County prepares for Farm Tour and Harvest Sale

July 25, 2001

Jason Feirman
Special to The Gazette

David S. Spence/The Gazette

Elliott Byrne, 6, and Cory Byrne, 2, of Rockville watch baby chicks at the Jehovah-Jireh Farm in Dickerson during the 2000 Farm Tour and Harvest Sale.

Agricultural Farm Park joins tour

The 12th annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale will take place July 28-29 at 18 farms in Montgomery County, each of which set to provide different activities and attractions for visitors.

One of the main goals of the event is to provide a connection between two very diverse areas of the county, according to John Zawitoski, director of Planning and Promotion for the county's Department of Economic Development.

"This is an excellent chance to provide linkage between the agricultural community and residents downcounty," he said. "Many people are unaware of what a strong agricultural community there is in the county. ... Someone from downcounty could drive 10 miles and be in a very open, pastoral space with farms."

This is the third year the tour will take place over a two-day period rather than the previous one day. Of the 18 farms, 12 will be open on both Saturday and Sunday.

"In past years we received feedback that one day wasn't enough for people to visit all of the farms," Zawitoski said. "Now that a number of the farms are open both days, people can pick and choose which ones they want to go to each day."

One of the major differences at this year's event is that the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood will be a starting point of the tour. At the Farm Park, which joins the tour for the first time, visitors will have numerous activities in which they can participate.

In the multi-purpose room at the Farm Park, a variety of county government programs and services will be on display and a video, "Heritage and Hope," will be shown throughout the day. Outside, agricultural machinery and implements that span two centuries will be on display. There will also be a mobile science lab at the site that will enable students to conduct a variety of hands-on investigations as they learn about agriculture, aquatics, biotechnology and their food and fiber systems.

The activities at the center "give people a chance to learn more about agriculture in the community and highlight the history of agriculture as well," Zawitoski said.

In addition to the events being held at the Farm Park, breakfast will be served on Saturday and Sunday.

"We will serve a country-style breakfast beginning at 10 a.m.," said Hugh Clayton, secretary of the Board of Directors for the Farm Park. "We will continue serving food until we run out."

Farms participating in this year's event include Rock Hill Orchard in Damascus. Free ice cream topped with Rock Hill's tree-ripened peaches will be offered to all visitors. Home grown vegetables, berries, tree fruit, jams and jellies will also be on sale.

"We hope to promote farming and let people know that there are still working farms in Montgomery County," said Nancy Biggs, owner of Rock Hill Orchard. "We need people to come out to the farm markets."

Jehovah-Jireh Farm in Dickerson, which specializes in the pasteurization of chickens and turkeys, will be open on Saturday, and is going to sell barbecue chicken for lunch and take turkey orders for Thanksgiving, as well as hold events for children.

"We will have mini-cart rides," said owner Cathy Horst, who explained that the carts, which are attached to the back of a lawn tractor, were a "big hit last year." Visitors will also be able to visit a nearby creek and see animals such as baby chicks less than a week old at the farm.

Phillips Farm Produce in Germantown will have activities for kids, such as pony rides and a two-acre maze.

"We have animals for kids to pet and feed," said Elizabeth Bonnell, an employee at the farm. "There will also be hay rides and haystacks for the kids to climb."

Although one of the more difficult tasks of organizing the event is its promotion, many methods have been used to ensure that people know about the event. Brochures are available in county libraries and recreational centers. Posters were put up in Giant Food stores and on Ride On buses around the county as well. Advertisements for the event are also being shown on cable television.

While Zawitoski believes that 8,000 to 15,000 people usually participate in the tours, some years the event attracts as many as 25,000 people.

"If the weather is not too hot and oppressive, we have bigger crowds," he said.

The event has always taken place during the last weekend of July because it is the peak of fruit and vegetable production. Zawitoski said that people will be treated to a high quality of produce when they come out to the farms this year.

"The abundant moisture and nice warm days will probably give us one of the best growing seasons," he said.

Saturday and Sunday:

Agricultural History Farm Park, 18410 Muncaster Road, Derwood

Alden Farms, 19215 Beallsville Road, Beallsville.

Bucklodge Christmas Trees, 19920 Bucklodge Road, Boyds

Butler's Orchard, 22200 Davis Mill Road, Germantown

Catoctin Vineyards, 805 Greenbridge Road, Brookeville

Farmhouse Flowers & Plants, 4501 Gregg Road, Brookeville

Homestead Farm, 15600 Sugarland Road, Poolesville

Lewis Orchards, 18900 Peach Tree Road, Dickerson

Phillips Farm Produce, 13710 Schaeffer Road, Germantown

Pong's Asian Pear Orchard, 16811 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring