking of supporting local, may we humbly suggest your support your local farmland protection nonprofit? Giving Tuesday is December 1.
Find a park or trail or ride to opt outside to with your family here.
How to recreate safely in the pandemic.
This year - local is the new normal, outside is the new inside and resilience is the new way- the Ag Reserve has offered resilience to our region in this crisis and this will continue into the colder months with unique gifts and recreation close by. And speaking of supporting local, may we humbly suggest your support your local farmland protection nonprofit? Giving Tuesday is December 1.
Find a park or trail or ride to opt outside to with your family here.
How to recreate safely in the pandemic.
Shop Small, Green and Local
Markets: Staying with the theme of outdoors - many year round markets operate in MoCo and have not just the best local food around but artisans making unique gifts - find a full list of farmers markets here.
Markets: Staying with the theme of outdoors - many year round markets operate in MoCo and have not just the best local food around but artisans making unique gifts - find a full list of farmers markets here.
Countryside Artisans Studio Tour: Holidays and each fall the artists of rural Montgomery County have open studio hours and a map for a self guided driving tour. Pottery, glasswear, fiber arts,
MoCo Made: Many prepared foods and spirts are created all over MoCo. Of note, a low carb bread company owned by one of our Land Linked farmers.
Spotlight on a Few Local Farmers and Artisans:
Tiewyan Textiles is a small business inspired by beautiful fleeces from sheep raised on our farm in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. About 15 years ago I began to develop the skills of the ancient art of felting with wool. There is a rare beauty and elegant satisfaction in the process of creating from the materials at hand: from the flock to the art. My work in wool reflects, is inspired by and celebrates the textures and forms of the natural world around me. I create art to wear and for the home and table. Questions? Call Bev Thoms at 301-461-1287 or tiewyan@comcast.net My studio is open for the Countryside Artisans Holiday Gallery Tour: December 4, 5 & 6 10AM - 5PM and otherwise open by appointment.
Tiewyan Textiles is a small business inspired by beautiful fleeces from sheep raised on our farm in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. About 15 years ago I began to develop the skills of the ancient art of felting with wool. There is a rare beauty and elegant satisfaction in the process of creating from the materials at hand: from the flock to the art. My work in wool reflects, is inspired by and celebrates the textures and forms of the natural world around me. I create art to wear and for the home and table. Questions? Call Bev Thoms at 301-461-1287 or tiewyan@comcast.net My studio is open for the Countryside Artisans Holiday Gallery Tour: December 4, 5 & 6 10AM - 5PM and otherwise open by appointment.
 |  |
Savage Acres Farm is a multi-generational family farm located in Dickerson, Md. We offer grassfed beef by the cut, as well as pork and whole chicken. We also have freshly milled on-the-farm Indian corn flour. savagehomestead@gmail.com
 |  |
| Re's Bees & Happy Hens I sell raw honey, creamed honey and honey bars, as well as skin salve (one almost exclusively from MoCo ingredients because I use Lavender essence from at Soleado Lavender!), lip balms and bee wraps. You can find them at the Poolesville Farmers market by following on Facebook. |  |
 | HoneyEffects Apiaries is a beekeeping & honey business located wholly within Montgomery County, Maryland's Agricultural Reserve. We offer delicious, pure local honey at $12 for a 1lb. glass jar of honey, along with squeezable 12oz. PETE squeezable honeybears at $12. We also have our own wax wraps at $15 per set of 3, which are a high-count cotton of wax impregnated cloths with Jojoba oil and Pine resin. The wraps are an alternative to plastic wraps, and are highly antimicrobial. We use them to wrap cheese, fruits, and vegetables. Also, honey flights, my signature, "Black & Tan" honey sets will be available soon. The flights and sets show the amazing diversity and bounty of the Agricultural Reserve. Contact joe@greenfx.net |
