One-third of Montgomery County, or 93,000 acres, is designated as the Agricultural Reserve. This unique area of contiguous farmland has special characteristics:
- The zoning of the Agricultural Reserve (AR zone) limits development to one house per 25 acres;
- 70,000 acres, or 75% of the land area within the Ag Reserve, is further protected through permanent easements that restrict residential, industrial, and commercial development;
- 558 farms remain viable in a county with high development pressure and cost of living;
- 454 farms produce table food crops or products, allowing county residents to enjoy locally produced food;
- 10,000 horses provide competitive and recreational opportunities for County residents;
- Views of thousands of acres of rural landscape enjoyed by tourists, bicyclists, hikers, artists, and other visitors
Montgomery County’s diverse agricultural industry is home to 558 farms, employs more than 10,000 people, and contributes $281 million to the County’s economy. AG Facts Below:
Food Producers: According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, there are 454 farms producing table food in Montgomery County. The County’s food producers are essential and continue to play a vital role providing fresh, local food to residents including those in need through the Farm 2 Foodbank program. See the latest Farm2Foodbank Impact Report HERE.
Environmental Data: Best Management Practices (BMP) by Montgomery County Farmers. These practices help the County’s agricultural sector meet its Watershed Implementation (WIP) goals as mandated by the Maryland Department of the Environment. These BMPs also have the co benefit of reducing green house gas emissions.
Information and featured photo courtesy of Montgomery County’s Office of Agriculture.
The Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department is hosting their fall open house, along with a local vendor fair, this Sunday (October 8) from 12PM to 4PM at 19801 Beallsville Road Beallsville, MD 20839. According to the UMCVFD, the event will feature a pumpkin patch, hay rides, Fire & Rescue Service demonstrations, and police vehicles on display. Additionally more than 30 vendors will be present at this Sunday’s event. Visitors can enjoy free hot dogs, Cotton Candy, and giveaways for children.
At their newly-expanded Beallsville Road firehouse, the Upper Montgomery County VFD currently has an ambulance, Canteen Unit, several boats paired with support vehicles as part of their Swiftwater Rescue Team, Medic Unit, Brush Truck, Brush Engine, Rescue Engine, and Tanker. The units responded to more than 1,200 calls in 2022.
Watch Issued for Western Maryland and Portions of Central Maryland; No Mandatory Water Use Restrictions in Place but Voluntary Reductions Encouraged
Per The Maryland Department of the Environment: The Maryland Department of the Environment is urging citizens and businesses in a large part of the state to voluntarily reduce their water usage as a drought watch has been issued. “Water conservation is a good practice year-round, but we are asking residents and businesses to pay particular attention during the summer months when the State can experience hot and dry conditions,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain.
“You can do your part by limiting the use and duration of sprinklers for lawns, taking short showers as opposed to baths, and not leaving the faucet running while brushing your teeth. These things sound simple, but it all adds up.” A drought watch has been issued for Western Maryland and portions of Central Maryland based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year. During a drought watch, MDE increases oversight of water supply conditions and encourages voluntary water conservation practices. No mandatory water use restrictions have been issued.
The affected region includes Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Washington Counties, except for areas served by the Baltimore City or Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission public water systems.
At this time, the State currently has enough water to meet the needs of residents and businesses, but water conservation measures are being encouraged to help avoid any future water shortages. Recent rainfall in the area is not expected to have a significant effect in reducing the precipitation deficit. Homeowners should consider water conservation measures listed in our fact sheet. Recommendations on conserving water for certain types of businesses, such as restaurants and commercial buildings, are also available.
Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Department of Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) is currently investigating a fatal motorcycle collision that occurred at the 21400 block of Beallsville Road near Sellman Road. On Monday, July 10, 2023, at approximately 8:43 p.m., Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire Rescue responded to Beallsville Road for the report of a motorcycle collision with a deer.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered 53-year-old Michelle Lee Beach, of Dunedin, FL, who had been ejected from her motorcycle after hitting the deer. She was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she later died. The preliminary investigation has revealed that Beach was following another motorcyclist, travelling southbound on Beallsville Road on her pink 2007, Suzuki GXSR 600 motorcycle when she hit the deer. This is an ongoing investigation.
Below are five things to do in Montgomery County, MD this weekend:
1. Kentlands Under the Lights
Saturday, June 17: 6-11pm
Kentlands Market Square (Gaithersburg)
The Kentlands Community Foundation is proud to announce the return of Kentlands Under the Lights, an annual community gathering and dinner, to kick off the Kentlands summer season on Saturday, June 17 from 6pm-11pm. The event will take place rain or shine, promising an unforgettable night of music, food, and camaraderie under the stars. Drink tickets can be purchased in advance here.
Never letting the grass grow under their feet, the Kentlands Under the Lights committee has been hard at work since the beginning of the year on what will be a wholly new and reimagined Kentlands Under the Lights for 2023. Kentlands Under the Lights will have a new and expanded footprint on Market Street running from the traffic circle to CenterPoint – and now fully including the Paseo space and merchants – more music options including three band stages, more food and drink options, and more places to sit and linger and enjoy the company and fellowship of our friends and neighbors on a warm summer night. Kentlands Under the Lights 2023 will be the best yet.
Admission is free, with food and drinks available for purchase from vendors like Thai Tanium, The Grilled Oyster, Brews & Barrels, Bangin BBQ, Mackie’s Food trucks (Burgers & Mexican) Nothing Bundt Cake, Kona Ice, Bruster’s, Dog Haus, Vine Alley, Twin Valley Distillery, True Respite, Clear Skies Meadery, Brew House Coffee, Cinepolis and more. This event would not be possible without our sponsors, Kimco, The List Realty, Village Settlements, Kentlands Psychotherapy, Great Kids Events, Foundry Fitness, Embrace Home Loans, Everest, Bella Ballet. Greystone Realty, Kevin Grolig Home Team of Compass, Authentic Yoga and more.
2. Montgomery County Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17: 12-10pm
12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown
Montgomery County will celebrate Juneteenth at a special event featuring live music, food, art, films and awards from 12-10 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 2023 at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. The Montgomery County Office of Human Rights coordinates the program, which also features the Living Legends Awards honoring county residents who have helped shape the cultural heritage of the African American community. The Juneteenth holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when the Union army arrived in Texas bearing federal orders proclaiming the end of slavery. The orders arrived nearly two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared that enslaved people living in the secessionist Confederate states were now free.
3. Suds & Soles 5K
Saturday, June 17: 7:30pm
Rockville Town Center
Per Montgomery County: The “Suds & Soles 5K” run and event, which is a Rockville tradition, will be held starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, in Rockville Town Center. The race, which is one of the few evening road races in the Washington metropolitan area, is presented through a partnership of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club and the City of Rockville. The 5K Run is open to all ages and will be followed by a fantastic post-race party.
The event will organize at North Washington Street and Middle Lane in Rockville Town Center.
Adults will be able to sample beverages from local breweries as well as enjoy other post-race refreshments.
Proceeds from Suds & Soles will benefit the Rockville Recreation and Parks Foundation, Youth and Beginning Running Programs of MCRRC and other charitable needs of the community. Suds & Soles is a USATF certified 5K course beginning and ending in Rockville Town Center. The course will run through Downtown Rockville and through neighborhood roads before returning to Town Center. Participants who maintain a pace that is greater than 20 minutes per mile may be directed to the sidewalk and from that point on will be required to follow normal pedestrian rules.
4. Mudfest
Saturday, June 17: 11:00am-3:00am
20207 Darnestown Road, Beallsville
Montgomery Parks is hosing down part of the Woodstock Equestrian Park in Beallsville to get ready for MudFest 2023. The one-day event offers families the unique opportunity to dive into giant mud pits for some good “clean” fun. The event will take place on Saturday, June 17, 2023 |11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., rain or shine. There is, however, a severe weather make-up day: Sunday, June 18, 2023. The event will take place at the Woodstock Equestrian Special Park (map) at 20207 Darnestown Road in Beallsville, MD 20839 (near Poolesville). Video of last year’s event available below.
This will be the third time Black Hill Nature Programs has hosted MudFest. Park staff prepare for the event by purchasing good mud-making dirt, that has been screened for rocks and is a great texture for activities like mudpie making and mud art. Then the maintenance team, also known as mud artists, uses excavators and other earth moving equipment to arrange the dirt into piles, slides, puddles and more. After that, visitors are invited to jump in, slide around and enjoy.
5. Silver Spring Blues Festival
Saturday, June 17: 3PM
Downtown Silver Spring
Per Montgomery County: The 14th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival will conclude with a full day of free from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, on the main stage on Ellsworth Drive in Downtown Silver Spring. The first half of the June 17 festival will feature acoustic performances. Starting at 3 p.m., the lineup becomes more varied, capped with a performance by Clarence “The Blues Man” Turner. The evening will conclude with an all-star jam session starting at 9 p.m. The June 17 lineup will include:
- Archie Edwards Blues Ensemble, 10 a.m.
- Blues Panamuse, 11 a.m.
- Women in Blues, noon.
- Ale Ponti from Italy, 1 p.m.
- Harmonica workshop with Pearl Bailes, 2 p.m.
- School of Rock Doin’ the Blues, 3 p.m.
- Pepper featuring Jesi Terrell, 4 p.m.
- Fast Eddie and the Slowpokes, 5 p.m.
- Mark “The Muleman” Massey from Memphis, 6 p.m.
- The Boneshakers with Ron Holloway, 7 p.m.
- Clarence “The Blues Man” Turner, 8:30 p.m.
- All-star jam, 9 p.m.
“People love it because it’s all about play,” says park naturalist Katrina Fauss, “there’s permission to have fun and connect to nature and our childhoods. I also think it’s about the scale of the mud slides and piles. There’s just something fun and silly about it all.” Admission to MudFest is $20 per car. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at ActiveMontgomery Mudfest tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate the day of the event with cash only. Ticket sales are final and non-transferable. MudFest goes on rain or shine. If severe weather forces a cancellation, there is a rain date scheduled the following day. “Get down and dirty, jumping, slipping, and sliding in giant mud pits! Cook up a mud pie, make mud art, and play games! This muddy fun will be great for the whole family.”
