LAYTONSVILLE, Md. — Twenty-four Montgomery County farm properties will swing their gates open to the public this weekend to celebrate the county’s agricultural heritage and draw attention to the importance of the county’s agricultural reserve.
“The Farm Tour is a fantastic opportunity for residents, especially those who may not have regular access to farm life, to experience the rich agricultural heritage of Montgomery County,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Understanding the vital role farms play in our county and the importance they have toward our economy, environment and quality of life is worth learning about at any age.”
Two farms will join the tour for the first time, including Deere Valley Farms in Dickerson and Koiner Farm in Silver Spring. The Koiner Farm will be the first nonprofit urban farm on the tour. The Visit Montgomery Adventure Planner “Farm Tour Digital Passport” is available for visitors to plan their weekend via this online tool which will allow people to filter their interests to find locations that match their tastes.
Visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at agriculture from robotic cow-milking to butter churning. Participating farms will offer a variety of activities, including hayrides, pony rides and tractor rides. Some locations will have arts and crafts.
With about one-third of the county’s total land area preserved for farming, the county has the highest percentage of formally protected farmland in the nation. There are 558 farms and 350 horticultural businesses located throughout the county’s 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve. Agricultural businesses annually pump more than $280 million into the county’s economy.
In an interview with WUSA9, Elrich pointed out that the Agricultural Reserve is an important pillar of environmental policy in the county.
“It was set up decades ago, and the goal was to stop sprawl development. This was done with the cooperation of the farm community. It's become especially important now because people talk more and more about local food supplies. Anything you can grow locally, is environmentally beneficial,” Elrich said.
Elrich added that the 93,000 acres under preserve provide cooling green space to mitigate climate warming, while reducing the impervious surfaces like parking lots and rooftops that contribute to increasing episodes of flooding in the region due to climate change.