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Oops. It looks like something went awry in the newsletter we sent you on Wednesday. While we would love to blame it on computer Gremlins, it appears we made a mistake in our excitement to get this fun filled newsletter delivered to your inbox. Please accept our sincerest apologies, and we beg your pardon for adding to your already full inbox. Have a great weekend!
- Kim, Norma & Ariel
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February 2017
"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."
- Harriet van Horne
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FRESH.
Riverdale Park Farmers Market Winter Market
Join Riverdale Park Farmers Market for it's Winter Market every Thursday, 3 to 7pm, and enjoy local goodies including greens, apples, meat, some root veggies, some pastry, bread, and coffee.
For more information on the weekly Winter Market, check Riverdale Park Farmers Market's Facebook page.
Greenbelt Farmers Vendors Offer Winter Drops
Specific Greenbelt Farmers Market vendors will drop locally-grown and raised products in the Greenbelt
parking lot at 25 Crescent Road on the third Sunday of the month. The next drop will take place on Sunday, February 18.
For more information on how to contact the vendors to submit your order, Greenbelt Farmers Market's
website
and Facebook page.
Celebrate Community Supported Agriculture - Sign up with your farm on CSA Day!
 In 2015, Small Farm Central released the 2014
CSA Farming Annual Report
, which gathered data from more than 250 CSA farmers and almost 53,000 memberships. Among other interesting facts, the report showed that the most popular day for CSA Signups in 2014 was Friday February 28. So in 2015, the first National CSA Signup Day was held on Saturday, February 28. CSA farmers offered special CSA Signup Day discounts and promotions and enjoyed an influx of signups from members wanting to support local agriculture. This year, CSA Day is about more than getting lots of CSA signups; it's a whole day dedicated to the celebration of community-supported agriculture. For more information, visit CSA Day's website.
Here is a listing of CSA's in Prince George's County:
Owl's Nest Farm is Looking for New CSA Members
Owl's Nest Farm recently opened enrollment for its 2017 CSA program! Consider signing up with them on CSA Day! Each
 week you'll receive a
share of the farm's Certified Naturally Grown vegetable bounty and you can pick up on the farm on Saturdays from 1pm-3pm.
Owl's Nest Farm grows unique, delicious, nutritious, diverse vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit on four acres in Upper Marlboro, MD. Their Certified Naturally Grown crops end up in the bellies of their CSA members, Petworth farmer's market customers, DC restaurant goers, and friends. More info on their
website.
Visit www.pgcountyfarmfun.com for a listing of farms and farmers markets you can visit with your friends and family!
Find the full list of county farmers markets here.
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Curious About Alpacas?
 The Alpaca Lane Criations Farm, located at 15430 Mount Calvert Rd in Upper Marlboro, MD, is open every weekend from
9 AM to 5 PM
until the end of March.
Bring your friends and family to the farm for a unique opportunity to pet the alpacas and learn about these wonderful animals.
This past year, six babies (crias) were born, and so the farm is now home to 31 alpacas.
The farm shop offers opportunities to purchase fine alpaca products such as yarn, roving, toys, warm alpaca hats, scarves, gloves, sweaters, jackets, vests, throws, and much more. The tours are free and children are welcome. For more information, contact Susan Kolb at 703.401.1793 or visit their Facebook page.
Wine Infused Cupcakes & Music at Romano Vineyard & Winery
Join the Romanos every Friday,
1-6pm and every
Saturday,
noon to 6pm for a wine tasting! They also will open Monday, February 20th for Presidents Day, 1-6pm. The following events are taking place at the winery this month:
- February 10, 3-6pm & February 11, 12-5pm: Wine infused cupcakes by Karen Prescott
- February 11, 2-5pm: Music with Josh Airhart
- February 25, 2-5pm: Music with Abel Baez
Are You a High School Student Interested in Food, Health & the Environment?
ECO City Farms is seeking high school youth interested in food, health and the environment to enroll in the signature SEED2FEED Summer Youth Employment Program. Youth are engaged in all aspects of their Bladensburg urban farm, from seed to harvest to cooking to eating. Participants have the opportunity to earn money while working this summer. Applications open
Feb 27th
. To be added to the interest list, please contact Kayla Agonoy at
[email protected]
. 
The Port Towns Farmers Mercado seeks local farmers, growers and food product vendors for the 2017 season, which runs from
June 3 to September 2
in Bladensburg. The culturally diverse market offers a low flat vendor seasonal fee with rebate for good attendance. We particularly welcome Prince George's farmers, healthy food producers and sustainable growers. For more information visit their website.
Finally, ECO is looking for committed people interested in sustainable agriculture to apply for intern and apprenticeship positions for the spring/summer season. You'll get hands-on experience on an urban farm by working alongside farm managers and staff. More info will be announced on our website in mid-February.
Beginners Beekeeping Workshop at P.A. Bowen Farmstead
 Did you know that bees, one of our primary pollinators responsible for about one-third of our food supply, are now listed on the endangered species list?
Find out how to help support the bee population and/or how to become a beekeeper at our Beginner's Beekeeping Workshop here at the farm store on Sunday, February 19th, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $65/person, or $80/couple (or parent/child). Bring a bag lunch for the break.
Local beekeeper Lyle Bradford (La Plata, MD), who has worked with bees for over 30 years, will tell you everything you need to know to get started as a beekeeper, and share ways to help support the declining bee population in your area. He recommends purchasing
The Beekeepers Handbook before the class - a great resource for getting started (
available on Amazon).
Be sure to bring a bag lunch for the break.
Registration is now open, and space is limited. You can register by calling
(301) 579-2727
, or stop by the store, Thursday through Saturday, from 10-6pm.
Celebrate FeBREWary with Calvert Brewing Company! 
FeBREWary is Maryland's official month-long celebration of craft beer, and with craft brew events on tap across the state, it's the perfect time for a beer lover's getaway. Breweries, ale houses and brew pubs are open across the state, so head to your favorite Maryland vacation destination and expand your brew I.Q. with a new style of beer from a local craft brewer, or cozy up with a tall mug of an old favorite in a bit of Maryland you've yet to explore. From the mountains to the beach, FeBREWary in Maryland is the perfect opportunity to hoist a pint with good friends in great places.
Calvert Brewing Company will celebrate FeBREWary all month long at their Upper Marlboro location with an event EVERY Saturday of the month. Check their
website and
Facebook for more details on the events!
Local Blogger Reviews Calvert Brewing Company's Kid-Friendly Atmosphere
 It's the weekend, y'all!
Time for some relaxation, fun and maybe even a delicious beer
or five. Wait. What now? "That's not how my weekends go down," you say. "I've got kids," you say. "The odds of me enjoying a beer while lil wo/man is awake are slim to none. Actually, there's nothing slim about me or my odds; nada." Well, well. Let me introduce you to
Calvert Brewing Company & its kid-friendly Tap Room right here in our lovely Prince George's County
. Read more...
Visit the calendar on the Prince George's County 'Fresh. Local. Fun.'
website
for information about more local farm and food events!
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FUN.
Southern Maryland (including Prince George's County) sees boom in sales for local meats
Demand for locally raised meat and poultry is growing quickly across Southern Maryland, and a program created to capitalize on the trend is seeing boosted sales as a result, a regional agricultural official said last week.
Meat marketed through the Southern Maryland Meats program, sold in display cases at stores across the region, has risen from $17,393 in sales in fiscal year 2012 to about $201,413 in fiscal year 2016, according to data distributed to farmers at the Southern Maryland Hay & Pasture Conference on Jan. 11.
The demand comes from a growing number of consumers in search of locally sourced food and concerned about livestock issues including animal welfare, antibiotic use and other raising practices, said Susan McQuilkin, marketing executive at the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, which oversees the program.
Read more...
- Jonathan Cribss
The Delmarva Farmer
To find a Prince George's County farm in the Southern Maryland Meats program, click here.
Just a Few Slots Left! - New Community Garden Focuses on Participants with Health Challenges
 Wheatley Garden
is a privately owned, organically sustained garden located in Beltsville, Md. The purpose is to provide a peaceful atmosphere to friends who love to garden, where they can spend time in nature, plant, tend and harvest food which will further the healing process of the mind, body and spirit.
Wheatley Garden features:
9 plots approx. 10'x18', 3 plots approx. 9'x18'; open March-November, 7 ft deer fence, water, compost bins, grass and leaves, tools.
Cost per season:
$50.00 (1'x18'), $45 (9x18')
- Carol Clatterbuck, Wheatley Garden
Future Harvest CASA Conference Featured on Local Podcast
The Marc Steiner Show hosted its newest episode of
Sound Bites
, a series  about our food and our world. They begin the episode with Part 2 of a panel Marc moderated two weeks ago at
Future Harvest Casa's 18th Annual Conference
, "Cultivate the Chesapeake Foodshed." The panel was called "Policy Scoper: What's happening in your state capital?" They discussed what food and agriculture policies are most important to the states of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia, and also discussed what food and agriculture policy could look like nationally with the incoming Trump administration. Check it out here.
Family Garden Club Starts in March
National Young Farmers Coalition Needs Your Input!
 Thank you for taking time to participate in the National Young Farmers Coalition's 2017 survey, created in partnership with George Washington University. We will use this information to guide our work, craft our next policy platform, and help break down the barriers facing young people looking to enter agriculture.
Your responses are strictly confidential, and data will only be reported in the aggregate (no personal information will be shared or reported). If you would like to know the results of the survey, please provide us with your email address at the end of the survey.
The survey should take 5-20 minutes, depending on your situation. For more information and to take the survey
,
click here
. Interested in getting involved in your local chapter? Check out the MD Young Farmers Coaltion's Facebook page for upcoming events.
Looking for Commercial Kitchen Space to Rent?
Approximately 500 square foot
Commercial kitchen in NE DC just over the Eastern Ave MD-DC border available for rent. Rates include use of: Vulcan double stack convection oven (4 shelf in each oven); 2 six burner Vulcan range (12 burners total); Masterbuilt table top smoker; 2 Robot Coupes; 2 commercial Vita mixer blenders; Hobart 20 qt mixer; kitchen is fully stocked with sheet trays, pots, pans, and cooking utensils. Refrigeration available during production time. Rates are inclusive of staff member on site that is a dishwasher.
Hourly rate: $40/hour; Daily rate (7 hours or more in one day): $32/hour; Monthly rate (16 or more daily rate days across 1 calendar month): $30/hour
Please contact:
[email protected]
for more information.
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MD Organic Food & Farming
Association (MOFFA) Winter Meeting
MD Dept of Agriculture
February 11, 8am - 5pm
Information for farmers and gardeners in search of new ideas, techniques, & inspiration, as well as networking opportunities for consumers and distributors looking for good sources of local, organic food.
Presentations, Panels and Workshops
Including research talks by University Of Maryland Extension and scientists.
Prince George's County's very own Lincoln Smith of Forested will present on
layered, polycultural food forests. He'll discuss forest garden methods, some of the great plants you can grow, and how to take care of them.
Homegrown 'Eat Local' Potluck Lunch
- One of the highlights of the meeting
- Bring a dish to share at the best local lunch around!
Seed Swap ~ Silent Auction ~ Display Tables
Only $5 for members and $20 for non-members
Visit the
website for more information.
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Love Thy Beer
FeBREWary
February 17, 6-9pm
Silver Spring Civic Center
&
Spirits of Southern MD
PAX River Naval Air Museum
Join the Brewers Association of Maryland at Love Thy Beer, the signature event of FeBREWary - Maryland Craft Beer Lover's Month - featuring 25 local breweries including Prince George's County's very own Calvert Brewing Company!
In the true spirit of FeBREWary, this is your opportunity to chat with brewers and owners of local breweries in an intimate setting over seasonal ales. Enjoy some of our best local brews along with fare provided by Mission BBQ and live blues music!
This is a great event for any craft beer enthusiast. From stouts and porters to winter seasonal brews, cask ales and sours, this event will feature exclusive brews not found at your local beer shop. Also, Maryland Breweries have been challenged to craft a unique beer in honor of FeBREWary, called Cupid's Curse - each brewery with their own unique recipe! Try them all during the VIP hour of Love Thy Beer, and cast your vote for your favorite!
For tickets and more information, visit their
website.
The Maryland Distillers Guild, along with St. Mary's County Tourism and St. Mary's County Commerce, will be hosting the inaugural Spirits of Maryland: Southern Maryland
on Saturday, FeBREWary 11 at the PAX River Naval Air Museum.
A rare opportunity to taste & purchase Craft Spirits from across the state amidst a grand collection of historic Naval aircrafts. Event will feature full access to the museum, live music & light appetizers.
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Chocolate Lovers Tea
Montpelier Mansion
February 18, 1:30pm
Bring someone special - including yourself! - to an elegant tea starring that most heavenly of confections: chocolate! A lovely way to celebrate the sweetness of food, friends and family. We'll also serve a
prix fixe menu
of fine finger sandwiches, scrumptious cakes and pastries, buttery scones, and your choice of two quality loose leaf teas, all served on china and tiered stands.
Reservations and advance payment required.
$29 per person, $25 for members of Friends of Montpelier.
Price includes gratuity and self-guided tour of the mansion.
Reservations required by Wednesday, February 15! Call 301-377-7817 (no e-mail reservations please). Visit the website for more information.
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First Ladies Tea
Marietta House Museum
February 18, 2pm
America's First Ladies have been hosting various teas, luncheons, and events for over 200 years! Please join us as we celebrate our First Ladies hospitality with an afternoon tea and a variety of recipes from some of our First Ladies. Guests are welcome to tour the home following the tea.
Reservations are required and space is limited. Fee: $25/person. Please call 301-464-5291 to reserve your space.
For more information visit the website.
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Digging Deeper:
The Role of Healthy Soil in Maryland's Agriculture, Water Quality, & Climate
Alice Ferguson Foundation &
The Carbon Underground
Miller Senate Office Building, President's Conference Center West
Monday, February 27
For more information on the conference, click here.
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Monthly Meeting
Food Equity Council
February 28, 4:30 - 6:30
The mission of the Prince George's County Food Equity Council is to significantly improve public health and community well-being of all who live, work, study, worship and play in the County.
It will develop and support policies, approaches, procedures, practices and initiatives to create systemic change to the local food system, promoting health, economic opportunity, food security, and well-being, especially among communities that have been negatively impacted by the current food system.
Details regarding the location for the February meeting is coming soon! Visit the Food Equity Council's
website for more information.
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SAVE THE DATE!
MD Farmers Market Conference
March 14, 8am - 4pm
The Annual Maryland Farmers Market Conference at the Maryland Department of Agriculture will be held on March 14th at 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD. The conference is from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Lunch will be included in the conference and there will be a $30 cost per person for full day conference attendance. More information and r
egistration details will be available on the Maryland Department of Agriculture's website. Check this press release for details.
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SAVE THE DATE!
PGC Farm Bureau Annual Dinner Banquet
March 18, 2017
Social Hour: 5:30pm
Dinner, Auction and Dancing: 6:30pm
Prince Geoge's County Farm Bureau Annual Dinner Banquet will be held at the Baden Volunteer Fire Department Hall in Brandywine, MD on Saturday, March 18, 2017. Social hour starts at 5:30, followed by a live and silent auction, lots of food, music and dancing.
Everyone is invited and sponsorships and advertisement space is available.
Prince George's County Young Farmers will run the live and silent auction. They have been an actively growing group in the community in the past year. With a passion for agriculture and preserving the way of life on the farm, our young farmers have worked with each other to have a successful and working group, dedicated to our future endeavors.
Contact Jennifer Cross, PGCFB Secretary at [email protected] or 301.579.6552 for more information.
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MDA's Produce Seasonality Charts
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 Contact Us!
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, locally-made 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,
Looking to start a farmers market or farm? Visit our Ag Marketing
page for resources.
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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.
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