October 2015
"Only the knife knows what goes on in the heart of a pumpkin."
~ Simone Schwarz-Bart
FRESH.
Burgers & Brews for the Bay at Clagett Farm
Plan to join us on October 18, 1-4pm, for a
fun-filled afternoon with friends, live music,
craft-brewed beers, and mouth-watering
food created by area chefs using local
ingredients at the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation's Burgers and Brews for the
Bay event.
There's something for the whole family,
from hay rides and corn hole games to
education and information stations. Live
music will be provided in the main tent by
the bluegrass band, Fiery Deep.
The event will be held at CBF's Clagett Farm. A truly sustainable farm where
cows and lamb are grass-fed, herbs and vegetables are organically
grown, and trees are potted to be used in watershed buffer plantings.
In This Issue
Burgers & Brews for the Bay; Old
Bowie Farmers Market Opens;
Acidified Food Workshop
P.A. Bowen Featured in Local Menus;
Romano Hosts Cork to Fork Dinner
College Park's Roy & Arti's Kitchen &
Garden Featured in EdibleDC; Local
Food Day Celebrations and Pumpkin
Patches
Hoophouse Winterization at ECO City
Farms
Oktoberfest at Hard Bargain Farm
Prince George's County Farm Bureau
Annual Meeting & Scholarship
Announcement
Field to Tray: The Mid-Atlantic's First
Regional Farm to School Conference
Annual Small Farms Conference
Farm Fest Extravaganza
Produce Seasonality Charts
Connect with Us!
Proceeds from ticket sales support CBF's efforts to defend and protect the
Bay, including award-winning educational programs, on-the-ground
restoration activities throughout the watershed, and advocacy initiatives
at both the federal and state level.
Visit their website to view the chefs and their menus, directions to the farm
and to purchase tickets.
Hoophouse Winterization
at ECO City Farms
October 3, 9am-12pm
At the Edmonston Farm
4913 Crittenden Street,
Edmonston, MD 20781
Old Bowie Farmers Market Opens!
Enjoy fresh local foods from local farms,
artisans and other neighborhood businesses
at the NEW Old Bowie Farmers Market. This
market operates on Wednesdays, 3 to 7pm
through the end of October. This market
accepts SNAP and WIC benefits!
Location:
Town Green Park
13050 Ninth Street
Bowie, MD
Vendors include:
Pleitez Produce
Cat's Paw Organic Farm
Ferguson Family Farm
Stone Hearth Bakery
Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe (Bowie)
Pink Orchid Florist
For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Bowie Farmers' Market Celebrates Octoberfest!
The Bowie Farmers' Market is now in full
swing! Market patrons will find various types of
fresh fruits & vegetables, breads & baked goods,
jams & jellies, salsa, herbs, fresh cut flowers and
bedding plants, ice cream, kettle corn and
candies. The market is open Sundays from 8:00
a.m. - 12:00 p.m. through October 25. The
market is held at the Bowie Center for the
Performing Arts building at 15200 Annapolis
Road, Bowie, MD 20715. A full-color market brochure is available on-line at
www.cityofbowie.org or can be obtained from Bowie City Hall.
Be sure not to miss out on their "Octoberfest" on October 25 starting at
10am!
The cold season is fast approaching
and here at ECO, we need you help
to get our farm ready for the
dropping temps. We are seeking
volunteers that are handy and have
experience using power tools. If you
have your own drill, please bring it
along!
Volunteers will be helping to install
baseboards and pulling down our
endwalls.
If you have any questions or would
like to let us know you'll be there,
email Kayla,
kayla@ecocityfarms.org.
Oktoberfest
The Alice Ferguson Foundation
October 10, 1 - 6pm
Enjoy a fall festival full of fun for your
whole family while supporting
environmental education programs.
Oktoberfest is one of the few times
each year that AFF's beautiful
environmental education campus,
Hard Bargain Farm, is open to the
public.
Oktoberfest highlights include:
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Fun fall activities include:
FREE Scarecrow Making(Participants need to supply a long sleeve shirt and
trousers)
FREE Pumpkin Painting(Pumpkins not supplied, but available for purchase
at market)
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Eating delicious German
cuisine
Watching high-spirited,
authentic performances of
dances from Bavaria and
Austria with the chance to
join "Alt-Washingtonia"
Schuhplattlers on stage for
audience-participation
dances
Shopping for homemade fall
delicacies at the country
store
Enjoying haywagon rides to
the Potomac River
Visiting with the animals in
the barnyard
Making apple cider with an
old fashioned cider press
Learning more about Hard
Bargain Farm and our latest
membership deals
Find out more about the 33rd
Annual Oktoberfest on their website.
Understanding Acidified Foods Workshop
This workshop is designed to teach the basics
of food safety requirements and regulation in
the manufacture of acidified foods in
Maryland. Whether you have a business that
you wish to expand, or you are just in the
planning stages, this workshop will be helpful
to you.
This workshop will be held at our Extension
office in Clinton, MD on November 30. Participants will receive a certificate
at the end of class. Please see the brochure for registration and course
agenda.
Note, the Prince George's County Farm Bureau is offering two
scholarships. Contact kimrush@umd.edu for details.
Backyard Flocks & Avian Flu - What You Need to Know
Avian influenza is a viral disease that can affect bird
species throughout the world. The disease can vary from
mild to severe, depending on the virus strain involved. The
most severe strain is called highly pathogenic avian
influenza (HPAI). High path flu is characterized by high,
fast moving fatality rates (more than 75%) within infected
flocks. Since December 2014, USDA has confirmed many
cases of HPAI in both commercial and backyard flocks.
There are currently no known or reported cases of High
Path Avian Influenza in Maryland. See the latest national
status here.
Here are some other articles for more information on the avian flu and how
Maryland farms are preparing.
Maryland Department of Agriculture
Intro to Herbal Medicine Making
Centro Ashé Farm
October 11, 10-4pm
This class will be a hands on day
including herbal plant walk around
the farm, a foundational
background in herbalism and
medicinal herbal preparations
including tincture making as well as
a medicine making medicinal oil
and salves. Each student will leave
with their own tincture and salve, an
incredible beginning to an herbal
medicine kit! We will go through folk
medicine making techniques and
students will have an opportunity to
get hands on creating their own
medicine!
Lunch is potluck style, please bring
something to share as well as your
own mug for tea and water
bottle. Please plan to arrive at class
at least 15 minutes early in order to
get grounded and start on
time. Any questions please contact
contact info@centroashe.org.
Cost $55
Register here.
The Prince George's County
Farm Bureau, Inc.
Annual Meeting & Election of
Officers
October 28
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
CBS Baltimore
6:30 pm - lite meal
7:00 pm Meeting
Find the full list of county markets for the 2015 season here. You are also
welcome to print out our downloadable directory! Note that the most
updated version is on the website.
Baden Volunteer Fire Department
16608 Brandywine Road
Brandywine, MD 20613
Agenda:
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Farm Bureau President's ReportYates Clagett
Nomination & Election of the
Officers - The Nominations
Committee is seeking involved
members to serve on our board or
to work with committees. Please
contact 301-579-6552 if interested.
LOCAL.
P.A. Bowen Farmstead Featured in Local Menus!
Rita Calvert and Kosmas "Tommie"
Koukoulis will be adorning their
delicious beef sliders with P.A. Bowen
Farmstead's cheese at the Burgers &
Brews for the Bay event on Sunday
October 18th from 1:00 to 4:00 at CBF's
Clagett Farm in Upper Marlboro.
Sebastien Tavel, owner of La
Fromagerie in Alexandria, was chosen
to be the official cheesemonger at
Cochon555's Heritage BBQ event at
Union Market on October 4th. He is
featuring P.A. Bowen Farmstead's
cheese at the event, and will be
giving out samples to the attendees.
"A one-of-a-kind traveling culinary
photo courtesy of Rita Calvert
competition and tasting event - five
chefs, five pigs, five winemakers - to promote sustainable farming of
heritage breed pigs. After putting 50 events in the history books, this finetuned flavor train departs for another ten-city tour uniting local farmers,
renowned chefs, prominent winemakers, established restaurateurs,
brewers, distillers and the pork loving public in a stand-up tasting reception
format."
P.A. Bowen Farmstead is paired with Chef James Lewandowski of Petit
Louis Bistro for this year's Farm to Chef Maryland event in Baltimore on
Monday, October 5.
Finally, Tim Lake, cheesemonger at Right Proper Brewery in DC, is
presenting a beer/cheese pairing at the 10th Annual MetroCooking DC
Show October 24-25 and will be featuring P.A. Bowen Farmstead's cheeses
with his pairings. Held at the Washington Convention Center and featuring
celebrity chefs Giardia De Laurentiis and Michael Symon, this 2-day event
draws thousands of attendees.
Of course, you can always find P.A. Bowen Farmstead at the Downtown
College Park Farmers Market on the first Sunday of the month. They will
have a variety of pastured products available on October 4, 10am to 2pm.
Request your scholarship
application today! PGCFB will be
awarding one $2,000, Fred Walzel
Agricultural Scholarship (agricultural
majors only) and two additional
$1,000 scholarships (agricultural
majors or non-agricultural
majors). Application deadline is
January 20, 2016. Awardees will be
announced in the winter of 2016.
Any questions contact Jennifer
Cross at jcross4380@yahoo.com or
call 301-579-6552.
SAVE THE DATE: Field to Tray
The Mid-Atlantic's First Regional
Farm to School Conference
November 4 & 5
Field to Tray: Strengthening Farm to
School Purchasing in the MidAtlantic will bring together farmers,
food service directors, suppliers and
other stakeholders from our
region for a day of digging in
to local food procurement
strategies. This conference is
supported by a USDA Farm to
School Grant.
For more information and to
register, visit their website.
SAVE THE DATE: Small Farms
Conference
November 6 &7
Once again this fall, the University
of Maryland Small Farm Program will
host the Annual Small Farm
Conference. Now in its twelfth year,
this two day conference will be
held at the University of Maryland's
Eastern Shore campus in Princess
Anne, Maryland. This year's
conference will feature four handson demonstration workshops and
three educational tracks:
Alternative Agriculture, Farm
Business & Marketing, and New &
Beginning Farmer. Register by
'Cork to Fork' at Romano's Vineyard & Winery is Back!
Here's what the Romanos are pouring this month:
October 15th to take advantage of
early bird rates. Please refer to their
brochure for more information.
Every Saturday, 12 - 5pm
Open House at the Vineyard
Farm Fest Extravaganza
HOPE Leadership Club of PGC
October 24, 2015
Cork to Fork at Romano's
October 23: 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Join the Romano's for an exceptional
dining experience in the heart of Prince
George's County. Catering provided
by Pineapple Alley Catering Inc. Live
entertainment provided by Abel Baez.
Price: $70
Seating is limited. Register here!
OUT & ABOUT AT A FALL FEST NEAR YOU!
Rosewick Wine & Liquor Depot Wine
Tasting
October 9: 4pm - 8pm
photo courtesy of Sarah Frank
Cheverly Community Market
October 10: 8am - 12pm
Montpelier Farms Fall Festival
October 10, 24 & 25, 31: 12pm - 5pm
Autumn Festival at Mount Airy Mansion
October 17 & 18: 10am - 5pm (both days)
SAVE THE DATE!
Sip, Snack & Shop: A Holiday Shopping Extravaganza
November 6: 6 - 9pm
Riverside WineFest at Sotterly
November 7 & 8: Sat, 12pm - 6pm; Sun, 12pm - 5pm
Rescheduled from October 4 & 5 due to the weather forecast.
Did you know that Romano's Chambourcin received Gold and Liberty
received Bronze in the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition? For more
information, visit their website and Facebook page.
Food Forest Fun at Forested
Looking to expand your knowledge of food forests? Check out these cool
classes offered at Forested in Bowie,
MD!
Soil Ecology & Compost, October 3,
10am-4pm
Build a soil ecosystem that works to
improve the health of your garden,
your body and the world
Forest Garden Evening Tour, October
15, 4:30pm-6:30pm
See the forest garden growing and
learn how it works.
Forest Garden Design & Care, October 17, 10am-4pm
Explore forest gardening in depth through the seasons and engage in a
process to design a forest garden, select plants and learn the tools and
methods to install and care for it.
Volunteer Planting Day, November 7, 10am-2pm
Plant plants, move mulch and explore the forest garden.
Looking to Grow Microgreens?
Join ECO City Farms for an informational
gathering on Microgreens where Mary Ackley,
from DC's Little Wild Things, and Deborah Wren
& Diana Agonoy of ECO City Farms will share
their experiences growing microgreens,
exploring the struggles of indoor and outdoor
production,
sales techniques and crop varieties.
Come learn from their successes and failures,
get tips on how to produce small-scale or largescale, and have a tour of the ECO City Farms
production facility.
Date &Time: Saturday, October 17th, 1pm - 3:00pm
Location: 4913 Crittenden St, Edmonston, MD 20781
Refreshments will be served.
FREE! Feel free to make a donation to their bees!
Please RSVP to Deborah Wren at deborah@ecocityfarms.org by October
10th to ensure adequate seating.
Visit the calendar on the Prince George's County 'Fresh. Local.
Fun.' website for information about more local farm and food events!
MDA's Produce Seasonality
Charts
FUN.
Contact Us!
Roy & Arti's Kitchen & Garden Featured in EdibleDC
photo courtesy of Victoria Milko
I can count on my
hands how many
assignments I have
done the past five
years that have
reached down into my
soul and grasped the
depths of my heart in a
way that changed
how I viewed the
world. This was
certainly one of those
assignments.
Last month I had the pleasure of being assigned to write about
the Caspari family's farm in College Park, Maryland. On a very early
drizzling morning I headed to the suburban neighborhood, camera in
hand, ready to snap a few photos and head back to bed.
Do you have an interesting idea or
event that you would like to share in
the newsletter or even an interest in
contributing an article?
Have you enjoyed a tasty, locallymade dish or treat in Prince George's
County?
Did you have a phenomenal
experience at one of our County's
farm destinations or farmers markets?
If you answered yes to any of these,
we'd love to hear from you! Send us
an email or call us at 301.868.8780.
Warmly,
Little did I know what awaited me within the confines of a quarter acre
plot on a tiny cul-de-sac on a sleepy resident street in Maryland. Read
more...
~ Victoria Milko
EdibleDC.com
AG Marketing, Prince George's
County
Pumpkin Patch Opens This Weekend at Montpelier Farms
In addition to the pumpkin patch opening, Montpelier will host a Fire Safety
Day this Saturday from 10am - 3pm. Visit
their website for details!
Wagon Rides & Pumpkin Patch
Fun at Miller Farms!
Miller Farms' October events include
the Wagon Ride and Pumpkin Patch
visits on weekends, 10am 5pm. Weekdays by reservation
only. Admission fee includes a wagon
ride around their farm, a trip through
their corn maze, and visits to their
animal barn and hen house. Additional
information may be found on
their website or by calling 301-399-5442.
Be sure to stop by their farm store and bakery for some delicious baked good
and locally produced treats!
Prince George's County Farm Fun
University of MD Extension,
Prince George's County
Celebrate Food Day 2015!
"Food Day inspires Americans to change their diets and our food
policies. Every October 24, thousands of events all around the country bring
Americans together to celebrate and enjoy real food and to push for
improved food policies." - Foodday.org
Food Day is an national celebration that encourages Americans to change
"green" diets. Food Day also initiates conversations about ways to change
food policy.
There are two major Food Day Celebrations in Prince George's County:
Bowie State Food Day Symposium
Celebration @ ECO City Farms
Check out our newsletter archive!
The Prince George's County Farms & Food Newsletter and pgcountyfarmfun.com are both published by the Agriculture
Marketing Consultant of the University of Maryland, Prince George's County. University of Maryland Extension is a
statewide educational organization funded by federal, state, and local governments. Our mission is to support Maryland's agricultural industry;
protect its valuable natural resources; enhance the well-being of families and individuals, both young and old; and foster the development of
strong, stable communities. University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens without regard to race, color, gender, disability,
religion, age, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, or national origin.