Few farm visitors would be surprised to see pigs, chickens and corn. But what about alpacas? Pick-your-own peaches, blackberries and flowers? A winery? A rehabilitation center for abused or neglected farm animals? Artwork, sculpture and puppets?
All of the above were features on the 13 farms on the Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale July 28-29. Coordinated by the county’s Department of Economic Development, the annual event shows a significant portion of Montgomery County that is often overlooked.
While Montgomery County is home to downtown Silver Spring, Rockville and Bethesda, not all of the county is urban or suburban. More than 93,000 of the county’s 316,000 acres are in agriculture, home to more than 570 farms and 350 horticultural enterprises. Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve is maintained through easement purchase initiatives and the transfer of development rights.
Most of the sites on the Farm Tour are located in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve.