Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive • cball@howardcountymd.gov
Dear Friends,
In Howard County, we remain committed to our agricultural heritage. With more than 330 farms, agriculture is still the fifth largest economic driver in the county. Our local producers work tirelessly to supply nutritious fresh food for our residents and protect our natural resources, while they help create jobs, expand our economy, and enhance our health and well-being.
We support, protect and grow our precious farms through numerous initiatives and investments. Our new Office of Agriculture opened in March of 2025 at West Friendship Park, located in Western Howard County where many of our farmers live and work. This office, in the historic Hebb House, offers streamlined, centralized county services and saves our farmers valuable time to be reinvested in their harvest, livestock, and families. This launch establishes a collaborative environment where innovation and tradition coexist.
Thanks to the work of the West Friendship Park Agricultural Focus Group last year, we are envisioning an expanding hub for our agriculture industry at the expansive 380-acre county-owned park. It will feature tremendous educational and recreational opportunities to both support our producers and engage our community.
In the FY2026 budget cycle, we announced a $1 million investment for the planning and design of a full-scale agricultural center at West Friendship Park, which will create space for meetings, training, demonstration areas, and events. We also continue critical support for Howard County’s agricultural sector through $500,000 for the Enhanced Agricultural Grant program and $300,000 in grants for agricultural preservation and innovation initiatives.
Together, our agricultural partners make it a priority to support our agricultural leaders and innovators of tomorrow as they provide the food, goods, jobs and more that our community desires and values. We salute many of our small farms who are finding unique ways to respond to community needs and interests and keeping the farming industry thriving.
Please join us to champion our local farms. I encourage you to shop at our local farmers markets; support our awardwinning Roving Radish meals program and marketplaces; and experience our destination farms through various tours and events. Please visit HoCoFarms.com for more information or find a farm on HoCo Farm Connect today.
Sincerely,
Calvin Ball
Howard County Executive
Gill Hill Flower Farm Howard County
LeCheval Stables
By Colin McGuire
Mary Wilde Lives Out Childhood Fantasy with Three Dozen Daisies Farm
Ponies. Rainbows. Barbies. These are just a few of the things that we’ve come to know are synonymous with young females. They are symbols of youth, the product of good, old-fashioned innocence. In short, it’s what society has accepted as signatures of the stereotypical Mary Wilde, by her own admission, was not a stereotypical little girl.
“I guess some people want to grow up to be doctors and princesses, but I wanted to grow up to be a farmer,” Wilde says. “I fell in love with the idea of being a farmer and I would enter fair contests through 4-H and all of my fair winnings went into a bank account called ‘Mary’s Farm Fund.’” She then laughs. “I was dedicated to the cause.”
Dedicated as she may be, Wilde eventually acquiesced to the idea
that the money she won in fair competitions wouldn’t actually be enough to buy a farm. As she eloquently described her Howard County roots, “farms in this area are not exactly cheap,” so her winnings were used for other things, which may or may not have included a mere town house she settled for after graduating college, where she majored in world religions as a means to pursue international relations.
Those studies helped land her a job with the federal government and the Department of Defense. Her career path paid the bills but felt like a consolation. She hated her job and would daydream about all those aspirations she had as a young girl, wanting nothing more than to one day be a farmer. So, she did what any other adult would do to pass the time.
She turned on the radio.
“I heard this story of a woman in her 20s who was farming
Columbia,” Wilde says. “I was so jealous. I was like, ‘Why is she living my dream?’ No one was telling me I couldn’t do it, so I decided it was time for me to go back to my farming dream. I was lucky enough to have a boyfriend who comes from more of a farming background than me and he was open to the idea. So, we started looking for a place.”
Things didn’t come quickly for the couple. Ideally, she says, they would have found at least 20 acres to call home, but they
that wasn’t obtainable, if only for how expensive a lot like that can be. Instead, one day, they came across five-and-a-half acres and what she described as a “special little house.”
That “special little house” turned out to be the cornerstone of Three Dozen Daisies Farm, a homestead in Woodbine that Wilde acquired in 2016. Still, there was one pesky thing left in the equation: that soul-killing job Wilde was working.
And so the question stood: Would Mary Wilde go all in on her dream? Or would the risk of being a full-time farmer be too much to handle as the young couple journeyed through growing their family? The answer, to Wilde, was never in question.
“We took a chance,” she says happily, “and I quit my job permanently.”
Centuries in the Making
The Three Dozen Daisies homestead dates back nearly 200 years—a fact not lost on Wilde, who notes how these days, her family uses no-till growing prac tices, which includes them not using any pesticides or herbicides in the garden. Jen Farrell, one of Wil de’s neighbors, said she’s been in awe of what Wilde and her family have done with the land.
“It’s been really neat to get to know Mary and her husband,” Far rell says. “We really appreciated what they’ve done with the property. It’s a spe cialized art. For them to restore the barn and make it into something with a usable purpose and to make it function again, I ab solutely love it.”
If there are two things most people mention whenever they talk about Three Dozen Daisies, it’s the barn and it’s the grave yard. According to Wilde, the cemetery is home to those who once lived on the land.
As such, she estimates there are headstones in her backyard that date all the way back to the 1700s.
In addition to those attractions that come with Three Dozen Daisies, Wilde and her family offer what one might expect—vegetables, flowers and eggs. When she began taking on farming as a full-time job, Wilde says she expected to focus most on the vegetable side of the business, but her flowers have since taken off in popularity to such an extent that they receive a good chunk of attention.
The plan, Wilde says, is to make Three Dozen Daisies into a destination—or, at least, more of a destination than it already is. Because of that, she doesn’t take her products to farmers markets, instead committing her time to developing and growing what she already has to offer. The property used to be much bigger than it is currently, but over the years, it has shrunk to the point where it feels just right for the Wilde family, even if it comes with more than its fair share of workload.
“It’s been tough to start because I thought I’d have so much more time tending to everything,” Wilde admits.
“I thought there would be no weeds and I would be able to name each individual plant because I’d have all the time in the
world, but that’s definitely not how it’s gone. We’ve taken on a lot more than we originally did because I have the additional time after quitting my job. It’s a lot of hard work, but I’d rather be here than sitting at a desk in an office.”
Farrell, for her part, has noticed all the work Wilde has put in to carrying on the legacy of the land she has grown to know so well.
“This was a lifelong dream of hers,” Farrell says, “and I share that. I feel like I’m living vicariously through Mary because she was actually able to buy the barn. I love her tenacity and persistence, but most importantly, I love her vision. I love that she has a vision for her goals and she’s able to accomplish them.”
Looking to the Future
Making the leap to pursue her dream hasn’t come without challenges. This past spring, she says, tested her abilities at this point in her evolution more than she anticipated. Depending on the weather as much as they have was nerve-wracking and she was quick to point out how scary it is that her venture could fail without her having any real control over that outcome.
Still, she maintains that she wants to be a farmer for the rest of her life. Currently in her 30s, she’s working tirelessly to
make sure the infrastructure of the farm is adequate enough to support the vision she has. Her husband John would like to also move towards working on the farm full-time, but at this point, she’s fearful of having “two incomes riding on the whims of the weather.”
“It’s a lot of work, and it sounds really boring—processing and washing things—but it’s enjoyable as long as you love working with these things, which I do,” Wilde says. “The feedback so far has been really, really positive and everyone has been so kind and supportive, which makes you feel good about what you’re doing. If you aren’t going to be rewarded finan cially, you want to be rewarded spiritually.”
Being spiritually rewarded is what inspired Wilde to take the leap in the first place. Ponies. Rainbows. Barbies? This was a little girl who wanted nothing of the sort. In their place were dreams of chickens, flowers, barns and acres. The untypical little girl has grown into a successful farming woman.
So ... dream come true?
“I have no regrets,” Wilde confidently asserts. “Not at all. I’m so glad that I’m doing this. It’s incredibly rewarding. I’m confident that things will fall into place.”
She takes a moment to soak in the dreams around her.
“I’m walking between my tomatoes right now,” she gleefully says, “and they’re looking pretty darn good.”
Frank’s PRODUCE
6686 Old Waterloo Rd • Elkridge, MD 410-799-4566 FranksProduceGreenhouses.com
In the spring, check out our eight greenhouses spilling out with annuals, perennials, vegetable plants, floor pots, hanging baskets, shrubs, tropicals and more!
Our farm market specializes in local and high quality produce, local eggs, and a large selection of delicious, local apples.
We also carry local honey, McCutcheon’s products, colorful pots, planting supplies and home decor items.
In the fall, we carry a huge selection of local pumpkins, gourds, mums, pansies, cornstalks, and Halloween decorations. And finally, to close out the season, we sell Christmas trees, greenery, candy, nuts, holiday decor and beautiful wreaths! Hope to see you this year at Frank’s Produce & Greenhouses!
HOWARD COUNTY
Farmers Markets
FILL PLATES
In the search to find food that hasn’t traveled thousands of miles, Howard County residents are fortunate to have weekly markets where they can talk with growers and producers and perhaps learn about a new vegetable or get advice on different ways to prepare an old favorite. The following are resources for fresh-from-thefarm-to-the-table offerings:
MERRIWEATHER DISTRICT FARMERS MARKET
Merriweather Row Plaza (10480 Little Patuxent Pkwy.)
Thursday, June 26 – Sept. 4
3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
MILLER’S BRANCH LIBRARY FARMERS MARKET
Frederick Road, Ellicott City
Wednesdays, May 7 – Oct. 29
2 p.m.- 6 p.m.
OAKLAND MILLS VILLAGE CENTER FARMERS MARKET
5851 Robert Oliver Place
Sundays, May 11 – Nov. 2
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
OLD ELLICOTT CITY FARMERS MARKET
Tiber Park, across from the B&O Railroad Museum
Saturdays, May 24 – Oct. 25
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
SAVAGE FARMERS MARKET
Washington and Foundry St. Savage
Wednesdays, May 28 – Sept. 24
4 p.m.-7 p.m.
WEST FrIENDSHIP
Locally grown and sourced is a trend gaining momentum every year whether it’s eggs, meats, milk, produce and even flowers as Kristi Gill has discovered.
After more than a decade living in other places, Gill returned to her native Howard County in 2020, establishing Gill Hill Flower Farm and offering specially cut flowers for wholesale and retail by the stem, bunch or bucket.
She lives on 11 acres with her husband and energetic young son. “I started my business in 2021, planting my first cool weather hardy annuals to overwinter in time for the 2022 season,” she says. “I have roughly a quarter acre in production at this time.”
She says she has always enjoyed flowers and wanted to take advantage of having the space to grow them. Agricultural sustainability was also a driving force that inspired her flower business.
“The sustainable farming movement is incredibly important for the future of agriculture and the planet, and I wanted to set a good example for the next generation,” Gill says. “Showing that minimal intervention is not only a viable way to grow but produces a higher quality product is important to me. I also needed the flexibility offered by self-employment in order to work around the schedule and needs of my young son.”
Gill believes in an eco-friendly approach. “I grow everything sustainably and without any chemical intervention whatsoever,” she says. “The no-till and no pesticide methods used here are more environmentally friendly and beneficial for the soil, as well as the bees occupying our 40-plus hives.”
A self-taught horticulturist, Gill believes field-grown flowers are beautiful and
hardy, however, between 75 and 80 percent of flowers sold in the United States are imported. She sees an increasing demand for locally grown flowers and is filling it. When people purchase wholesale, they have no connection to the large corporate farms growing the product, and no knowledge of how their workers are treated or which chemical interventions they use, she says.
“By the time they reach a customer, flowers have often been handled by dozens of people as they are harvested, packaged, shipped, flown, driven some more, arranged and delivered.
“Purchasing local, whether it’s florals, produce, home products, etc., supports farmers in one’s own community and almost always means a higher quality and a longer vase life,” Gill says. “Think about tomatoes, for example. The flavor and scent of a fresh-cut tomato grown in your backyard and just picked versus the bland offerings in many chain grocery stores is like night and day.”
Weather and time have been the biggest challenges at Gill Hill Farm, according to the entrepreneur. “It seems as though there is never enough time to accomplish and grow everything I’d like to, and it is super frustrating when the weather does not sync up with times I am able to work outdoors,” she says. “Flowers must survive harsher conditions and, therefore,
— Kristi Gill “ ”
The
sustainable farming movement is incredibly important for the future of agriculture and the planet, and I wanted to set a good example for the next generation.
offer less predictable yields. They are almost always shorter in length than their greenhouse-grown counterparts but require less time managing growing conditions and potential insect outbreaks. Having a break in the planting and harvesting seasons also allows me to freelance with florists and designers, working on design skills and learning new techniques.”
Gill Hill Farm offers a wide variety of options for customers to meet any of their floral needs. “I grow around 40 varieties,” Gill says. “Dahlias are always a favorite and top seller. Other popular items are peonies, miscanthus, cosmos, celosia, snap-
dragons, scabiosa, zinnias, herbs, strawflower, and statice.”
One of Gill’s favorite flowers is nigella. “The whimsical blooms are some of the only blue flowers around, and the airy flowers give way to cool seed pods that dry wonderfully for use in various crafts and dried arrangements. The best bouquets consist of focal flowers (the main visual point of interest in a floral arrangement) paired with wispy and airy flowers, greens, and filler flowers. Peonies and dahlias make the best focal.”
Gill likes being her own boss. “I enjoy the freedom to grow and sell what works best for me,” she says. “I also
really enjoy putting together arrangements and beautiful things with what I have grown.”
Gill believes happy customers are the best advertisement. “Other than social media, my main marketing is through old fashioned word of mouth,” Gill says. “I get many new customers who see the flowers elsewhere or who have attended weddings and parties where flowers have been used to decorate the space…Now, that we have honey available year-round that is becoming a very popular item as well.”
In addition to bouquets, Gill Hill Farm offers special occasion arrangements, flowers for special events like weddings, and Bucket O’Blooms. Gill also offers flowers at wholesale for tax-exempt designers or florists looking to source locally.
“I am a proud member of the Chesapeake Floral Exchange, Central Maryland’s newest local floral wholesaler,” Gill says. “It is made up of 11 area farms combining our items to offer a locally sourced wholesale option for florists and designers.”
In addition to the Floral Exchange and online ordering options, folks can find Gill Hill flowers on Sundays at the Sykesville Farmers Market from June through August.
I love the idea of getting weekly fresh flowers while supporting a local business with a hardworking owner
— Jessica Ayers
Gill Hill Farm will offer flowers as well as dried flower wreaths and Gill Hill honey.
Gill believes that the local movement is going to continue to grow, especially with costs of imported goods rising. “It does take a lot of time and effort to operate a flower farm and being at the mercy of the unpredictable weather can feel taxing at times,” she says. “For me, the benefit of getting to do something I enjoy while working outside, around my own schedule, to produce a product that genuinely makes people happy is worth the effort.”
Jessica Ayers of Dayton heard about the Gill Hill Farm’s flower subscription from a friend and now
Ayers is in her third year getting beautiful Gill Hill Farm bouquets. “I love the idea of getting weekly fresh flowers while supporting a local business with a hard-working owner,” she says. “I often order an extra bunch for my mom or for special occasions.”
Ayers also loves the farmland of Western Howard County. “Making a short trip to Gill Hill Flower Farm is a nice break from my workday once a week and I get to return home with a fresh bouquet to brighten my kitchen.”
To learn more about Gill Hill Flower Farm and product options, visit www. gillhillflowerfarm.com or email Gill at gillhillblooms@gmail.com.
Horse as Therapist
LeCheval Stable Offers Riders a Path
By Karen Gardner
When Marya Pecukonis looks out over her backyard, she sees a crowd of therapists. These therapists don’t work in offices, however. They spend much of their day grazing peacefully.
Marya and her husband Ed Pecukonis live in a suburban-style house surrounded by 7.5 acres in Glenwood, much of it fenced off as pasture. Five horses and two mini horses live on the property, known as LeCheval Stable. Here the couple offers equine assisted learning, equine assisted psychotherapy/counseling, therapeutic and adaptive riding, and recreational riding.
“Horses are in the moment,” Marya says.
“They don’t judge you,” Ed adds. “They don’t care how you’re dressed or what you look like.”
Horses have a way of sensing emotions in humans.
“Horses are prey animals,” Marya says. “They’re very aware of their environment.”
This awareness can help horses tune into the feelings of their human partners.
“They can see changes in a rider that I don’t see,” Marya says. “A horse can also sense when a rider is distracted or upset. But you need a welltrained horse for this.”
Incorporated as a nonprofit in 2008, the horses at LeCheval work with at-risk young people
and adults of all ages. The stable serves clients with autism, cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, Down syndrome, and other mental and physical impairments. Some have been physically abused, while others may suffer from PTSD or anxiety. Marya is in the process of putting together a plan for a grant application to help people with Parkinson’s disease. The minis often travel to nursing homes, where they are a hit with the residents.
Grants from local and regional organizations have helped Marya and Ed keep alive their dream of horses helping humans. The couple has been married for 40 years and are the parents of two daughters and one son and have five grandchildren. They are also well qualified for their venture. Marya spent 33 years teaching special needs children in Howard County Schools before she retired to focus on the farm full-time. She’s also certified through PATH, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International and has served as the state chairperson and regional representative for
PATH. Ed is a licensed mental health therapist with a private practice, and is a full professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work.
The horses, four mares and one gelding, include a polo horse, a thoroughbred cross, a quarter horse, a cross between a Tennessee Walker and a Kentucky Mountain Horse, and an Arabian/Missouri Fox Trotter cross. There are two adorable minis, one a mare and the other a gelding, that are especially popular. All the equines live on pastures around the couple’s house. Behind the pastures are 180 acres of preserved farmland, providing habitat for the area’s hawks, coyotes, foxes and deer.
Marya has had a lifelong love of horses. Ed was introduced to them through his wife, and their two daughters
— Ed Pecukonis “ “
THEY DON’T JUDGE YOU, THEY DON’T CARE HOW YOU’RE DRESSED OR WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.
grew up riding and showing horses. Marya taught school from fall through spring and taught riding each summer. She taught dressage classes for the Potomac Valley Dressage Association. Besides pastures, the couple’s property includes a sizeable outdoor arena and a clean, bright monitor-style barn complete with stalls, wash area and tack room. A comfortable gazebo sits above the arena where parents can watch their children ride.
“I love to see the transition,” Marya says. She has helped children with autism develop rapid connections with horses, and the horses in turn help the kids become better at communicating.
“The vast majority of our work is therapeutic riding,” Marya says. Children of varying physical
abilities learn to get on a horse. Some may need help as the horse walks forward while others learn the skills to ride at a walk or trot. Volunteers make sure each rider is safely mounted and secure in their seat. All riders wear safety helmets.
In the barn, participants can use the Equicizer, a spring-operated mechanical horse. This helps riders with warmups, stretching, building core strength, balance and reducing anxiety and fear. Riders can also use it to learn to rock their pelvis to move with the horse.
Horses and Empathy
Horses are sensitive to just about everything in their environment. But that doesn’t mean that horses are passive creatures. “The gray (mare) will tell clients, give me my space,” Marya says.
“So, we’ll
THEY CAN SEE CHANGES IN A RIDER THAT I DON’T SEE.
— Marya Pecukonis “ “
talk about what happens when people get in your space,” Ed says. “They become opportunities for therapeutic learning.”
Working in the arena or in a round pen, participants will interact with a horse, helping to boost their ability to problem-solve, make decisions, think critically, communicate, learn how to be more selfaware and empathetic, and learn good coping skills. For the equine-assisted learning program for students, goals are often aligned with each student’s individual education plan created by their school.
“The horse is fully present,” says Ed. “Many children don’t get quality time with a parent, but when they are here, the horse is paying attention to them. They’re getting quality time with the horse. It’s a mutual kind of thing. I believe this animal work is so powerful.”
For people who can’t communicate verbally, LeCheval Stable uses TouchChat. By incorporating pictures, the participant has a choice in how they want to interact with the horse for that session. “So often, these
individuals are not given choices,” Marya says.
They may paint a picture on the horse, using nontoxic, washable paint. “Or we may do yoga on the horse,” Ed says.
The farm also offers equine-assisted psychotherapy. This combines therapy with horse-human interactions. The goal is to pair the client with a suitable horse to work on therapeutic goals set in advance. Horses are often able to mirror the client’s emotions. “I can do more in a couple of sessions here than I can in my office over months,” Ed says.
“Kids build relationships with the horses, and the horses act like a giant biofeedback system by picking up on the kid and the emotions,” he adds. The interaction between horse and human provides insight to both therapist and participant, allowing participants better ability to build upon what they need.
Ed and Marya integrate cognitive behavioral therapy to teach mindfulness and self-awareness, reduce anxiety, depression and PTSD, and explore behavioral and relationship challenges. Most sessions are weekly.
Riding Therapy
Ninety percent of participants do ride at least some of the
time they’re at LeCheval. Riding therapy benefits those with ADHD, autism and anxiety, all disorders that are not easily visible. Riding may mean sitting on the horse, being led around on a horse with volunteers there to help, or independent riding lessons.
LeCheval Stable also welcomes those who want to take traditional riding lessons, English or Western. “The kids learn equitation, dressage, use pole grids and cross rails,” Marya says. They may work on the lunge line at the walk and trot to give the instructor more control. Riders progress as they gain skills. They learn up and down transitions, moving from halt to walk to trot to canter and back down in succession. The riding arena is set up with letters for dressage patterns. The farm also has an obstacle course for the riders, and a Boy Scout is updating and repainting the obstacles for an Eagle project.
In addition, riders learn natural horsemanship skills, horse care, grooming and handling, ground training, how to lunge a horse, and how to use and care for horse tack.
Around the Barn
Marya and Ed are the faces of LeCheval Stable, but they aren’t the only staff. Several of
six other riding instructors are certified in therapeutic riding and all are experienced in recreational and therapeutic riding instruction.
Internships are provided for college students, while middle and high school students can earn community service credit. Young people who want to become experienced riding instructors and therapeutic riding instructors can earn credit toward those goals. Students who want to learn horse care and barn management can earn work experience.
“We’re an approved site for Towson University for internships for health and business,” Marya says. “It’s strength in numbers. It’s necessary to have a team to keep this going.”
Horse care often falls to Marya and Ed, but there is a cadre of volunteers to help maintain the horses, barn, arena, and pastures. Jason Sullivan, 41, of Columbia, comes once or twice
a week to clean stalls and do barn work.
“I was looking to volunteer,” he says. “I have a learning disability and anxiety.” For the last two to three years, he’s been spending time around the horses, and he finds them calming.
Other volunteers serve as side walkers, helping the rider guide their horse and assist the rider in following direc-
tions provided by the instructor. There are also volunteers who tack and groom the horses, and, like Jason, clean stalls. Trained volunteers assist therapeutic riders with mounting and dismounting. Volunteers must be at least age 14.
LeCheval Stable has also benefitted from volunteer projects, including benches in the garden, an accessible walkway to the arena, a mounting block that meets Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, a storage shed and a compost bin.
“It’s nice that we have a team that understands why we do this,” Marya says. “It just feeds my soul and gives me a purpose daily.”
Ed agrees. “Giving back is probably the best way of feeling whole,” he says. Doing it around horses is especially meaningful. “I’ve never seen a young person around horses that went bad.”
Reap the Rewards of Fresh-from-theFields Flavors
Located near the fast pace of two major cities—the nation’s capital and Baltimore— Howard County is also blessed by beautiful rolling farm fields that honor nature and people who are passionate about tilling that land or using it to graze everything from chickens to steers and alpacas.
Much of what comes from the local fields can be found at farmers markets and on the menus of area restaurants, but it’s also fun and educational to visit the farms to see exactly what’s involved. You might even get your hands into the process when you make a stop at a pick-your-own farm to select a pumpkin or container of strawberries. It’s also a good time to connect with the farmer and meet the person responsible for all that good food or the wool that was spun into your favorite sweater.
CLARK’S ELIOAK FARM
CLARK’S FARM
10500 Clarksville Pike (Md. 108), Ellicott City
410.730.4049 • www.clarklandfarm.com
The Clarks have been farming in Howard County since 1797. Their petting farm is open April 1 through early November. They welcome visitors Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come visit the friendly farm animals, enjoy rides, slides, play areas and a picnic spot. They host educational tours, birthday parties and group events. A roadside produce stand is open in July and August selling their vegetables and other local produce.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
The baby goats are a highlight of your visit to the farm. They are the new home of the Enchanted Forest, Maryland’s Storybook Park. The Sunflower Festival is in September and a Pumpkin Patch is in the fall. You can take a pony ride, a hay wagon ride, a cow train ride and an Enchanted Express Train ride every day they are open.
10500 Clarksville Pike (Md. 108), Ellicott City
410.730.4049 • www.clarklandfarm.com/produce.html
Clark’s Elioak Farm grows fresh vegetables and herbs year-round. Most of the year seasonal vegetables and herbs can be found for sale in Clark’s Elioak Farm’s Castle Store, also the entrance to the petting farm and open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They grow everything from spring greens and roots to summer crops, such as tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers, to fall produce such as squash, sweet potatoes, garlic, and greens. They also grow herbs. During July and August the roadside stand is open.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Summer cut your own flower garden is located right behind the produce stand. Come and enjoy cutting and arranging your own bouquet. They are a vendor at Clarksville Common Farmer’s Market on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m from May through October. CSA options, order online.
Their clientele are equestrians (or those who wish to be) who seek quality instruction and horse training in the English riding disciplines. Managing the workload of their lesson horses is their top priority. It is important to the Clover Luck team that the horses know they are an integral and essential family member, and that they never feel like they are overworked or under-appreciated. Because the physical and mental health of their horses is of the utmost importance, all prospective new lesson students begin with an evaluation lesson, to ensure that their values and expectations of the horses align with the team.
The large barn and arena has 13 stalls, 11 by 12 feet each, a well-organized tack room, and an 80 by 144-foot indoor riding arena. Windows and large doorways keep air moving in summer and close up tight in winter to keep out the chill.
FREETOWN FARM
Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia www.freetownfarm.org
Freetown Farm is a 6.4-acre farm in Columbia, owned by the Comm-unity Ecology Institute, a Howard County nonprofit focused on cultivating healthier communities through connections with nature. The farm is designed to both produce food and be a place for comm-unity education. They demonstrate regenerative agriculture and permaculture design practices in their stewardship of this land.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
The choice of the name Freetown Farm recognizes the important history of the land. They are working to develop programming that tells the story of the land and its historic community. The farm is across the street from the Harriet Tubman School, a segregated high school for African American students established in 1948.
Gorman Farm offers fresh, nutrient-rich, flavorful vegetables grown with organic practices on their farm in eastern Howard County. Produce is available through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Pick your own strawberries are available to the general public, as well as CSA members in late spring. They use Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) products for fertilization, disease and pest management.
They employ Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and always aim towards sustainability in all that they do.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
They build compost for supplementing a plant’s nutrition and the soil’s overall health. They strategically cover crop the ground to protect from erosion, to feed soils and to maintain and offset fertility requirements.
Healeys’ Greenway Farms grows springtime vegetable plants and flowers. With almost one acre under cover, they now grow annuals and vegetable plants for sale direct to homeowners or wholesale to other small businesses. In addition, this family business offers Christmas trees each December. They grow several thousand poinsettias in their greenhouses for churches and direct sale. While they’d love to see you in person, you can also visit Healeys’ Greenway Farms online at www.greenwaytrees. net and www.greenwayfarms.net
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Michael Healey now runs the Christmas tree and greenhouse businesses with help from family, friends and neighbors—some of whom have been working at Greenway Farms for more than 30 years.
HENSING’S HILLTOP ACRES
3394 Jennings Chapel Road, Woodbine 704-293-4126 call or text www.hensingfarm.com
Hensing’s Hilltop Acres is a small family farm that recently moved to Woodbine. They have a pasture-based farm where their animals live outdoors on grass. They produce raw milk and related products (sold in Maryland for pet use), 100 percent grass-fed beef, pastured pork (no soy or GMOs), pastured chicken and eggs (no soy or GMOs) and lamb.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
They sell at two local markets, Clarksville on Saturdays and Ellicott City on Wednesdays. They invite you to check out their website for other locations to find their products.
HERON’S MEADOW FARM
1596 Daisy Road, Woodbine 410-934-0148
Heron’s Meadow Farm, located in western Howard County, is Maryland’s first tea farm. Home to BLTeas, LLC and MudPi Studios, the farm is host to many inspirational views, wildlife, flavorful teas and handcrafted stoneware pottery. Visitors to the farm can sample some of their teas, shop for their new favorite mug from the mug tree, view tea fields and walk through herb gardens. Or simply relax on the patio and watch the blue herons, hawks, deer, foxes and other wildlife. Store hours are Fridays from noon-5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or by appointment.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Whether it’s a new tea to try or a new stoneware creation on display in the pottery studio, there’s always something exciting happening at Heron’s Meadow Farm.
Their farm is open during the growing season, beginning with the ripening of strawberries in late May or early June, and ending with the apple harvest, in early November. The last day for the season is the first Sunday in November.
They strive to grow top quality fruits and vegetables for you to pick your own or purchase in the farm market. They consider the soil and the plant material to be the most valuable resources. To keep the farm healthy and safe they use Integrated Pest Management and Best Management Practices.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Please call or check the website the day you are coming, just before leaving your home, to find out what’s available that day and to avoid disappoint-ment. Call 410-442-2605 or 301854-6110. The telephone recordings and website are updated throughout the day, and every day, as needed.
4411 Manor Lane, Ellicott City 410-997-7771 • www.manorhillbrewing.com
Located on a 54-acre working farm in Ellicott City, Manor Hill Farm is home to 14 acres of corn, 2-plus acres of hops, approximately 25 chickens, several honey bee hives, more than 20 free-range angus cattle and multiple herb, fruit, and vegetable gardens. Brewery operations began in June of 2015, making Manor Hill Brewing Howard County’s first and only farm brewery. Their head brewer uses high quality seasonal ingredients to craft hand-made beers from original and unique recipes.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Their beers are available in cans and bottles and also in kegs, with colorful names such as Farm Fuzz, a Belgian-style witbier, Spotted Whales, a collaboration with a distillery in Ireland and limited release Overalls, a spring lager.
MARY’S LAND FARM
4979 Sheppard Lane, Ellicott City
410-849-4314 • www.maryslandfarm.com
Current products sold on the farm seven days a week, include chicken, pork, beef, lamb, duck eggs and chicken eggs. A full-service farm store is part of the operation. Swales and berms are used to keep water on the property and out of Maryland’s overflowing and corroding waterways. This helps plants and livestock and helps save the bay. All the animals are out on pasture and the pigs are in the woodlands. None of the animals are contained during spring, summer and fall; they are much happier out grazing.
Only organic chemicals are used on the farm. The non-ruminant animals are fed certified organic grains in addition to their grazing. The ruminants are strictly 100 percent grass-fed. If you are like most of us, you probably learn best by seeing it for yourself, so call and visit.
MERRY ACRES FARM
3807 Walt Ann Drive, Ellicott City 410-531-2360 • www.merryacresfarm.com
Merry Acres Farm offers horse boarding and hay sales and is a horse owner’s dream with an outdoor ring, indoor arena and miles of trails. It features a friendly environment and seven-day access to the horses. All disciplines are welcome.
Merry Acres Farm began as a dairy operation in 1957 and in 1997 Howie Feaga and his family started boarding horses in a six-stall barn. A year later the focus turned strictly to horse boarding and a larger barn was built, ceasing dairy operations.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
They have recently started a beef operation at the farm. “We’re starting small,” says Feaga, with hopes of building the business. The animals are “pastured and raised on our hay” and finished off with corn, also grown on the farm.
Their farm of rolling hills and beautiful views was established in 2002. They have nurtured the soil with sustainable, best management practices while establishing and expanding their vineyard over time. In 2011, Penn Oaks Winery was the first to receive Howard County’s farm winery license. FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
They are a petite family owned and operated farm and winery. Their hours of operation flex around their farming and vineyard management. they are open from noon-6 p.m. on Sundays for wine tasting and purchase.
On Porch View Farm, LLC, Keith Ohlinger raises heritage breeds of beef cattle, sheep, pigs, geese and rabbits as well as bees on 22.3 acres. He uses what the land offers, managing it, along with his animals, to create the optimal scenario without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He has installed a system of swales and berms to affect drainage patterns on the terrain to capture and infiltrate as much rainfall as possible, minimizing runoff. Intensive rotational grazing is used for the livestock and hundreds of fruit and nut trees and shrubs were planted, the fallen fruit and nuts supplementing the animals’ diets.
Keith Ohlinger is an expert on compost and uses it as the only fertilizer on the farm. “Soil health is really the key to everything. If I have healthy soil, then the plants will be healthy and animals that eat the plants will be healthy. If the plants and animals are healthy, then the people who eat them will be healthy.”
RITTER FARM
565 River Road, Sykesville 443-598-6696
www.ritterfamilyfarm.com
This is a first-generation, family farm built from the ground up by the Ritter family. Started in 2015, Ritter Farm is devoted to creating the highest quality and exceptionally flavored food for their family and community. The farm is located just outside of historic Sykesville and borders the Patapsco Valley State Park. It is an idyllic environment for raising heritage breeds of livestock the way nature intended. Their non-GMO, pasture-raised meats are crafted with time, tradition and passion. Their artisanal approach to raising animals creates the finest flavor for the breed. They invite you to discover the food they eat and grow. Visit the website for a full selection of premium cuts of pork, lamb, chicken and beef.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Improving the soil one animal at a time. Ritter Farm practices regenerative agriculture with rotational and intensive grazing to build healthy and biodiverse soil and pastures.
Visit Sharp’s at Waterford Farm, a 550-acre working farm located in the western part of Howard County, family-owned and operated since 1903. Alan and Julia Sharp offer outdoor educational field trips for children during spring, summer and fall.
In the spring their greenhouses are full of hundreds of plants with a great variety of herbs, vegetable plants and colorful flowers. Other spring and summer activities include parties, open house events, encountering farm animals and hayrides. The fall offers campfires, hayrides, pick-your-own pumpkins, a corn maze, scarecrow making and a country store.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
You might have a backyard garden, or you might have a few pots on your porch. No matter, the staff is always ready to assist you. If you have never tried to plant your own garden, they will make suggestions steering you to success.
At Sho Nuf Turkeys, Chris and Tanya Bohrer are continuing the tradition of Tanya’s grandparents, Ellsworth and Mary Elizabeth Iager, of raising and selling turkeys at the farm in Fulton. With the farm being sold in 2019 for future development, it provided Chris and Tanya the opportunity to brand the turkeys “Sho Nuf” as a tribute to Ellsworth and his branding from the 1940s. They continue to provide the same high quality turkeys and turkey products for those who have been coming to the farm for years.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
The farm offers whole turkeys, bone-in breasts, smoked breasts, turkey bacon, ground turkey, wing packs and drumsticks.
SINGH SUGAR MAPLE FARM
1200 Sugar Maple Drive, Marriottsville
443-413-2252
singh.sugarmaplefarm@gmail.com
Singh Sugar Maple farm got its start five years ago at the owner’s first location in West Virginia. This is the first year they will be growing and selling at their newest convenient location in Howard County, right off Interstate-70. Their produce includes five kinds of heirloom tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, bell peppers, cantaloupe, watermelon, ghost peppers, okra, peaches, plums, raspberries, turnips, eggplants, apples and more! They also have 50 different types of flowers for you to cut yourself.
The farm is open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays. Support your small local farm and get your fresh produce straight from the source. Call to book the farm for barbeques, bonfires and other festivities. FARM &
THREE DOZEN DAISIES FARM
1818 Daisy Lane, Woodbine
443-812-1096 • www.threedozendaisies.com
Three Dozen Daisies Farm is the result of a longtime dream to have a farm, opening for business with a farm stand in 2022. The homestead dates back to the mid-1800s with its original log cabin and timber frame barn. The owners value this sense of history with time-honored traditions of hard work and good stewardship of the land. That includes adopting no-till growing practices and not using any herbicides or pesticides in the garden.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Stop by their farmstand every weekend during the season for fresh produce, flowers, and eggs. Spring begins with salad greens and crisp radishes. All summer long they have fresh eggs, beautiful bouquets and delicious vegetables. Finish out the season with fall-scented candles and crisp salad mixes.
Situated near a small forest in Clarksville, Through the Forest Farm is a small, sustainable market garden dedicated to growing exceptional organic produce and cultivating a vibrant community. The owners’ journey began in 2023, when they moved to Howard County. In 2024, they launched their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and are excited to continue growing it in 2025, expanding to 10-plus members. The focus of the seven-acre farm is on producing exceptional fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, including but not limited to: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, garlic, onions, potatoes, strawberries, herbs, cut flowers, peppers, and more.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
They are committed to sustainable and ecologically friendly farming with an approach that includes minimal tillage and human-powered tools to preserve soil health; intensive cover cropping and crop rotation to nourish the land and encouraging beneficial insects and biodiversity.
The farm has been in their family for over 100 years. That is why they provide high-quality products at reasonable prices. At TLV (Triadelphia Lake View Farm) they believe in treating our patrons like one of the family. At Triadelphia Lake View Farm the customer always comes first. In 2018 the Browns started their most recent project—turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also provide ground turkey and turkey parts at the farmers’ markets and farm store. TLV is committed to producing the highest quality proteins at an affordable price.
FARM & FLAVOR HIGHLIGHT
Farmer Brown Camp is an ongoing adventure for making friends and creating lifetime memories in a safe, beautiful natural environment. Camp provides time to “unplug” from electronic devices, TV, and get out into nature. At camp, there’s the opportunity to learn more about plants, animals, outdoor skills and develop deep friendships.
BY THE NUMBERS
Agricultural Statistics for Howard County
HOW MANY FARMS ARE THERE?
More than 300 farms offer a cornucopia of products from dairy and meats to flowers and crops for livestock.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SIZE OF A FARM IN HOWARD COUNTY?
Based on the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is 109 acres.
HOW MANY ACRES ARE PROTECTED BY AGRICULTURAL EASEMENTS?
More than 23,100 acres are part of land preservation programs under both the county and the state of Maryland.
WHERE DOES HOWARD
COUNTY RANK AS A PRODUCER IN MARYLAND?
The county is listed as the #5 economic driver in the state for agriculture and farming.
HOW MUCH LAND IN HOWARD COUNTY IS DEDICATED TO AGRICULTURE?
Approximately 25 percent of the county’s land, or roughly 161,000 acres. The farms contribute significantly to the local food supply and are a major part of the county’s economy.
CLARKSVILLE — Only in its second growing season, the owners of Through the Forest Farm are excited to be making a difference in their Howard County community providing fresh, organically-grown vegetables.
Nestled on seven acres located “through a forest,” the name is perfect.
Ben Goldberg has one acre in production and is planning to expand. He and his business partner, Sarah, established a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and offer memberships or shares of what they produce.
“We currently have eight spring CSA members and nine summer CSA members,” Goldberg says. “For the CSA, members receive a weekly box of produce. It is convenient, regular pickup time and provides the farm with flexibility to grow and harvest seasonal items without having to market them individually.”
The local grower believes that CSA helps small farms thrive by providing upfront support and encouraging customers to eat seasonally and locally. “There is a good market for this type of operation in our area, and we are hoping to expand, but the main challenge is making the farm profitable on a per-share basis,” Goldberg says.
“
CSA members receive a weekly box of produce. It is convenient, regular pickup and provides the farm with flexibilty.
”
—Ben Goldberg
They grow a variety of produce and crops including lettuce, spinach, peas, flowers, tomatoes, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, strawberries, asparagus, potatoes and garlic. They hope to expand the one acre to
three to four. “We would like to expand to livestock, eggs, and maybe even grow a grain like wheat in the future,” Goldberg says.
The mission of Through the Forest Farm is to grow healthy produce in a sustainable way. “Sustainability to us means trying to limit the outside inputs on the farm and instead, being intentional about design and practices we implement,” he says. “For example, we use the wood chips from downed limbs in the forest on the property. We don’t use synthetic fertilizers
healthy produce sustainable way in a
and use as many physical (instead of chemical) pest control measures (e.g. fencing, mulching and netting) as possible. At the end of the day, we want to grow as much healthy produce for our friends, family and local community as possible. We also want to provide a place where people can gather and have fun learning about farming.”
Their approach also includes minimal tillage and human-powered tools to preserve soil health; intensive
—Ben Goldberg “ ”
At the end of the day, we want to grow as much healthy produce as possible.
cover cropping and crop rotation for natural resilience; mulching and organic fertilizers to nourish the land; plus encouraging beneficial insects and biodiversity to create a thriving ecosystem.
The growers promote their healthy offerings on Facebook, Instagram and through friends sharing about the farm. On their Facebook page they promote volunteer nights and encourage folks to come and get their hands dirty.
“We had about six people join us for the last volunteer night,” Goldberg says. “Everyone jumped in enthusiastically to help with weeding and mulching, and there was a great sense of camaraderie. It was a productive and rewarding day for both the volunteers and the farm. We are looking forward to the next one.”
He says that usually, labor is the bottleneck on the farm, so when they have volunteer nights things get done quicker. “There is typically enough produce available that visitors helped to harvest so they get to take some home — it is a win-win for everyone,” he adds.
In addition to volunteer nights, there was a comedy night at the farm with a crowd of 45 people, Goldberg says. “We’d also like to have some music
events, and we are hoping to have a farm brunch later this year.”
Not only does the forest area serve as a great venue for events but provides a windbreak for the garden.
Through Forest Farm the
The gardening duo enjoys many things about their farmette. “The produce just really tastes amazing, especially knowing how much care and effort goes into growing it,” Goldberg says. “I also enjoy the gratification of improving the land and sharing these achievements with my friends and family. There is a lot of room for expansion.”
Gardening and farming, whether on a small or large scale, doesn’t come without its setbacks. “Running the farm has come with more unexpected challenges than we anticipated,” Goldberg points out.
“The business side is very challenging — having enough labor and marketing [plus] finding sales channels for the produce so it doesn’t go to waste.
The farm is also physically taxing, and lots of attention needs to be placed on safety — both physical safety and food safety. The weather, pests and disease are definitely more challenging than I expected, too.”
Neither Ben nor Sarah grew up in a farming family, but over the years have enjoyed gardening and cooking. “We’ve also had a number of jobs related to food systems and have both worked on farms,” Goldberg says. “I have worked on software related to farming and Sarah has worked on sustainable agricultural policy issues. We also grew up going to U-pick farms, farm stands and having small gardens.”
Customer satisfaction is important to the entrepreneurs. Robyn Ertwine shares her experiences at Through the Forest Farm. “We started last year and really enjoyed it, then decided to get a half share this spring to make us eat more of the early greens.”
“The produce is already cleaned and packed for us and stored in a box in the refrigerator,” she says. “Everyone gets specific items in the boxes and there may be a few additional items to select.”
Ertwine says the program brings back fond childhood memories.
“My father loved to garden and I grew up eating vegetables straight from the garden,” she says.
A pleasant surprise last season was a bouquet of flowers each week along with the box of vegetables. “Ben and Sarah are wonderful hosts. Last year they gave us a tour of the farm, and I think we’ll do that again this year to see the improvements they’ve made. They are very responsive to questions, and we always enjoy a chat if they’re available.”
“We’re excited to be building something special here at Through the Forest Farm and look forward to sharing fresh food and memorable experiences with our community for years to come,” Goldberg says.
To learn more about Through the Forest Farm, visit their website at www.throughtheforestfarm.com. The owners believe that Through the Forest Farm is a place where knowledge, passion, and purpose come together to feed their community.
Full of Farm Flavor Favorite Recipes
are Shared
Grandma’s Apple Muffins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 cup chopped apple
1/2 cup walnuts
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup melted butter
Streusel Topping
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
Mix all ingredients until crumbly and set aside
Directions
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a large bowl mix the first six ingredients. Add apples and walnuts; toss
• In a small bowl beat eggs with a fork; beat in buttermilk and butter. Add to flour mixture; stir just until blended.
• Fill muffin pans 2/3 full.
• Sprinkle with streusel topping and bake in oven for 15-25 minutes for muffins, 30-35 minutes for a 9-inch square coffee cake.
Baked Stuffed Tomatoes Summer Squash Soup
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup finely chopped onions
2 Tbs. dried basil leaves
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup of breadcrumbs
6 medium garden tomatoes
Directions
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit.
• Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion, parsley and basil for one or two minutes.
• Add salt, pepper and breadcrumbs; mix thoroughly.
• Cut a 1/2 inch slice from the stem end of each tomato.
• Scoop out a hollow about one inch deep.
• Lightly fill tomatoes with stuffing, mounding it high in the center.
• Bake at 375-degrees for 10 minutes or until browned.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. butter
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
5 cups chicken broth
2 cups potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
8 cups zucchini or yellow summer squash, cut into one-inch chunks
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbs. fresh basil
Squash blossoms for garnish
Directions
• In a three to four-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
• Add onions and cook for five to seven minutes, stirring several times until they are translucent.
• Add broth and potatoes.
• Bring to a boil, then cover. Reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes.
• Stir in carrots and simmer until potatoes and carrots are almost tender. Stir in squash, salt and pepper.
• Simmer, covered for 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are tender.
• Remove the cover and let soup stand until cool enough to handle. Process in batches in a blender or food processor until smooth, but with fine flecks of vegetables still visible.
• Serve hot or cold. Garnish with squash blossoms if desired.
Marvelous Vegetable Dip
Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbs. lemon juice
2 tsp. grated onion
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. curry powder
Directions
• Mix together all ingredients, allowing plenty of time to give flavors the chance to marry.
• Suggested vegetables for dipping include brussels sprouts, cooked but used cold, steamed broccoli, used cold, carrots, celery, mushrooms and bell peppers. In addition to a vegetable dip, this is good in place of plain mayonnaise for deviled eggs and as a sandwich spread.
Dressing Ingredients
1/3 cup sugar
3 Tbs. vinegar
1 cup mayonnaise
Directions
• Combine vegetables and raisins.
• Mix the dressing ingredients and pour over the vegetable mixture.
• Let stand for several hours.
• Before serving, fry bacon, crumble and sprinkle on top of salad.
