Dear Governor O'Malley,We wish to bring a timely issue to your attention that would help Maryland lead the nation on farm education, farmer training, farm-to-school programs, and a sustainable and environmentally sensitive farming future. We are aware of your work on the “No Child Left Inside” initiative and your support of the Jane Lawton Farm to School law. We also know of your commitment to strengthen agriculture in Maryland, while leading on environmental issues that improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Brickyard Educational Farm provides a foundation for each of those pillars in its mission by connect- ing children with the food, land, and water that sustain them. The Farm brings together farm educa- tion programs for children and training programs for beginning farmers, and integrates sustainable, organic, and environmentally responsible farming practices. The farm -to-school field trips offer les- sons that fulfill Maryland state curriculum requirements, including the new “No Child Left Inside” environmen tal literacy requirements. In a ddition, Brickyard Educational Farm is working with com- munity stakeholders to bring significant quantities of fresh produce from the farm directly to public school cafeterias, as outlined in Maryland’s Jane Lawton Farm to School Act. Brickyard Educational Farm will also house a farm incubator program by providing landless beginning farmers with land close to an urban cen ter, shared e quipment, share d labor, a b uilt - in market, the opportunity to run their own farming operation, and experienced farmer men- tors. Upon completion of the program, Brickyard Educational Farm hopes to work with exist- ing local land-link agencies that match aspiring farmers with affordable farmland. The last component addresses food security through a seed -saving and production operation, managed organically on this land for the past 32 ye ars. This effort preserves genetic diversity and helps save from extinction the unique, locally adapted varieties that may be needed to counter constantly evolv- ing pests, diseases and climate change. Over the last three decades using this land as his base, organic farmer Nick Maravell has been very involved in promoting sustainable farming in Maryland and in the nation, and he is often asked to testify in Congress for his environmentally responsible practices. He helped found many organizations such as Future Harvest Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, the Maryland Organic Food and Farming Association, and the Maryland Small Farm Cooperative. In 2011, the USDA Secretary Vilsack appointed Mr. Maravell to a five -year term on the National Org anic Stand ards Board, recogn izing how Mr. Maravell’s valuable e xperience cou ld con- tribute to regulating policy for the $30 billion a year or ganic industry. Unfortunately, Maryland is at risk of losing Brickyard Educational Farm. This 20 acre farm, located on public school land, is slated to be leased for private gated pay -for- play soc cer fields and parking lots. With the average age of a farmer being 57 years old, we need more programs like Brickyard Educa- tional Farm to stimulate interest in agriculture and to train the next generation. Maryland has a large agricultural economy, is one of the most environmentally responsible states, and is leading the nation in education. We are weeks away from losing what would be a nationally renowned program that would put Maryland at the forefront of environmental, outdoor, agricultural education through train- ing programs and farm-to-school curriculum. There are no other programs or farms in the nation that integrate all of the elements described above. Please do what you can to save this valuable asset so Maryland can become a national model in this growing movement to revitalize local food and farming in America. Sincerely,
