One of nation’s most successful farm protection efforts showcased in movie produced by the Montgomery Countryside Alliance
Silver Spring, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, invites the public to a free screening of “Growing Legacy” on Wednesday, February 4 at noon. The 30-minute film will be shown in the auditorium at the Department’s headquarters (8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD), followed by a question-and-answer session with the film’s producers.
The nonprofit Montgomery Countryside Alliance launched the project to share the story of the County’s Agricultural Reserve with local schools and communities so they might better appreciate this 93,000-acre agricultural area in their own backyard. The short documentary profiles the challenges of growing food and cities in harmony through interviews with decision makers, consumers and farmers.
In the late 1950s, small family farms were rapidly disappearing from Montgomery County as Washington, DC grew ever outward. As the loss of farms intensified throughout the 1970s, planners worked with farmers and local politicians to take action and preserve farmland and support farming by creating the Agricultural Reserve in 1980.
Within the Agricultural Reserve, family farms still dominate, with an average farm size of 118 acres. Farm production is diversified, providing county residents with a variety of local products, as well as an important source of income – the average market value of agricultural products sold per farm was $89,520 in 2014.
Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve at a Glance:
- Encompasses 93,000 acres of farmland and rural landscapes, including about 560 farms and 350 horticultural enterprises.
- Supports animal population of 10,000 horses, 1,200 beef cows, 650 dairy cows, 650 sheep, nearly 200 hogs and pigs, and more than 4,000 chickens.
- Provides fresh, local meat and produce to area residents at pick-your-own farms, orchards and farm stands.
- Supplies locally grown plants and Christmas trees to greenhouses, nurseries and tree farms.
- Employs 10,000 people and contributes $287 million to the County’s annual economy, including $85 million from the equine industry.
- Allows nearby residents of densely populated areas to visit and experience a working, agricultural landscape.
- Supplies food to farmers markets, grocery stores and restaurants in nearby cities and suburbs.
- Permanently protects more than 70,000 acres under farmland preservation easements
- Serves as an international model of farmland preservation
Learn more about the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve