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FREDERICK COUNTY AGRICULTURE PRESENTS A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
By Katie Stevens Director, Frederick County Office of Agriculture
Agriculture has always been at the heart of Frederick County—it shapes our history, fuels our economy, feeds our community, and defines our way of life. From family farms carefully passed down through generations to innovative new operations embracing modern techniques and markets, agriculture here is more than a business; it is a deep-rooted commitment to sustaining our local economy, nourishing our neighbors and preserving the rural character that makes Frederick County so special.
To help ensure that this legacy not only endures but continues to grow, the Frederick County Office of Agriculture launched the 2025 Frederick County Agricultural Strategic Plan. This forward-thinking plan was developed with direct input from more than 100 members of our local agricultural community—their insight has guided a strategy focused on strengthening local food systems,
supporting farm viability, expanding market opportunities and reinforcing agriculture’s role as both an economic engine and a reliable source of fresh, local food. We are now actively implementing this plan, turning shared priorities into meaningful action that supports those who work every day to keep our farms productive and our community fed.
This year also provides a meaningful opportunity to recognize the essential contributions of women in agriculture as part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. In Frederick County, women represent 40 percent of our agricultural operators, bringing leadership, innovation and resilience to farms of all sizes and types. Their role is vital to ensure agriculture remains strong, adaptive and forward-looking.
Agriculture continues to be a powerful force in Frederick County, with the most
recent data showing an economic impact of $1.14 billion. At the same time, we remain deeply committed to preserving the land that makes this success possible. Through our robust Agricultural Preservation Program, nearly 78,000 acres have been permanently protected, putting us well on our way to achieving our goal of 160,000 preserved acres by 2051. These efforts safeguard not only farmland, but also the future of local food production and economic sustainability.
This spring, we were proud to launch the new Forever Farmland signage program, a visible symbol of our community’s dedication to protecting agriculture. As you travel throughout the county, I encourage you to look for these signs representing the farms, families and hard work that continue to fuel our economy and feed our community every day.
Together, through thoughtful planning, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to agriculture, Frederick County is cultivating a future where farming remains vibrant, resilient and central to who we are.
For more information, visit www.frederickcountymd.gov/AgPlan to explore the Agricultural Strategic Plan.
Women Farmers
By
Rebecca Long Chaney HONORED AROUND THE Globe
For generations, women involved in farming and ranching have often been celebrated as the farmer’s wife, farmer’s daughter or the partner behind the scenes. But today, women are taking on more prominent roles in agriculture, owning their own operations.
At the May 2024 United Nations General Assembly, the United States introduced a resolution declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer with 123 countries serving as co-sponsors. This marked a global commitment to empowering and recognizing the contributions of women in agriculture.
As one of the leading agricultural counties in the state, Frederick County farm women continue to make an impact whether it’s milking cows, growing produce, agritourism, flower production, raising livestock, producing crops and much more.
According to a 2022 USDA report, the U.S. had 1.2 million female producers, about 36 percent of the country’s farmers. Women play a vital role in American agriculture —contributing through production, advocacy, education, and entrepreneurship, while also strengthening rural communities through leadership and outreach.
Although farming operations can be taxing, probably no farming enterprise is as demanding as dairy farming, a 24/7 commitment. Just ask Jessica Valentine of Thurmont. “You can’t miss a day milking cows,” she says.
She and her husband, Mark, both come from an agricultural background. While he works off the farm as a professional cattle hoof trimmer, she manages the family’s dairy operation near Emmitsburg that they rent. Jessica handles the twice daily milkings with help from her
My family has always been deeply involved in agriculture. “ “
—JESSICA
VALENTINE
JESSICA VALENTINE HANDLES THE TWICE DAILY MILKINGS AS WELL AS FEEDINGS.
two sons’ girlfriends. Cadin and Gavin, also work off the farm and help with chores every evening.
“My family has always been deeply involved in agriculture,” Valentine says. “My grandparents all farmed, my parents ran a few beef cattle, until my brother and sister wanted to show. We showed cattle, sheep and horses. I met my husband in 4-H.”
Valentine believes it’s an honor for the United Nations to celebrate women farmers. “We are no longer the farmer’s wife, we
Jessica Valentine
THE VALENTINES RAISE AYRSHIRES AND BOARD BROWN SWISS AND JERSEYS.
are the farmer—we make decisions, carry the load, and are an invaluable asset to every operation.”
The Valentines juggle responsibilities to make sure all chores are completed daily like feeding calves, milking, feeding heifers, record keeping, monitoring the dairy herd’s reproductive health, field work and newborn calves. Valentine enjoys milking their 65 head of Ayrshire cattle. They also board several other cows for friends.
In addition to daily chores, the Valentines enjoy exhibiting their Ayrshire cattle on the local, state and national levels. Her love for Ayrshire cattle and farming inspired Valentine to get involved in the state and national cattle organizations where she holds offices in both groups. Since 2017 she has chaired the National Ayrshire Association Youth Committee. She’s also the Maryland Ayrshire Association Youth leader and previously served as vice president. Although farming can be challenging and exhausting, Valentine says she draws her inspiration from other dairy women. “On the days I’m struggling, I
know I’m not alone,” she says.
“I’m part of something so much bigger and that’s what I can draw strength from knowing someone else has been in this situation and has figured it out or powered through.
“My passion for dairy farming is family. Be it cow families, where I love to watch the next generation develop and improve or knowing that these lines have been selectively developed for generations. Or my family, I think there is no better way than to raise children with a work ethic, respect for each other and the ability to appreciate the important things and also the little things,” she says.
Like Jessica Valentine, women involved in agriculture are making a powerful impact in the United States and around the world. Women now farm or cofarm 43 percent of U.S. farmland and bring a strong commitment to conservation, sustainability, generational family, resilience and community involvement.
Women in many countries face barriers and challenges with farming, but there are special programs and grants that continue to be researched and developed to empower women landowners and farmers with knowledge, networks and resources they need to steward their land sustainably and productively.
Laura Gaver House of New Market is grateful to be
a woman farmer, continuing her family’s legacy. As a fifth-generation farmer, House grew up learning about farming from her parents and grandparents on Gaver Farms. Her four children now represent the sixth generation involved in the family business.
“I grew up working on my family’s farm which was dairy, crop, and a Christmas tree farm,” she says. “We expanded the business and diversified to include agritourism, pumpkin, apple and sunflower picking, value-added foods and a farm market.”
Gaver Farm hosts an annual Fall Fun Fest complete with corn maze, farm animals, playgrounds and games where families can visit to pick crops, learn about agriculture on a working farm and enjoy hayrides and farm fresh food. Gaver Farm is open to the public August through December. The family also grows traditional row crops of corn, soybeans and hay.
House believes the best place to raise her children is on the family farm. “I enjoy the flexibility, the fact that every day is different, and I can do my job with my kids learning and working beside and around me,” she says. “I love being part of a local business and supporting community and growing things.”
While family members share the workload, House says the most challenging aspect of their operation is time and job management. “It’s important to prioritize tasks and be sure jobs are completed efficiently and using best farm practices,” she says. “Chores often depend on the time of year. Daily chores include animal care and general farm management.”
House also credits her mother, Lisa, with instilling a deep love for agriculture in her. “I admire my mother’s willingness to make changes and take risks on new ideas. What inspires me most about farming is seeing change/improvements we make on the farm be successful.”
LAURA GAVER HOUSE IS A FIFTH-GENERATION FARMER.
Laura Gaver House
LAURA GAVER HOUSE JOINS OTHER WOMEN WORLDWIDE WHO FARM OR CO-FARM. IN THE UNITED STATES IT’S HAPPENING ON 43 PERCENT OF FARMLAND.
I love being part of a local business and supporting community and growing things. “ “
—LAURA GAVER HOUSE
PART OF THE GAVER FARM INCLUDES CHRISTMAS TREES.
House is honored to join a group of women involved in farming who are truly outstanding in their field. “Woman farmers have been working on farms for centuries to provide for their families, support their husbands and grow the food needed to feed the world and I’m proud to celebrate their contributions,” House says.
Melissa Aellen can also point to a family heritage in agriculture, taking time, however, to leave Linganore Winecellars in Mount Airy to gain an education at Cornell University, as well as working a string of internships that took her from Napa Valley in California to New York’s Finger Lakes, Kentucky, Oregon and Illinois. “I also worked a harvest in New
Zealand,” she says, before returning to the family business full time in 2017, representing the third generation of vintners.
Aellen is director of winery operations for Linganore and Simple Theory Wine Co., a lounge that features wine and accompanying noshes at 37 N. Market St., a venture she and her cousin, Parker Aellen, started last year.
Linganore Winecellars is observing a half century in business this year, celebrating the first vines planted by Aellen’s grandparents, Jack and Lucille. Aellen credits her grandmother, who is 95, for steering her in her career.
“As a kid,” she says, she was fascinated by her father’s secretary and the work she did, “and I figured that would be my pathway,” although “no one said I couldn’t” be a wine producer, it just wasn’t something many women did at the time. Then, Lucille showed her a magazine cover featuring Gina Gallo, who runs her family’s California vineyard.
“I thought, whoa, I can be a winemaker,” Aellen says.
Pointing to the fact that Maryland has 100 wineries, with less than 10 being run by women, she nonetheless says, “I never felt it was an adverse situation” to be a female in that world. “Growing up in the industry—I was exposed to it since I was 7 years old—gave me an advantage.”
As to the physical labor and conditions involved in her job, the planting, heavy lifting and constantly getting dirty, Aellen takes it in stride. “Chivalry is fine when you’re pulling out a chair at the table,
MELISA AELLEN REPRESENTS THE THIRD GENERATION OF VINTNERS AT LINGANORE WINECELLARS.
but it’s different when you’re doing the work,” she says, not needing men to immediately jump in, assuming she can’t handle it, instead preferring to ask for help when needed.
The variety of tasks keeps the days interesting, she says. “I could be behind my computer, and the next hour down in the barrel cellar.” The work is full of challenges, whether it’s facing the aftermath of a late frost or climate change that has them planting varieties that will adjust to new conditions.
“We are stewards of the land,” she says, and that
Melisa Aellen
includes “dry farming” where mowing the vineyard is minimized to promote a biodiverse ecosystem. They also favor solar power, recycling and using bottles made of less glass, which also reduces shipping costs.
Aellen exudes an excitement for the future of wine production, and that includes the belief that women will have an increasing role. “Women have better pallets,” she says with a smile, all the better for tasting, and she’s seeing operations where “they’re not afraid to hire the first woman.”
Thurmont’s Catoctin Mountain Orchard is like a beacon along U.S. 15, prompting motorists to turn into the parking lot to visit the market and load up on apples, peaches, berries, canned preserves, plus fixings for a salad. If there’s time, customers may even pick their own blueberries and cut flowers for a bouquet.
Owner Bob Black is nationally known for his talent in producing stellar apples and has the awards to show for it. He also has proof of his ability to mentor a new generation of farmers in his granddaughter Katlyn Marshall.
Marshall is the farm and marketing manager on the land she has traversed ever since learning to walk. “This was my day care center,” she says, where she realized that farming was what she wanted for her future. As a child, Marshall had her own set of chores, such as being on bird patrol, all while absorbing lessons from her grandfather. “I’m still learning every day from him.”
One important piece of advice is diversification, she says, something driven home hard this spring when a late frost took out 90 percent of the apple crop, and 25 percent of the peaches. “I looked at 10 trees and only saw one apple,” she says.
The operation still has berries, vegetables and cut flowers, plus the market has listened to requests from customers to stock products such as meat, cheese and milk, all of which helps the bottom line.
A graduate of Catoctin High and Frederick Community College, where she majored in business
management, Marshall says “I wear many hats.”
Just that day, one with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the 70s, she addressed pest management in the rows of fruit trees, as well as working up some ground for additional vegetables. She also popped into the store for various reasons.
“I wish I could wear more hats,” she says with a smile. “I want to share my knowledge.” This includes telling consumers about farming life. “It’s a gamble being a farmer. Every year is a toss-up,” she says, whether it’s an economy with high gas prices, a sudden hailstorm or land slowly drying from drought.
Marshall says she especially wants to be of help to other women farmers.
KATLYN MARSHALL WEARS MANY HATS AT CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARD.
Katlyn Marshall
“It’s hard being a woman farmer,” she says, not necessarily the physical part of it, rather “sometimes people tend to wrongfully think that you’re not the one in charge… Some people still aren’t used to a woman in charge.” Does she think the attitude will change
during this International Year of the Woman Farmer? “I hope it does,” she says. “We all have to have each other’s backs. If other women want help or advice, I’ll teach them what I know.”
Katie Stevens, Director for the Frederick County Office of Agriculture says recognizing women farmers is important because it brings visibility to a group that has long been central to global food systems, yet are often overlooked.
“Across the world, women play a critical role in planting, harvesting, managing livestock and sustaining local economies, all while balancing caregiving and community responsibilities,” Stevens says. “When women farmers are acknowledged, supported, and empowered, our entire community benefits.”
Frederick County is home to the most female producers in Maryland at 1,083 individuals on 917 farms representing 88,977 acres of farmland. “This represents 40 percent of Frederick County producers,” she says. “In Maryland there are 8,860 female producers representing 37.5 percent of farmers on 7,558 farms totaling 846,811 acres of farmland.”
Stevens believes there is a clear trend of increasing involvement by women in agriculture, including running their own farms. “More women continue to be involved in farming. Overall, we see more women taking on leadership roles in community organizations. I think women farmers see an opportunity to grow their own business and operation in modern agriculture.”
BOB BLACK, MARSHALL’S GRANDFATHER, CONTINUES TO BE AN INFLUENCE ON HER CAREER.
CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARD REMAINS A FIXTURE IN THURMONT.
Landscaping Grows into
BIG BUSINESS
By Rebecca Long Chaney
Faced with demanding careers and busy lifestyles, more homeowners these days are opting to purchase from local nurseries or hire landscaping companies to beautify their homes, resulting in a multi-million-dollar industry.
It’s also what Laura Hagmann, sales and shipping manager for Waverly Farm, calls “a joyful industry” whether it is workers enjoying being outside in nature, or customers “you know are going to be happy.”
Waverly Farm, 1931 Greenville Road, Adamstown, is owned by Jerry Faulring, who grew up on a western New York dairy farm, followed by a five-state lawn and landscaping business. In 1996 he started Waverly Farm, which wholesales trees and shrubs to other wholesalers and directly to landscapers.
“They are fully finished, landscape ready,” Hagmann says of their stock. “Everything is in the ground. We dig to order.”
Faulring landed on the 200-acre site after an extensive search, recognizing its high-quality soil. The company does its best to protect what it has, reserving nearly 50 acres for grass aisles to prevent soil erosion. One of its business practices includes “respecting nature and our land.”
A source for individuals seeking flowers and other vegetation to beautify their homes is Thanksgiving Farms of Adamstown, which has been providing a large selection of plants for years.
“Thanksgiving Farms appeared in 1984 as a family-run vegetable farm,” says Darby Zimmermann. “As time progressed so did our offerings. We added greenhouses so we could sell plants. One greenhouse grew into 22. We grow a large assortment of annuals, perennials, herbs hanging baskets, vegetable plants, shrubs, tropical and houseplants.”
They also offer a landscaping service and strive to provide gardening essentials like fertilizers, pottery, seeds, soils and amendments. Melanie Zimmermann is the go-to expert when it comes to landscaping.
“She offers a hands-on approach where she visits the customer’s yard, makes recom-
Thanksgiving Farms
Waverly Farms
[It is] “a joyful industry” whether it is workers enjoying being outside in nature, or customers “you know are going to be happy.”
—Laura Hagmann
Thanksgiving Farms
“We grow a large assortment of annuals, perennials, herbs hanging baskets, vegetable plants, shrubs, tropical and houseplants.”
—Darby Zimmermann
Outdoor Solutions
mendations, and then has the customer come to the farm to look at the suggested selections,” Darby says. “All of Melanie’s customers are happy due to her diligent research, designs and selections. Usually, she does these projects in the spring and again in the fall.
“Maryland is an excellent part of the country to grow all Mid-Atlantic zone annuals perennials, herbs, vegetable plants and shrubs. Our annual selection is out of this world,” Darby says. “Petunias alone, we offer 40 varieties, perennials around 75 varieties and lots of herb varieties.”
After 42 years in business, the Zimmermanns still have a few hurdles. “Our greatest challenges are watering all these plants, maintaining equipment so we can farm, keeping up with all the new laws and regulations, and making sure the dayto-day operations goes smoothly,” Darby says. “Like, is the internet up and is the electric on?”
Although they’ve had hiccups along the way, they are grateful for their loyal customers. “We love getting into the soil, growing plants and working within the family business,” Darby says. “We love
our customers who truly appreciate us and our farm. Our motto is, ‘We grow our own,’ and everyone truly loves our products.”
A company that offers extensive landscaping creations is Outdoor Solutions, a premier outdoor living contractor. They have been in the community since 1989. “As a Barrick Company, it builds on decades of experience delivering high-quality craftsmanship and innovative design across Maryland,” says owner Nicholas Toms.
Toms joined the company in 2004 as a landscape construction laborer and worked his way up through the ranks—foreman, sales manager and vice president, before becoming the owner.
“Outdoor Solutions specializes in complete outdoor environments, including hardscapes, landscapes, fiberglass pools, retaining walls, patios, outdoor kitchens, lighting and custom structures,” Toms says. “We are a full-service contractor. We both design and install landscaping and outdoor living projects.”
While Outdoor Solutions does not grow plants directly, their sister company, Barrick Garden Center, stocks a full selection of regionally appropriate material.
“This includes shade and ornamental trees, evergreens and screening, shrubs, perennials, grasses and seasonal flowers,” Toms says. “We’re a landscape construction family at heart—we enjoy working outdoors and partnering with great local clients to bring their dream outdoor spaces to life.”
A well-planted and designed landscape can increase a home’s value between 5.5 percent to 12.7 percent, according to recent data, noting that in just the last decade, the number of landscaping businesses grew 39 percent.
“From design through installation, it’s a rewarding and energizing process,” Toms says.
Filling Plates WITH Local Fare
In the search to find food that hasn’t traveled thousands of miles, Frederick County residents have options ranging from weekly markets held during the growing season or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enterprises where you share in whatever bounty the farmer produces. The following are resources for fresh-from-the-farm-to-the-table offerings:
Farmers Markets Make Meals Happen
FARMERS MARKETS
Brunswick Main Street
Farmers Market
E. Potomac at 1st Avenue, Brunswick April 10 through Oct. 30, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., second and last Fridays.
Brunswick Indoor Market
Downtown Brunswick, Dec. 11 through March 12, second Friday of the month 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Downtown Thursday Market
Carroll Creek, Frederick, May 7 through Sept. 24, Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Emmitsburg Fun, Farm and Family Days
201 W. Lincoln Ave., July 18, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., market; Oct. 17, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., market, fall festival and chili cook-off.
Field Fresh Farmers Market
The Frederick Fairgrounds, Lot A, 797 E. Patrick St., April 25 through Nov. 21. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Frederick City Market
622 N. Market St., Frederick, May 3 through Nov. 22, Sundays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Frederick Farmers Market
Westside Regional Park parking lot, 1632 Contender Way, Frederick, April 25 through Nov. 21, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Middletown Farmers Market
12 S. Church St., Middletown, May 7 through Oct. 15, Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Myersville Farmers Market
301 Main St., Myersville, April 18 through Oct. 31, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon.
Myersville Indoor Market
301 Main St., Myersville, Nov. 21 through April 3, first and third Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Thurmont Main Street Market
19 Frederick Road, Thurmont, May 23 through Sept. 26, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon.
Urbana Library Market
9020 Amelung St., Frederick, May 17 through Oct. 25, Sundays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
YMCA of Frederick Market
1000 N. Market St., Frederick, May 19 through Oct. 27, Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA)
Chestnut Hill Farm & Market
240-734-2021
www.chestnuthillfarmmarket.com
DeFeo Family Farm
203-240-1968
www.defeofamilyfarm.com
Eaters Acres
301-304-0505
www.eatersacres.com
Flourish Flowers
717-860-1758
www.flourishflowersmd.com
Fox Haven
240-490-5484
www.foxhavenfarm.org
Good Soil Farm LLC
443-536-1830
www.goodsoilfarmllc.com
Hilltop Blooms & Beef
301-536-2259
www.hilltopbloomsandbeef.com
House in the Woods Farm
301-461-6575
www.houseinthewoods.com
The Little Red Wagon Produce
240-439-9401
info@thelittleredwagon.us
Moon Valley Farm 410-207-0241
www.moonvalleyfarm.net
Open Book Farm
240-457-2558
www.openbookfarm.com
Pleasant Hill Produce
301-471-2699
www.pleasanthillproduce.com
Sycamore Spring Farm 301-788-6980
www.sycamorespringfarm.org
Thanksgiving Farms 301-662-1291
www.thanksgivingfarm andgarden.com
Catoctin
301-271-2737
www.catoctinmountainorchard.com
WET YOUR WHISTLE
FREDERICK
A BEACON
IN THE LIBATION SEARCH
Maryland has more than 1,400 acres of grapes being turned into wine. Frederick County is front and center with many vineyards located here. The county is also home to a growing number of breweries and distilleries, many relying on local growers to provide ingredients to make their products special and in many cases award-winning.
ATTABOY BARREL HOUSE
24 S. Wisner St., Suite 100, Frederick www.attaboybarrelhouse.com
ATTABOY BEER CO.
400 Sagner Ave., Suite 400, Frederick www.attaboybeer.com
BLACK ANKLE VINEYARDS
14463 Black Ankle Road, Mount Airy www.blackankle.com
BREWER’S ALLEY
124 N. Market St., Frederick www.brewers-alley.com
CATOCTIN BREEZE VINEYARD
15010 Roddy Road, Thurmont www.catoctinbreeze.com
CELEBRATION CELLARS WINERY
9831 Fox Road, Frederick www.celebrationcellarswinery.com
DRAGON DISTILLERY
1341 Hughes Ford Road, Suite 108, Frederick www.dragondistillery.com
As agriculture demographics shift across Frederick County, farms once driven past without a second thought are now becoming date spots, family outings and places to find and make homemade gifts. It’s all thanks to agritourism, the practice of integrating tourist experiences with a running farm. More than a financial necessity in shifting economic times, it’s a way
for farmers to integrate themselves into their community, creating a memorable destination.
Agritourism became popular in the early 1990s, according to Katie Stevens, director of the Frederick County Office of Agriculture. “It started more with the fall festivals, pick your own pumpkins, and continued to grow from that point really.” The practice adds financial value and allows visitors to not only become an active participant in their experience, but to learn about agriculture. “The general public wants to know where their food comes from. They want to get out on farms and enjoy farm life,” she says.
Summers Farm, in the Middletown Valley, was a part of the early wave, and a prototypical example of agritourism. The family-owned operation sells corn, wheat, soybeans and a hay crop, and after selling their dairy cows in the early ‘90s, owner Teresa Summers was inspired to fill the gap, seeing how others were integrating
Summers Farm
agritourism into their farms. Summers Farm re-opened in 1996 with that as a part of their business.
“We are a working farm first and foremost, and that’s what we do here, but we open up seasonally in the fall.” Open to the public from August through October, they begin with pick your own flowers and an apple orchard and then shift over to pumpkin picking as Halloween approaches.
“
The general public wants to know where their food comes from. They want to get out on farms and enjoy farm life.
–Katie Stevens, Director, Frederick County Office of Agriculture.
Summers Farm
Summers Farm
Dreamland Christmas Tree farm, also in the Middletown Valley, fell into the enterprise even before their farm opened. Brian Riesett believes every good Christmas tree farm needs to have a shop, and when he and his wife, Dawn, bought the property, an antique barn nearly 200 years old was already on the property. The barn was converted by the Riesetts into a Christmas shop, filled with trinkets and treasures.
“We planted our first trees in ‘04,” says Riesett. “So as those trees were growing, I spent time chipping away at fixing the barn
up and making it safe for people to go in there. When we did sell our first trees (around 2012) the barn was at that point open and ready to go.” As to finding a balance, the Riesetts split the labor down the middle—Brian runs the farm, and Dawn runs the shop.
A unique hook can go a long way to ingrain yourself in a customer’s mind.
Dreamland is far from the only tree farm with a Christmas shop, but
Dreamland Christmas Tree Farm
their antique barn helps them stand out among the competition. “The barn’s about 20 percent of the revenue,” Riesett says. “The things in there are much cheaper (than the trees) but without the barn, the business wouldn’t be anywhere near where it is right now.”
Blue Dreams USA, located in the Linganore area, is centered around three core plants—the rose, known for its beauty; lavender, known as “blue gold,” due to its many uses; and tea, the second most consumed drink in the world.
In addition to rose gardens and a mini forest, owners Imelda Roberts and Jeff Snively run a boutique store with products based around those three plants. The shop is open from noon to 3 p.m. on the weekends, and then from 3 p.m.-6 p.m., they operate a tea garden, by appointment only. Running one facet at a time helps them put all of their energy into the activity in front of them. “Nowadays, people are more amenable to scheduling their
activities and doing reservations,” says Roberts. “It is a smart way (to operate) because then you’re able to manage inventory. You only prepare afternoon tea for those people who reserve.”
Lauren Rohwer has owned Hilltop Blooms and Beef, a 50-acre farm in Ijamsville, since 2018. The farm sells beef, and regularly delivers flowers to local restaurants, or even door-to-door, “kind of like the milkman,” Rohwer jokes. “I leave fresh jars of flowers and then I get the old ones back. The customers leave them on the front porch for me.”
When it comes to agritourism, the business takes the idea of appointments further, with ticketed workshops containing anywhere from six to 16 people. “They’re invited to the farm; they are given a tour so I can show them all around.
Kind of behind the scenes of a flower farmer florist,” Rohwer explains. The customers then pick their own flowers and get a lesson from her on creating arrangements, before making one to take home.
I wanted to give them more than just the flowers in the vase. I wanted them to see the flowers growing…
–Lauren Rohwer, owner Hilltop Blooms and Beef
Rohwer loves getting people back into nature and connecting them to where their plants come from. “I wanted to give them more than just the flowers in the vase. I wanted them to see the flowers growing…and to be able to cut them and touch them and see the behind the scenes.”
The County’s Stevens says, “We were historically a dairy county. We are more of a mix between livestock and crop now.” Many farms are searching for what Stevens calls “value added agriculture,”
so people are looking for ways to continue to be profitable.”
Rohwer agrees. “We could not do farming as our full time job. It would not make enough money for our family to survive.”
In addition to standing out, these farms are providing customers with experiences they can’t get anywhere else. “Without fail,” Rohwer says, “there are many who talk about their grandmother’s garden or their aunt’s garden and how that brings back childhood memories. I think we’re in, unfortunately, a generation that’s really lost touch with home gardens, and I think there’s some of us that are trying to bring that back.
taking their farm’s product and adding an extra value or experience. This encompasses not just agritourism, but craft beverage businesses, creameries, and selling meat by the cut, just as a few examples. “Farming is a tough business to be in, and
Lauren Rohwer, owner of Hilltop Blooms and Beef
Hilltop Blooms and Beef
Agritourism has grown over the years from a small aspect of some farms into a significant attraction, becoming a major part of what running a farm in Frederick County can be.
“During Covid,” says Riesett, “people were locked in their houses, and come Christmas time they just wanted to get out of the grind. They got out and they got a real tree, and they realized
that’s part of the meaning of Christmas.” The customers connect to the farms in a way they never have before, and that brings more than value, it brings the opportunity to create positive memories.
“One of our clients called our place a landscape of happiness,” says Blue Dream’s Roberts. “And as a result of that, we’ve clarified our mission—to create a landscape of happiness in Frederick County and a one-of-akind agritourism destination.”
Frederick County has been blessed by a strong agricultural community with so many folks sharing that story. Today, most people are four or five generations removed from agriculture so it’s more important than ever to talk about the importance of knowing where our food originates and the need to continue using the land in a productive manner.
Susan Summers could be described as the poster person for agriculture education. She has devoted decades to the cause, both professionally and as a volunteer. “I like to refer to it as an ‘ag’vocate,” she says. “Someone who educates, shares the story and speaks up for hard-working men and women who are supplying food, fiber and fuel for all of us. Just like any industry, you get a real appreciation for the incredible abundance and variety of safe and nutritious food that farmers produce.”
Summers has had a longstanding passion for agriculture, starting at a young age, influenced by parents who instilled responsibility and a work ethic through small-scale farming. “Milking cows by hand every day teaches you many life lessons and the mentors in the farming community become like family,” she says. “This agricultural community, this industry… that’s my passion. Giving back to people and an industry that “grew me up” — so blessed to be an ‘ag’vocate.”
After 14 years of working in agricultural journalism at The Frederick New-Post , Summers started an agricultural communications business, AgriVisions. She has a long list of clients and currently is executive director of the Maryland Agriculture Council as well as being involved
This agricultural community, this industry… that’s my passion. “
with several state dairy organizations.
Much of Summers ‘ advocacy comes from sharing the rich agricultural history in the state as well as farming’s economic impact. “The farming industry contributes over $8 billion to the state’s economy (which is mind-blowing), 350,000 Marylanders are employed in some aspect of agriculture and almost 90 percent of farms are family owned,” Summers says. “There are over 12,600 farms in the state and about 32 percent of the state’s landmass is farmland.”
Those of us involved in agriculture have to speak up and tell our story to those misinformed. “
Like many others, Summers fears valuable farmland being replaced by housing, solar installations and data centers. “Once that incredibly fertile land is lost to these structures, we will never get it back,” she points out, “We are all for preserving as much productive agricultural land as possible… but we have to preserve the farmer as well.”
Frederick County farmer and County Farm Bureau President David
Burrier agrees, believing advocacy for the next generation of farmers is critical. Burrier says that combating misinformation is a huge challenge.
“Today, there is so much information available about agriculture that is absolutely not true,” he says. “Those of us involved in agriculture have to speak up and tell our story to those misinformed.
Agriculture education is one of the three top priorities for the Frederick County Farm Bureau.”
It is imperative that young people know where their food comes from and how it is produced, Burrier says. “It is also a high priority to advocate to our legislators, since they make regulations for us to follow in our farming operations. It is very hard to stay within the guardrails of a regulation made by someone out of touch with our industry. We need to tell our story, that we produce the safest food on the planet while practicing the most progressive conservation practices.”
Frederick High School Agricultural Education teacher Richard Stonebraker says one of the biggest challenges is helping people recognize their personal connection to agriculture. “Whether they realize it or not, everyone is connected, but bridging that awareness gap can be difficult,” he adds. “As more generations become removed from the farm, agriculture risks
becoming an afterthought. It should remain at the forefront of our minds because it impacts every aspect of our daily lives.”
Stonebraker says his agricultural passion stems from his family, especially his Pop-Pop. “He instilled in me a deep respect for hard work and a love for agriculture,”
There is an entire system of hardworking individuals behind every meal. “
he says. “Even though I’m a generation removed from the farm, I was fortunate to witness firsthand the value, dedication and resilience my family poured into everything they did. My passion is also fueled by knowing that I am making a difference in the world when it comes to agriculture.”
As the State Grange president, Stonebraker also emphasizes that food doesn’t just appear on your plate. “There is an entire system of hardworking individuals behind every meal,” he says. “Agriculture is something we often take for granted, but without it we would be in a very difficult position.”
The importance of agriculture resonates with Sara Kidd, Agriculture and Food Systems Extension Educator for Frederick County. She’s new to her title and excited to share agriculture’s story.
“Being an agricultural advocate, for me, is a commitment that goes far beyond simply promoting farmers,” she says. “It means consistently championing the work of farmers, not just as producers of commodities, but as environmental stewards, small business owners and vital contributors to food security and local communities.”
As an extension agent, Kidd’s mission is split into
two key areas: first, is transferring research-based knowledge from the university to producers to help improve their practices; and second, she listens to the specific challenges of farmers and finds ways to support their agricultural operations and livelihoods.
“Ultimately, getting the word out about agricul -
ture is about securing the future of farming and the land we all depend on,” she says. “It is a proactive investment in the next generation, ensuring they inherit a system that is resilient, productive and respected.”
The extension agent says there are challenges educating the public because it’s a wide audience, everyone from children to policymakers. “We
need to educate about modern farming practices, addressing misconceptions and highlighting the complexity involved in bringing food from field to table,” Kidd explains. “This means being transparent about topics like sustainable land management, water usage, animal welfare and the integration of technology in agriculture.”
Agriculture is not just an industry; it is a way of life that connects every single person, whether they realize it or not, Stonebraker says. “From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the resources we depend on daily, agriculture is at the foundation of it all. Yet, as society continues to move further away from the farm, that connection is becoming less visible.
“It is about sharing information; it is about building understanding, trust and appreciation,” the ag teacher says. “It is also about creating opportunities for people to see themselves in agriculture, regardless of their background or experience. Through my work in education and leadership, I strive to bridge the gap. Whether I am in the classroom, working with an organization, or serving through the Grange or Farm Bureau, my goal is always the same: to ensure that agriculture remains relevant, respected and understood for generations to come.”
Ultimately, getting the word out about agriculture is about securing the future of farming and the land we all depend on. “
FINDING IT ALL ON THE FARM PROVES POSSIBLE
Farming continues to play an important part in the local economy with 55 percent of the land zoned for agriculture. Increasingly, consumers are seeking fresh, locally-produced food and other products and Frederick County farmers and growers are meeting the demand— whether it’s raising alpacas, beef cattle and heirloom vegetables, or inviting you to pickyour-own fruits and vegetables and enjoy a corn maze and hay ride.
THE FOLLOWING ICON DESIGNATES A SPECIAL FARM FEATURE.
BARTGIS FAMILY FARM, LLC
1699 Shookstown Road
Frederick • 301.606.5754
www.bffarm.us
Bartgis Family Farm is family owned and operated, raising beef cattle for over 35 years. Their beef is pasture raised without antibiotics or hormones. They mix their own feed with grains harvested on the farm or locally sourced, consisting of corn, barley and oats.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They offer their all-natural, freezer ready beef by the pound, choose your cuts, as well as by the quarters, halves or whole. Visit the website for more details.
BLACK
ANKLE VINEYARDS
14463 Black Ankle Road, Mount Airy
301.829.3338
www.blackankle.com
At Black Ankle Vineyards, they believe that a prime vineyard site marked by rolling hillsides and rocky soils, combined with meticulous care of their vines and land, will yield grapes that make wines of depth, nuance and character. Cozy indoor/ outdoor seating fits perfectly with rolling hills and vineyard views. Wine is offered by flight, glass, bottle and carafe. Entertainment/events, groups welcome, private event rentals. Refer to the website for hours.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
All wines are 100 percent estate-grown and produced, allowing quality to be carefully guided from vine to bottle. Guests can also enjoy The Terrace Kitchen, the on-site food truck serving seasonally inspired dishes made with local beef, vegetables grown on the property and other thoughtfully sourced ingredients
BLACK ROCK FARM
Myersville • 443.921.5364
www.blackrock-farm.com
Black Rock Farm is home to a small herd of Scottish Highland cattle nestled in the hills of Myersville. They open their barn doors for monthly events and private “meet and greet” type of visits focused around their favorite fuzzy cows. All farm visits are by appointment only, no pop-in’s allowed. Best ways to see upcoming events: Follow along on social media, join their e-list or view their event and appointment calendar on the website!
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
For all Highland cow experiences and events, visit www.blackrock-farm.com for their appointment calendar and tickets.
BLUELAND FARM
Mount Airy • 301.908.0589
www.bluelandfarm.com
At BlueLand Farm, five minutes from downtown Mount Airy, they believe that farming is an essential component of a healthy community. Meredith and Dan, with their four children, have a passion for regenerative agriculture. When they moved to the farm in 2015, they found the soil nutrient depleted from plowing and heavy crop rotations. Now they implement soil saving, regenerative practices to raise grass-fed lamb and beef.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Email bluelandfarm@gmail.com to schedule a time to come by the farm. Or come to one of the open house days. See their website for more details, and support their mission by ordering.
BLUE DREAMS USA
11700 Old Annapolis Road
Frederick • 301.882.4747
www.bluedreamsusa.com
Blue Dreams USA is the first of its kind lavender, roses and tea garden boutique in the U.S. It is the only farm in Frederick County with a tea (Camellia Sinensis) garden. Surrounded by scenic views, it’s a place you can unwind while enjoying the beauty of lavender, roses and tea gardens on our 25-acre farm. It has several photo-worthy gardens like an Umbrella Alley, Blue Dome, Prayer Garden, Tea Garden, marble gazebos, pond, fountain and amazing views of neighboring vineyards.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They offer pick-your-own lavender, tea tasting, afternoon tea events, plus exclusively designed gifts and artisan quality crafts you won’t find anywhere else. Open to the public on weekends from June to October plus other dates for afternoon high tea events and holiday shopping.
BROOKFIELD PUMPKINS, LLC.
8302 Ramsburg Road, Thurmont 301.898.3527
www.brookfieldpumpkins.com
Brookfield Pumpkins is a pick-your-own pumpkin patch with beautiful views of Catoctin Mountain located just north of Frederick. Many customers start their visit with a hayride to the 15-acre pumpkin patch. They grow about 40 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds and edible fall squashes. Also enjoy the family-friendly Corn Maze for a Cause (100 percent of proceeds are given to one of four selected causes), petting zoo, corn tables and countless photo opportunities. Visit their website or follow social media for further information.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Hayrides (Friday – Sunday), petting zoo, corn tables, Corn Maze for a Cause ($), and apple cider ($).
BRYANT LIVESTOCK, LLC.
2719 Thurston Road, Frederick 301.788.8279 • www.bryantlive stock.com.wixsite.com/mysite
Built from the aspirations of three sisters, Bryant Livestock LLC stemmed from their extensive 4-H and FFA careers, and is a continuation of their livestock projects. They offer locally raised beef, lamb, pork and goat frozen retail meat products to consumers via farmers markets and the farm’s commercial freezers. Additionally, they breed, raise and sell prospect registered percentage cattle and commercial lambs to local youth, as well as fellow producers.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Officially starting in 2021, they continue to work towards the goal of opening a full-fledged farm store that markets their freezer products and provides another market for other local producers to utilize. In the meantime, they have had the opportunity to frequent farmers markets and attend various community special events as a vendor and a local small farm retail meat producer.
BULLFROG SOD
5455-B Doubs Road, Adamstown
301.662.0736 • www.bfsod.com
Bullfrog Sod is a family-owned and operated sod farm in Adamstown, offering Maryland Certified sod to both contractors and homeowners. Members of the team at Bullfrog Sod pride themselves on their individualized approach to customer service and are happy to help with any questions regarding measuring, laying and caring for your sod. Call anytime and allow them to help you achieve your landscaping dreams.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
CALICO AG SERVICES
3040 Ballenger Creek Pike Frederick • 240.255.0579
www.calicoagservices.com
Calico Ag Services provides a variety of services to local agricultural operations throughout Frederick County. These include writing and implementation of nutrient management plans, aerial seeding applications utilizing a drone and haylage bale wrapping.
Certification by the Department of Agriculture is the gold-standard when it comes to sod. Bullfrog Sod is Maryland certified and planted, grown, and maintained with the utmost care. Sod is cut to order and every customer provided with a 24-hour freshness promise.
BURALL FARMS
6002 Detrick Road, New Market 227.250.2663
www.burallfarms.com
Burall Farms is a family-run, sustainable farm in the rolling hills of New Market, producing high-quality meats and crops. Since 2017, the Buralls have raised beef, pork, lamb and goat on homegrown feeds for quality you can taste. Their farm-to-table store (Burall’s Farmstand) offers retail antibiotic- and hormone-free homegrown meat, all produced with soil-health and environmental stewardship in mind. Like and follow Burall Farms on Facebook and Instagram for farm-life updates.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
The Buralls have fully integrated their farm by making fresh feed for their livestock with the crops they grow, then utilizing the livestock manure as fertilizer for their fields. They strive to raise their livestock humanely while being environmentally sustainable as well. They are proud to have their farmstead included in the Peace and Plenty Rural Historic District, honoring the deep rural and agricultural heritage of Frederick County.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
The company focuses on bridging the gap between regulatory requirements and practical, on-farm application.
CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARD
15036 N. Franklinville Road, Thurmont 301.271.2737 • www.catoctinmountainorchard.com
Catoctin Mountain Orchard is a fourth generation fruit, vegetable, and berry farm celebrating more than 55 years in business. One hundred-plus acres produce products sold at the retail market on the farm located off route 15. Pick-your-own crops and flowers are available, including apples, on Saturdays and Sundays in September and October. Call or visit the website for days and hours at their retail farm market.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Products also include plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, apples, pears, grapes, kiwiberries, blackberries, sweet cherries, black raspberries, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, kale, fruit pies, cookies, crumb cakes, apple cider donuts, apple butter, cider, honeycrisp apple sauce and local honey. Supplies the school lunch program with fruit.
CATOCTIN BREEZE VINEYARD
15010 Roddy Road, Thurmont
240.578.3831
www.catoctinbreeze.com
Catoctin Breeze is a family-owned vineyard located in the northeastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Formed by ancient Appalachian soil and perpetually cool winds, and produced by hand from field to bottle, their wines are as accessible as they are expressive. They invite you to experience the vineyard, tasting room, and wine in a quaint and intimate setting. In the afternoon, sit on the shaded patio and enjoy the views.
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard welcomes visitors Thursday-Monday. They are an adult only winery (21+).
CELEBRATION CELLARS WINERY
9831 Fox Road, Frederick
240.812.9463
www.celebrationcellarswinery.com
Celebration Cellars Winery is passionate and creative when it comes to wine. They are an intimate destination winery nestled high in the Catoctin Mountains of Frederick. Their wines are hand-crafted in small batches using the same techniques that winemakers have used for centuries but with a modern and playful twist.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They celebrate having eight dry reds with multiple flavor profiles. They invite you to enjoy the million-dollar view while drinking award-winning wines by the firepit, upper deck, or cozy inside fireplace. They are the closest winery to Downtown Frederick.
Nestled in Catoctin Mountain and close to Camp David, Chestnut Hill Farm and Market LLC is a sixth-generation farm that has recently diversified to bring fresh produce “From our fields to your table.” With over 40 acres devoted to fruits and vegetables, they offer 60 different varieties of produce. They are committed to providing sustainable, high quality, healthy options.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They also offer beef and swine that are available in cuts, halves and wholes and also have high quality hay available for purchase. This year they are offering a CSA so signup now.
CHOCOLATES AND TOMATOES
7957 Hollow Road
Middletown • 571.271.2686
www.chocolatesand tomatoes.com
Chocolates and Tomatoes Farm sustainably grows hundreds of varieties of fruits, herbs and vegetables that they sell in the local community along with their hand-crafted artisan chocolates of many shapes and flavors. Come to their Learning Kitchen (February-December) to discover your inner chef and candy artist. Join them at their market tents (May-September) and order online (February-December). Let them host your small event, commission chocolates and learn more about this small family farm at www. chocolatesandtomatoes.com.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Chef and farmer Mark, also teaches culinary arts at Frederick Community College, blending his love for growing and cooking food.
CLEMSONVILLE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
10120 Clemsonville Road Union Bridge • 410.848.6083 www.clemsonville.com
At Clemsonville’s 250-acre Christmas tree farm you can cut or dig fir, pine and spruce trees, plus get wreaths, swags and tree stands. All trees are $50. The farm dates to 1775 and has a historic mansion copied from George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon. The farm is the home of the Guinness Record-breaking wreaths and “Tiny Clem” a 4-foot evergreen “TO GO.” Pets welcome.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Clemsonville has been a Christmas tradition for over 50 years. Visit the Christmas Barn, explore the nature maze, see Boulder Garden Christmas Wonderland and go to Picnic Park. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday after Thanksgiving until Christmas 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cut your own firewood, pine tips and boughs—truckload $20. Saws and rope available. Check or cash.
COPPER PENNY FARM
2231 Ballenger Creek Pike
Adamstown • 301.874.3802
www.copperpennyfarm.net
Copper Penny Farm is a small, family-run farm that produces pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb and chicken eggs. They believe in treating their animals with love and affection and allowing them to live as naturally as possible.All of their animals live in large pastures and can move around and forage at will. Animals are never given drugs, such as growth stimulants, hormones or antibiotics, unless medically required.They also produces their own line of hand-made soaps, using the tallow and lard rendered from the animals raised on their farm.Last year they added draft horses to their farm and now work a portion of their fields with horsepower.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Copper Penny Farm’s pasture-raised meat and eggs and hand-made soaps can also be ordered online and delivered, picked up at their on-farm store or picked up at area farmers’ markets. Visit the website for details.
COUNTRYSIDE GREENHOUSE
13226 Good Intent Road
Union Bridge • 610.932.6758
Countryside Greenhouse is a family run operation with a large variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetable plants, hanging baskets and so much more. Fall ornamentals and decor are available as well as a large variety of mums and pumpkins that are homegrown on the farm.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Open Monday-Friday, except holidays 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m.-5 p.m. March 1- October 31. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
DEER RUN FARM
15131 Sixes Road, Emmitsburg 717.357.4521
www.deerrunfarmmd.com
Deer Run Farm is a family owned and operated farm for over 25 years. The Stewart family raises Red Angus for beef, Berkshire hogs for pork and heritage breed chickens for pasture-raised eggs. They also operate a hatchery offering hatching eggs, chicks, started birds and chicken feed throughout the U.S. Deer Run Farm offers an on-farm retail store and has a website for customers to shop.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Deer Run Farm puts Maryland on the map by being the United States’ cleanest, certified disease-free chicken hatchery. They’re the only chicken hatchery in the United States to test regularly for MS, MG, AI and PT.
DEFEO FAMILY FARM
9136 Old Hagerstown Road, Middletown • 203.240.1968
www.defeofamilyfarm.com
The DeFeo Family Farm was established in 2022 by Chris and Laura DeFeo. On less than one acre, the farm grows a wide variety of seasonal vegetables and herbs using ecological and organic practices that build flavor and nutrition.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They market directly to customers through a fully customizable CSA, a year-round online store and the Myersville Farmers Market, while also partnering with local organizations to support community health initiatives.
DREAMLAND CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
2700 Sumantown Road
Middletown • 301.418.5348
www.dreamlandchristmas treefarm.com
Dreamland Christmas Tree Farm is a choose and cut farm in the beautiful Middletown Valley. They also offer pre-cut trees of all sizes. Dreamland was started to honor the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ. They are a family-friendly farm with a beautiful old barn which has been lovingly restored as a Christmas shop. The barn offers a cozy atmosphere including a stone fireplace and wood stove, wreaths, garland, crafts, ornaments, and a café serving hot food and beverages.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Children love the farm’s turkeys, pheasants, chickens, and playground. Visit weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas to make this your family’s tradition.
EASTERN PARADISE FARM
Middletown, 508.308.0356
Eastern Paradise Farm launched its new website and refreshed its garden layout to enhance the visitor experience. With an Eastern-themed atmosphere and unique crop offerings like waxy corn and specialty vegetables, the farm is now welcoming more local guests by reservation only.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Focused on providing a peaceful, immersive farm visit, Eastern Paradise continues to connect community and culture through food, nature, and seasonal experiences tailored for families and food lovers alike.
EATER’S ACRES FARM & KITCHEN
10802 Old Annapolis Road
Frederick • 530.574.1173
www.eatersacres.com
Their mission is to cultivate nutritious and sustainable crops that nourish the local community. With a focus on organic and regenerative farming practices, they strive to protect the environment while delivering the best tasting and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Whether you’re looking for seasonal produce, free-range eggs, or handcrafted jams, sauces, herbal teas and more.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They have a seasonal CSA membership option April-October or take custom orders for pick up on the farm or in Frederick at The Station on North Bentz Street. Eaters Acres is your one-stop destination for all your local farm produce.
DAHLIA DEN AND GARDENS
5318 Stone Road, Frederick
703.298.3525
www.dahliadenandgardens.com
Dahlia Den & Gardens is a charming, family-run flower farm that offers a welcoming setting for gatherings. Established in 2021, this 1.5-acre haven has flourished under the care of two generations of mother–daughter duos. During peak season, guests can wander through the fields, stroll the hoop house and gazebo, and pick their own stems to create a custom bouquet.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
The Dahlia Den can be booked as a unique backdrop for inspirational photographs and intimate private gatherings.
ELK RUN VINEYARDS
15113 Liberty Road
Mount Airy • 410.775.2513
www.elkrun.com
Elk Run Vineyards is nestled in the rolling hills of Frederick County, surrounded by dairy and horse farms and fields of wheat and corn. The winemaker’s home is circa 1756. Since 1983 Fred and Carol Wilson and Neill Bassford, family and friends, have made Elk Run a shining star among American wine producers. For the past five years, Julian Wilson has taken on greater responsibility for field management, winemaking, as well as becoming more knowledgeable in new marking technology.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Taking over 800 International, National and Regional awards has made Elk run not only one of the top 100 wineries on the East Coast but the most acclaimed winery in Maryland.
FINGERBOARD FARM
10240 Fingerboard Road
Ijamsville • 833.643.HEMP
www.FingerboardFarm.Market
Fingerboard Farm, located in Ijamsville in the heart of Frederick County, is a woman-owned agritourism destination renowned for its organic, local produce and wellness products. The farm focuses on regenerative agriculture incorporating hemp biochar and compost to build healthy soils while utilizing hemp for carbon sequestration. Their market stocks products from grass-fed meats, local honey, organic jam, free-range eggs and seasonal produce. They are nationally recognized for their CBD wellness products and home grower supplies.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Spanning 25 acres, the farm offers an historic six-bedroom 1789 manor home for short term stays and charming events. Visitors can relish an immersive agricultural experience, meet farm animals, and participate in educational sessions while supporting a local woman-owned business.
FLOURISH FLOWERS
Myersville • 717.860.1758
www.flourishflowersmd.com
Flourish Flowers uses sustainable agriculture to bring fresh vibrant flowers to the Frederick community. Owner Tara Gettig has a passion for flowers and a vision to use a small property for agriculture. Out of this, Flourish Flowers began in 2022. Tara is proud to prioritize organic practices and soil health to grow beautiful local flowers.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Flourish Flowers focuses on a CSA that provides flowers from April-September. You can also get flowers through pop-up flower sales, party buckets of bulk stems for events and hands-on workshops.
FLYING GOAT FARM
5241 Bartonsville Road, Frederick
443.538.8303
www.flyinggoatfarm.com
Flying Goat Farm raises fine wool, sheep and goats using regenerative and sustainable practices. They make, dye and sell beautiful yarn and roving for crafters. Many are Fibershed certified, meaning local fiber, local dyes and local labor. They are open by appointment or on open studio days announced on the website.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They offer classes in dyeing, spinning, weaving, and knitting.
FREY’S BREWING COMPANY
8601 Maplevillle Road
Mount Airy • 240.394.6336
www.freysbrewing.com
Frey’s is a winery and farm brewery in a restored 1800s bank barn nestled among rolling hills. They now operate through ticketed farm experiences and private events—no walkin public hours. Guests enjoy wine, mead, cider, beer, seasonal cocktails and non-alcoholic options. Visit their website for scheduled dates, tickets, and private rental information.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Historic bank barn venue for private parties and ticketed farm events—craft pours, farm views, and flexible indoor/outdoor setups. See website calendar.
FOX
3630 Poffenberger Road Jefferson • 240.490.5484
www.foxhavenfarm.org
Fox Haven Farm, Retreat, & Learning Center is a non-profit farm with a mission to educate and inspire a new generation of farmers and Earth stewards. Offering classes and internships on farming, land conservation, ethical foraging, herbalism, wilderness skills and more, Fox Haven empowers individuals of all ages to cultivate sustainable practices that make a healthier life and planet. Sign up for the fresh and dry herb CSA, or purchase wholesale culinary and medicinal herbs. Volunteer at the herb farm or heritage apple and chestnut orchard. Farm stay rentals and other gathering spaces are available in the updated farmhouses and dairy parlor.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Fields at Fox Haven, LLC offers wholesale organic hay, vegetables, nuts and berries. Tours of the food forest and production areas are available. Contact them at info@foxhavenfarm.org.
GLADE-LINK FARMS, LLC
Glade-Link Farms has been serving the community with pick-your-own strawberries and blueberries since 1971. They are a family-owned and operated farm located in New Midway. They encourage families to come to the farm to pick their own fresh berries and see what a difference local really means! Over the years they have served generations of families, passing down the tradition of berry picking. You can also find them at Field Fresh Farmers Market where they sell fresh-picked berries and beautiful homegrown cut flowers. Visit their website for more information about the farm, follow on Facebook or call the 24 hour “hotline” to see what’s in season and for directions and hours.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Acres of strawberries and blueberries available for pick-your-own. Beautiful cut flowers are available at Field Fresh Farmers Market in Frederick.
GAVER FARM, LLC
5501 Detrick Road, Mount Airy 301.865.3515 • www.gaverfarm.com
Gaver Farm is Frederick County’s premier Fall Fun Fest, featuring a corn maze, farm animal petting barnyard, jumping pillows, numerous playgrounds, zipline, and over 65 family-friendly attractions. Take a free Hayride to pick your own pumpkins, apples and sunflowers. Sweeten your visit with the farm’s famous apple cider donuts, apple cider slushies, and so much more.
The Christmas season provides fresh-cut and cut your own Christmas Trees and a stocked Christmas Farm Market and Wreath Shop.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Gaver Farm is a family-owned and operated working farm offering seasonal farm products, freshly made donuts, educational opportunities and family fun on the farm.
GLADE VALLEY FARMS & CORN MAZE
9201 Liberty Road, Frederick 240.586.3063 • www.facebook.com/ gladevalleycornmaze
At Glade Valley Farms, they welcome all to enjoy their working farm for some fun. All activities included with the cost of admission even a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch. Petting zoo is featured with feed bags included. There is lots to do for all ages.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Fall farm fun for all ages. Corn maze, mini maze, pumpkin patch, hayride, petting zoo with feed, yard games and much more. A true working farm experience.
www.facebook.com/ glamourviewcreamery
This creamery is now bottling on-farm cream top white and chocolate milk. They are also processing ice cream mix to produce hard-dipped ice cream right on the farm. You can purchase items in self-serve coolers on the front barn porch. Glamourview also has a creamery on wheels serving soft custard, homemade ice cream, grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, milkshakes, floats, slush, homemade desserts and fresh milk. They now sell pre-packaged fresh ice cream made from their milk. They are available to serve all your catering and event needs. Contact them to get some fresh goodies straight from the cow, on the farm.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Storefront featured this spring where visitors can view the farm’s Jersey cows getting milked by a robotic milking system.
GOOD HOPE FARMSTEAD
Woodsboro • 240.367.9676
www.goodhopefarmstead.com
Good Hope Farmstead is a pasture-based family farm connecting customers directly to their food. They sell grass-fed and finished beef, plus pasture-raised, non-GMO chicken, pork, lamb and mutton—responsibly raised to support animal welfare, healthy soil and strong local food systems.
GOOD SOIL FARM, LLC
9736 Keysville Road
Emmitsburg • 443.536.1830
www.goodsoilfarmllc.com
Good Soil Farm offers a 20-week veggie CSA subscription program from May to October. Pick-ups are offered on the farm in Emmitsburg or at one of their drop point locations. They also offer eggs, chicken, lamb, turkey, sourdough bread, honey and more.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They support you in your CSA experience with veggie storage guides, recipe suggestions and weekly unboxing videos. They’re also available to answer any questions you have about their farm fresh food, farming methods, and farm philosophy. CSA members also get a free yearly farm tour
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Products are available year-round for local home delivery, and at area farmers markets. Visit the farm website for further details.
HARA-VALE FARM
4309 Cap Stine Road, Frederick 301.471.5968
This four-generation family farm successfully transitioned from dairy farming to all-natural, pasture-raised beef which they sell by the half or quarter, custom processed at a local butcher shop. They offer limited egg and hay/ straw sales. If you need transporting for your livestock to butcher or sell, they have an experienced hauling service. They are not equipped to haul horses.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
All-natural pasture-raised beef that is grain finished for delicious flavor.
HIDDEN HILLS FARM AND VINEYARD
7550 Green Valley Road, Frederick
301.660.8735
www.hiddenhillsfarmandvineyard.com
Nestled among the hills of a 103-acre horse farm are grape vines that produce some of the area’s most elegant dry wines. The varietals have been carefully selected, staying true to the micro-climate in the region. Their wines are crafted in small blocks, showcasing Maryland’s terroir with the best characteristics and a refined complexity.
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Fifteen minutes from historic Downtown Frederick. Specializing in approachable dry, old-world French style wines. Family and dog friendly. Intimate indoor seating. Spacious outdoor areas with optimal seating.
HILLSIDE TURKEY FARMS
30 Elm Street, Thurmont
301.271.2728
www.hillsideturkey.com
Hillside Turkey Farms is a familyowned, third generation farm and retail store specializing in today’s families’ needs. The main focus is further processing of poultry to make meals more fun and interesting. They carry many fresh poultry products, deli items and some prepared foods. Hillside Turkey Farms is a USDA inspected plant serving the public with a retail store and in many local restaurants. Call or visit the website for store hours and more information. Don’t forget to order your fresh turkey or turkey breast for the holidays!
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They offer baked goods, all natural pasture-raised and grain-finished beef sold by the quarter or half or in a variety of cuts and ground beef; hay and straw bales and livestock hauling.
Located five minutes from the bustling community of Urbana, Hilltop Blooms & Beef offers delightful and excellent quality local, seasonal flowers, which they sell directly to customers, floral designers and restaurants. They also specialize in completely grass-fed, grass-finished Red Devon beef, sold in halves, quarters, eighths and by the cut.
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Owner Lauren loves sharing her passion for local flowers through workshops that include a farm tour and hands-on floral designing with farm fresh flowers. Visit their website or email hilltopbloomsand beef@gmail.com.
HOUSE IN THE WOODS FARM
2225 Park Mills Road Adamstown • 301.461.6575 www.houseinthewoods.com
House in the Woods Farm is celebrating 25 years of production, offering their farm share/CSA program and farm experiences. House in the Woods is a certified organic, diverse farm near Sugarloaf Mountain. Their farm share program, from May to November, includes member-only U-Pick rows and a full growing season of organic produce, all grown on the farm featuring heirloom varieties. In April and May, they sell heirloom tomato plants and more to home gardeners.
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House in the Woods Farm inspires families to explore the farm and connect to the land, food and community through farm memberships, farm-to-table experiences and harvest events. Lend a hand to plant and harvest produce and experience the delight of eating what you grow. Memberships, produce, events, garden seedlings, classes and tours are available through the website.
Inspiration Acres is a small mushroom micro farm in the heart of Middletown Valley, run by husband-and-wife team Ben and Lane. They grow fresh, year-round functional culinary mushrooms and heirloom hardneck garlic using all-natural, chemical-free practices.
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They offer mushroom grow kits with beautiful handmade covers, along with ethereal spore print art made from mushrooms grown on their farm. Inspiration Acres blends agriculture, engineering and art, rooted in curiosity, craft and care.
J BAR W RANCH
10530 Green Valley Road Union Bridge www.jbarwranch.com
This father, son and daughter partnership has received recognition nationwide for producing and hosting pro-bull riding. The ranch has been credited for professionalism displayed at their Battle of the Beast. They maintain more than 750 head of Generation of Genetics Bucking Livestock. Call or visit the website for hours and event dates.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Battle of the Beast event, pro-bull riding, cowgirl barrel racing, mutton bustin’, face painting, food, souvenirs, including T-shirts, cowboy hats, etc.
JUMBO’S PUMPKIN PATCH
6521 Holter Road, Middletown
240.439.3377 • www.jumbos.org
Jumbo’s Pumpkin is a part of Homestead Farms, owned by the Huffer family. This season marks their 31st year in business. Homestead was purchased in 1870 and has now been home to seven generations. Pick your pumpkins from the 30-acre patch and find your way through a 15-acre corn maze.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch offers fun for all ages with hayrides, pick-your-own pumpkins, a corn maze, farm-grown mums, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, a corn cannon, a jumping pillow, kids’ play areas and over 3,000 sq. ft. of fall shopping. It’s also a great destination for fall birthday parties, corporate events and guided build-your-own succulent planter workshops.
KEMPTOWN HONEY
Monrovia • 301.641.4743
www.kemptownhoney.com
Kemptown Honey is a small, family-owned bee farm that sells honey harvested from their apairy along with a variety of honey-based drink mixers. Both retail and wholesale options are available.
THE KOMBUCHA LADY
9750 Appolds Road, Rocky Ridge
301.447.6152
www.thekombuchalady.com
The Kombucha Lady is a small artisan kombucha brewer in Frederick County. They grow many of the fruits and herbs used in their kombucha flavors right there on their farm in Rocky Ridge. They only use the finest organic teas, fruits and spices.
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It’s so good they’ve earned multiple ribbons at the Great Frederick Fair. Find them in downtown Frederick at Voila! Tea, Le Voyage Market, and McClintock Distilling or contact them through their website www.kemptownhoney.com.
You can find their delicious brews at 18 area farm stores, cafes and markets. They also offer home delivery or farm pick-ups.
LINGANORE WINECELLARS
13601 Glissans Mill Road
Mount Airy • 301.831.5889
www.linganorewines.com
As Maryland’s largest and oldest family-owned vineyard, Linganore Winecellars features one of the state’s most diverse wine portfolios. Known for its award-winning wines and vibrant festivals, Linganore welcomes everyone to enjoy wine in a fun, relaxed and inclusive setting.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Celebrating over 50 years of wine, family and tradition, Linganore offers it all—wine tasting, tours, festivals, and hosts private events. Open seven days a week, 361 days a year. Come be part of the celebration.
LINKS BRIDGE VINEYARDS
8830 Old Links Bridge Road Thurmont • 301.466.2413 www.linksbridgevineyards.com
Links Bridge grows 14 different varieties of grapes from which they craft estate wines. Every month the tasting menu changes. Charcuterie and other food items available. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food. Enjoy the wine, art, garden and patios. Tastings served indoors and out. Children and dogs are welcome and will especially enjoy the trail to the Monocacy River to view the remains of Old Links Bridge.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They have a Wine & Art Series featuring a new art exhibit by a local artist every month. Links Bridge can be visited by car, bicycle or kayak. Special features: corn hole game, pickle ball and bocce court. Open Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and by reservation during the weekdays.
THE LITTLE RED WAGON PRODUCE
11434 Keymar Road, Woodsboro 240.439.9401
info@TheLittleRedWagon.us
The Little Red Wagon is a family-operated roadside stand that is open from early spring through late fall. They offer a full line of vegetable plants and flowers, all grown in their own greenhouses, as well as many hanging baskets and planters. They also offer a broad variety of fruits and vegetables as they are in season, from asparagus and strawberries in the spring to apples and pumpkins in fall, with everything in between. Open March-October, Monday-Saturday, 10a.m.-6 p.m.
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Colorful flowers for your porch, vegetable plants and herbs for your garden and seasonal fruits and vegetables for your table, all in a relaxed country setting. Pick up a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers.
& TURF
8901 Crum Road, Walkersville 240.397.5995
www.lochlandturf.com
Elevate your property with Lochland Ag & Turf Sod. Their locally-grown, top-quality sod transforms lawns and commercial space instantly. Lochland Turf Sod exceeds all available certifications to homeowners, commercial and government projects throughout the region.
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Trust Lochland Turf for timely delivery and expert advice. Perfect for homeowners and businesses alike. Lochland Turf Sod—Where Frederick’s Green Dreams Begin.
LOEW VINEYARDS
14001 Liberty Road
Mount Airy • 301.831.5464
www.loewvineyards.net
The Loew family wines have been enjoyed for centuries. Their ancestors founded their first wineries in the Austro-Hungarian empire where they continued to produce wine until the mid-20th century. In 1982, Bill and Lois Loew established Loew Vineyards in Maryland. Now, with the fifth generation, they take pride in sharing heritage through each bottle of mead and wine they create.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Wine tasting, winery and vineyard tours and picnic grounds. Several varieties of wine, from traditionally crafted dry white and dry red selections to unique mead. They offer curated events and a wine club.
MARYLAND MICROGREENS
Monrovia • 240.372.4030
www.marylandmicrogreens.com
Craig and Sherill Carlson founded Maryland Microgreens in early 2017 to offer a wide variety of microgreens sold in living form to farmers markets, restaurants, caterers and individuals. Only pure water is used in the growing process utilizing non-GMO seeds grown on recycled and compostable cocoa fiber mats. Microgreens can have from four to 40 times the nutritional value of their mature counterparts. Plants are grown indoors with controlled temperature and humidity.
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Microgreens are not just a healthy garnish on salads. Research shows these tiny seedlings harvested and eaten when they are just a few inches tall are a super food packed with antioxidants and other healthy nutrients.
MAYNE’S FARM
3420 Buckeystown Pike
Buckeystown • 301.662.4320
www.maynestreefarm.com
This is a full-service farm offering everything from asparagus and pick-your-own strawberries in the spring and sweet corn all summer long to a hayride to the pumpkin patch in the fall. In December is the opportunity to come cut your own Christmas tree and to visit the wreath barn. Call or visit facebook for hours.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Pick-your-own strawberries, hayrides to the pumpkin patch to pick-yourown pumpkins and cut-your-own Christmas tree. Farm is set up for group and bus tours and gatherings.
MILKHOUSE BREWERY AT STILLPOINT FARM
8253 Dollyhyde Road, Mount Airy 301.829.6950 • www.milkhousebrewery.com
Stillpoint Farm is home to a flock of heritage Leicester Longwool sheep and to Milkhouse Brewery. Maryland’s first Class 8 Farm Brewery specializes in traditional and 100 percent Maryland beers. They also have a mercantile offering farm-raised beef, lamb and wool products from their sheep as well as pork, chicken, duck, seasonal produce and
products from other local producers. MIlkhouse is a dog and kid–friendly community gathering space that offers music, rotating food trucks and the best sunsets around.
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Come share the perfect pint and leave with local, responsibly produced food, knowing just where and who it comes from.
Mazzaroth Vineyard is a family-owned and operated boutique winery in the Middletown Valley. Achieving a goal of crafting premium Maryland wines requires them to maintain a relentless focus in the vineyard and winery, combined with a respect for nature. They currently grow five varieties well-suited for the region. They enjoy sharing a passion for grape-growing and wine-making. Guests welcome by appointment.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They are proud to be a glyphosate-free vineyard. Eliminating this herbicide allows them to cultivate a managed cover crop that moderates soil temperatures and produces more flavorful wines.
MOON VALLEY FARM
9700 Gravel Hill Road, Woodsboro 410.207.0241 • www.moonvalleyfarm.net
Moon Valley Farm is a certified organic specialty and staple vegetable and herb farm growing for a year-round Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, an online farmers market for home delivery or pick-up, for restaurants and Frederick County Public Schools. The farm is growing on 70 acres in Woodsboro and is owned and operated by Emma Jagoz.
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They host an annual strawberry festival featuring certified organic strawberries that you can harvest yourself, plus food trucks, games and vendors.
NEEDWOOD FARMS
1118 Lee’s Lane, Burkittsville 301.834.8752
www.needwoodfarms.com
With a legacy spanning over 110 years, Needwood Farms, a fifth-generation family-owned Maryland Century Farm stands as a testament to time. The Pry family’s commitment to sustainability echoes in the environmentally friendly practices adopted on their lands, yielding high-quality meat from their farm-raised cattle. Treat your family to a product you can enjoy and trust.
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To order all-natural freezer beef in quarters, halves, or whole, contact Needwood Farms Corner Beef Market at 301-834-8752, or schedule an appointment for individual and specialty cuts.
NICK’S ORGANIC FARM
2733 Buckeystown Pike
Adamstown • 301.983.2167
www.nicksorganicfarm.com
Founded in 1979, Nick’s Organic Farm sells directly to consumers. They raise all grass-fed Black Angus cattle, pastured chicken and turkeys, pastured eggs, food-grade corn and soybeans, small grains, poultry feed, hay and straw. Located outside of Buckeystown on an agriculturally preserved 175-acre certified organic farm, they are committed to constant improvement of their soil. To receive notice of when to purchase products, or to pick up eggs year-round, join the mailing list at nicksorganicfarm@comcast.net.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
100 percent grass-fed beef, no hormones, grain or antibiotics; ground beef, all beef sausage and jerky, beef bones and organ meat; organic pastured chicken; organic pastured heritage and standard breed turkeys; organic pastured brown shell eggs; non-GMO organic heirloom grinding corn, popcorn, and stone-ground cornmeal; organic poultry feeds, hay, and straw.
OPEN BOOK FARM
6600B Roy Shafer Road, Middletown 240.457.2558
www.openbookfarm.com
They are a diversified livestock and vegetable farm serving Frederick and the larger Middletown Valley. In their farming methods they focus on soil health, livestock well-being and direct to consumer sales.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Their farm offers a seasonal farm stand on Saturday mornings May-October featuring their pasture-raised meats and eggs and their (uncertified) organically grown produce. Customers may also participate in a main season, “Farm Share” (shop at the stand with a discount) or a monthly winter Farm Share (November-February).
ORCHID CELLAR MEADERY & WINERY
8546 Pete Wiles Road
Middletown • 301.473.3568
www.orchidcellar.com
Orchid Cellar is a woman-owned, family-operated meadery and winery in Middletown. Nestled among the rolling hills of the valley, with sweeping views of the area’s historical and agricultural beauty, their modern sparkling meads, traditional Polish meads and Maryland-made wines are crafted with care in the cellar of the hand-built log cabin tasting room. At Orchid Cellar, there’s something for everyone.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Bring the family, enjoy the views, say “hi” to the chickens and bees (at a safe distance!), and sip on some yummy meads and wines. Snacks are available for purchase, but you are welcome to bring food from home or a local eatery. Friendly dogs are always welcome outside.
PROSPECT POINT BREWING
5500 Jefferson Pike, Frederick 240.490.8943 • www.prospectpointbrewing.com
At Prospect Point Brewing, they believe that great beer is more than just a drink; it’s a celebration of family, community and the art of brewing. As a family-owned craft brewery, they take pride in their commitment to quality, and creativity, bringing you exceptional brews that reflect a passion for the craft.
Nestled in the heart of Frederick County, the brewery is dedicated to
creating unique and flavorful beers that cater to a variety of palates. From rich, malty stouts to crisp, refreshing IPAs, each batch is brewed with the finest ingredients and a touch of love.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
You can now find them at your local craft beer store.
PLEASANT HILL PRODUCE
8444 Fountain Rock Road
Walkersville • 301.471.2699
www.pleasanthillproduce.com
Offers fully customizable farm subscription memberships with home delivery option. Very flexible, no commitment program to meet everybody’s needs. Yearround farm store is open every day from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. carrying fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, hummus, kombucha, mushrooms, baked goods, ferments, honey, canned goods and much more—all local.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Farmer Ben has been growing high-quality vegetables since 2014.
13601 Glissans Mill Road Mount Airy • 301.703.5474 www.redshedman.com
Red Shedman Brewery is in the process of rebuilding its main taproom due to a fire in September 2024. A temporary taproom is onsite with a new building coming in summer 2026. For more details and extended hours, call or visit them on the web.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
In addition to having rotating beers and ciders on draft, they also brew and package on-site; always fresh and available for sale in the brewery and many locations throughout the state.
7514 Picnic Woods Road
Middletown • 240.694.8135
www.richvalefarm.com
Richvale Farm, LLC, has been owned and operated by the Ahalt family in Middletown for over 125 years. Richvale Farm grows and sells freezer ready grain-finished beef, hay, straw, corn, soybeans and whipped beef tallow balm. Their beef consumes forages and grain that are grown and harvested from their farm. They sell beef in whole, half and quarter sizes, by the cut, and by bundles which are curated boxes with a variety of beef cuts.
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Their cattle are never given growth hormones, and they strive to do everything they can to keep them happy, healthy and thriving. Visit the website to learn more information about the farm
ROCKY GLADE FARMS
10702B Hildebrand Lane
Woodsboro • 202.497.5905
www.rockygladefarms.com
Rocky Glade Farms LLC is owned and operated by Marlin and Julie Hildebrand along with their son Allen Hildebrand and wife Samantha, and daughter Jessica Wiles. They are a fourth-generation farm located in Woodsboro focusing on direct meat sales for beef, pork, chicken and eggs. They also farm corn, hay, wheat, soybeans and other crops on 230 acres of picturesque farmland. Their feed is made from quality ingredients and produced on the farm. Customers can find online ordering via the website and a pickup area designated on the farm.
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Rocky Glade Farms is focused on supplying high quality meat to consumers as well as educating customers about where their food comes from. Their feed is made from quality ingredients and produced on the farm. Future expansion includes custom processing and a farmstand.
The creamery offers over 120 flavors of homemade ice cream throughout the year, made fresh each week. Rocky Point also provides responsibly raised Black Angus beef, brown eggs and milk. The grassfed and grain-finished beef is dry-aged, cut and vacuum-sealed by a USDA certified butcher. The Fry family milks 120 cows and raises almost 700 acres of cops. They are excited for you to visit their “cow to cone” operation. Call or visit the website for hours.
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SCENIC VIEW ORCHARDS
16239 Sabillasville Road
Sabillasville • 301.271.2149
www.scenicvieworchards.com
Each year a beautiful two-acre sunflower field is planted, and flowers are available for sale and for photos with 100 percent of proceeds donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
ROSIE CHEEKS DISTILLERY
10229 Woodsboro Pike
Walkersville • 240.285.8139
www.rosiecheeksdistilling.com
A family-owned and operated farm and distillery that produces 14 flavors of moonshine using locally grown products and seasonal fruits. With a play on their last name, Kristy and Lee Rosebush opened Rosie Cheeks Distillery on a farm that has horses, puppies and fields of crops, including the corn used in their moonshine.
While Lee oversees the distilling, Kristy uses her talents creating flavors that sound like something out of a farm kitchen, including Apple Pie, Peach Cobbler and Caramel Apple. They also produce batches of seasonal flavors such as pumpkin spice in the fall and for Valentine’s Day there’s a chocolate/cherry concoction.
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Rosie Cheeks can be found in its Mason jars at area liquor stores as well as at the farm. It’s also served in local restaurants.
Scenic View Orchards is a seven-generation-owned and operated family farm. Their farm heritage requires sustainable farming practices from erosion control to use of integrated pest management practices. They meet the needs of customers at farmers markets in Washington, Frederick and Montgomery counties and the Sabillasville Farm Market. They sell frozen pies, cookies, donuts, rolls and meat pies at their roadside market. Check their website for details.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Strawberries, peaches, nectarines, lopes, melons, plums, apples, berries, cherries, sweet corn, tomatoes, green beans, squash, peppers, potatoes, honey, cut flowers, pears, pumpkin, cider in season and hay/straw.
SHRIVER MEATS, LLC
16436 Four Points Bridge Road, Emmitsburg
301.447.2255
www.shrivermeats.com
Shriver Meats, LLC is a third generation, family-owned and operated farm and retail store specializing in beef production and processing. Raising grass-fed grain-finished cattle and crops which are fed back to their cattle. Shriver Meats, LLC offers beef by the quarter, half or whole for your freezer. Give Shriver’s a call to order or come in and pick up a pack of steaks, a few roasts and some ground beef to try.
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HIGHLIGHT
Shriver Meats, LLC raises and processes their own cattle for your freezer. Selling freezer-wrapped steaks and roasts as well as cutto-order amounts.
SIX WICKET VINEYARDS
10819 Church Hill Road
Myersville • 240.315.9805
www.sixwicketvineyards.com
Six Wicket Vineyards is a boutique, family-owned winery in the Catoctin Wine region of Frederick County. Savor their fine wines while enjoying sweeping views of rolling hills. Explore the history with a personalized tour and tasting, then relax outdoors, on the three-season porch, or in the cozy barrel room. Inspired by the classic game of croquet, their name invites you to sip and play. At Six Wicket, every glass is a celebration of story, place, and passion.
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Join them for an unforgettable experience where every sip tells a story. Reserve today at www.sixwicketvineyards.com
SOUTH MOUNTAIN CREAMERY
8305 Bolivar Road
Middletown • 301.371.8565
www.southmountaincreamery.com
When you know your farmer, you know your food. South Mountain Creamery is a family and farmer owned creamery, wholesaler and home delivery service. Bringing the farmers market to your doorstep, delivering all natural dairy products, cage-free eggs, grass-fed beef, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, prepared meals and more.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Visit their farm year-round for self-guided tours, register online to feed the calves, or enjoy a scoop of their renowned ice cream.
Springfield Manor is Maryland’s first winery, distillery and brewery and the state’s largest lavender farm. They were voted Frederick’s Best Wedding and Event Venue. Come for a taste, stay for the experience. Award-winning wines, 12 craft beers on tap, handcrafted fine spirits, cocktails and cocktail flights. Visit the lavender fields which produce the ingredient for their prize-winning Lavender Gin and Lavender Vodka. Abundant indoor and terrace seating for 300 guests. Enjoy food, live music and great events in a farm setting.
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STADLER NURSERIES
5504 Mount Zion Road
Frederick • 301.473.9042
www.stadlernurseries.com
Handcrafted and highly awarded fine spirits including farm-to-glass bourbon, rye and corn whiskey. Also, lavender gin and lavender vodka, rum, brandy and signature Italian Grappa, seasonal cocktails and flights. Home to the Maryland Lavender Festival in June.
SPRUCE RUN FARM
Myersville • 301.293.1070 www.sprucerunrd.com
Located near Wolfsville, Spruce Run Farm focuses on sustainable living and producing local foods. In addition to growing produce and beekeeping, they raise dairy goats, Katahdin sheep, Mangalitsa pigs, as well as poultry and rabbits for fiber, meat or pets. Produce and honey from the farm can be found at Mid-Maryland Farm Market as well as Brunswick Main Street, Middletown, and Myersville farmers markets.
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Spruce Run Farm strives to bring the best of locally-grown or handmade items, featuring seasonal produce, jams and jellies, raw local honey, goat milk soaps, as well as fresh poultry and live or dressed rabbit.
Yes, they’re certified plant geeks! Proudly serving the community since 1932, nothing makes them happier than connecting people with plants. You’ll find an amazing array of trees, shrubs, native plants, annuals and perennials at their year-round garden centers. They also offer curbside pickup, delivery only and delivery and planting services from theire website. Landscape design services are also available.
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Trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, bulbs and holiday plants, garden accents including fountains, statuary, wind chimes, firepots, birdbaths and containers of every size and style, also garden care products including an extensive selection of organic plant health care options. Now offering curbside pickup, delivery only and delivery and planting services from their website.
SPRING PASTURES FARM
6801 Mountain Church Road, Middletown
202.251.8635
Spring Pastures Farm raises grass-fed, grass-finished beef without hormones, antibiotics or growth supplements. They are a small family farm in Middletown Valley where their animals thrive on a rich diversity of grasses. The herd lives outside year-round, supplemented with local hay in the winter as necessary. Their animals have access to spring or well water at all times. They handle their animals in a low-stress
manner. They hope to share some of the family’s passion for this land and food with you.
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They sell retail freezer-wrapped cuts from their farm store as well as cut-to-your specification sides of beef. Everything from soup bones to delicious, fork-tender standing rib roasts. On-farm store open by appointment.
SUGARLOAF’S BREEZY VALLEY FARM
1215 Buckeystown Pike
Adamstown • 301.874.0958
www.facebook.com/sugarloafs breezyvalleygoats
This family farm is nestled between Catoctin Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain. They humanely raise Boer and Boer Cross goats. The health and well-being of their animals is of the utmost importance. They sell goats for breeding stock, 4-H projects, companions for horses, weed control and pets. They also sell small square bales of Orchard grass hay. Visitors are welcomed by appointment. For more information see their Facebook page.
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January and February are usually when the goat kids are born. Come in February and March and snuggle with the kids.
SUMMERS FARM
7503 Hollow Road, Middletown
301.304.3031
www.SummersFarm.com
Summers Farm is a family-owned and operated farm celebrating its 30th season with an annual Flower & Fall Festival. Guests of all ages can enjoy farm animals, slides, a jumping pillow, a corn maze, live music, local beer and wine and sweet treats like their famous apple cider donuts. Take a wagon ride to pick your own flowers, apples, and pumpkins, or relax and enjoy the picturesque mountain views of this beautiful Middletown Valley farm.
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Summers Farm is a family-owned farm offering seasonal festivals, field trips, campfires, pick-your-own, farm treats and memories that will last a lifetime. Come celebrate their 30th season this year.
www.sycamorespringfarm.org
Every nook and cranny offer another example of how sustainable, regenerative no-harm farming practices work in harmony with nature to nurture soil organisms and produce the cleanest, healthiest foods possible. Their Community Supported Agriculture Program has been growing and caring for members for 22 years. From the early seed sprouting and pruning, through the bountiful crops, pick-your-own, and the celebrated holiday harvest each year, come join us and embrace our love for HEALTHY people and planet. Must see the “Food for thought” community gardens and the Little Red Hen Farm Market.
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Lost Art Workshops for 2026 will include beekeeping basics, vermicomposting, edible cover cropping, seed saving and swapping, canning class 1, 2 and 3, fermentation luncheon, solar, wind and water projects, growing, drying and using herbs, Pollinators Paradise, The Pesto Party, PawPaw Festival and plant sale. See website for more details.
THANKSGIVING FARMS
1619 Buckeystown Pike
Adamstown • 301.662.1291
www.thanksgivingfarmand garden.com
Thanksgiving Farms is a diversified 57-acre family-owned and operated business. They grow a vast selection of fresh fruits and vegetables March through December, and grow and specialize in unusual annuals, perennials, herbs and shrubs in a three-acre greenhouse and nursery garden center. They offer a CSA program throughout most of the year. ‘We Grow Our Own’ is their motto and they take great pride in an ability to offer products grown from start to finish on their sustainable family farm. Call or visit the website for hours.
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Pick-your-own options are available along with fruits, vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, evergreens, shrubs and trees, a selection of gardening enhancements— pottery, statuary, trellises—and tools and gifts for gardeners.
THREE SPARTANS APIARY
107 Phoenix Court, Walkersville 301.471.5738
www.three-spartans-apiary.square.site/
A proud veteran-owned apiary, nurturing several locations throughout Frederick County, they are dedicated to sharing the sweet diversity of their honey varieties and other precious hive products—pollen, propolis and beeswax. Their value-added creations, like beeswax lip balms, soaps, lotion bars and dog paw balms, embody the care put into every product. They passionately support the beekeeping community across Maryland by producing nucleus colonies and queens, fostering a thriving environment for both bees and beekeepers alike.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Discover the incredible benefits of honey, pollen, propolis, and beeswax, along with premium beeswax body products. Visit their website to explore more.
TREASURED ROOTS FARM
Myersville • 301-606-2846
www.treasuredrootsfarm.com
Treasured Roots Farm is a family-run lavender and truffle farm in the hills of Frederick County. Three generations work together to grow lavender, nurture a young truffle orchard and craft small-batch goods. Shop their lavender products, including culinary favorites like lavender hot chocolate, lemonade, scones, teas and more online, or visit us at local festivals.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Although they are not open to the public, they welcome educational tours, workshops and private events by reservation.
Valley Homemade and Homegrown is a part of Valley-Ho Farm, a dairy farm in Middletown. The flower business is run by Jamie Beth Derr with help from her family and a few local highschoolers. They love sharing the joy of flowers with others. There are over 30 varieties of flowers grown on 1/3 acres. The flowers are for sale by subscriptions, roadside stand and farmers markets. On-site classes and events are offered as well.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Fitness and Flowers Class, tea parties, flower arranging classes, and Sip-N- Picks are some of the fun events offered for the public. They also offer private picking and flower classes. For their events calendar follow them on Facebook and Instagram or visit the website.
WALNUT RIDGE FARM/ MOO COW CREAMERY
3935 Bussard Road
Middletown • 240.549.9183
www.moocowcreameryllc.com
Moo Cow Creamery, nestled in the picturesque Middletown Valley, is an eighth-generation, family-owned dairy farm. Specializing in rich, golden-hued, high-quality milk from a blend of Guernsey, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn and Swiss breeds, their cattle carry the unique A2A2 gene, ensuring easier digestion of Walnut Ridge Farm’s dairy products. With a selection of 25 artisan cheeses, butters, creamline milk, heavy cream, buttermilk, drinkable yogurt and ice cream, the farm extends its offerings to include eggs, beef, chicken, pork and seasonal produce. Celebrating 90 years of dairy farming and 5 years for Moo Cow Creamery.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
The farm holds historical significance as the birthplace of Yankees baseball great, Charlie “King Kong” Keller. Be sure to watch for the Walnut Ridge Farm food trailer that serves grilled cheese, soups, chili and ice cream all crafted from farm fresh and local products.
8005 Gambrill Park Road
Frederick • 301.639.1894
www.westernmdapiaries.com
Established by John Klapac in 1986, Western Md. Apiaries operated as a USDA breeder/propagator of mite-resistant queen bees imported from Yugoslavia. Sales of bee stock, honey and related equipment continues at 8005 Gambrill Park Road and offers pollination services and honey sales. The company sponsors the Frederick Backyard Beekeepers Association and conducts the only children’s beekeeping classes in the area.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
John teaches beginner and advanced Apicology courses at Hagerstown Community College and Frederick Community College and is in the Penn State E.P.I.G. queen bee development program. Open by appointment.
VALLEY VIEW ACRES
4005 Valley View Road, Middletown 301.371.6238
www.valleyviewacresmd.com
Valley View Acres held its first annual sunflower event in July 2019. They are passionate about agriculture and sharing their farm experience. They hope their flower picking events will become an annual tradition for all who visit. For more information and updates visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Visitors can pick sunflowers, wildflowers, zinnias and more. There are play areas, games and activities for kids of all ages. Hangout and relax with friends and family while enjoying the picturesque views.
WHISPERING MEADOWS ALPACAS
13959 Unionville Road, Mount Airy
Farm visits: 240.344.3994
Products: 301.452.9460
www.whisperingmeadowsalpaca.com
Established in 1999, the farm is home to over 30 alpacas. They started the first Alpaca 4-H Club (Alpha Alpacas) in Frederick County and are committed to the community. They breed high-quality alpacas and love sharing them with the community. They offer farm tours/field trips, shopping, walking and feeding the alpacas. Text/call them for a breath-taking experience.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Handmade, homegrown, made in the U.S.A. and Peruvian alpaca products available. Natural and dyed yarn, raw fiber, rovings, dryer balls, stuffed animals, hats, scarves, gloves, sweaters, socks and so much more. Family Festival is the third weekend in October. Check their website or Facebook for the latest events.
WIDESPREAD FARMS
11037 Liberty Road, Frederick 301.304.0026
www.widespreadcountrymarket.com
Widespread Farms is more than just a farm. They’re a family committed to the community. The farm is home to a variety of vegetables that are grown with care and attention to detail. They cultivate everything from sweet corn, juicy tomatoes and crisp lettuce to hearty potatoes, refreshing cucumbers and savory onions. In addition to vegetable offerings, Widespread Farms also raises high-quality beef.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
They are proud to serve the local community. Whether you’re looking for high-quality meat or fresh garden produce, Widespread County Market, 11037 Liberty Road, has you covered.
www.willowoakscraftcider.com
Eric Rice and Lori Leitzel Rice craft their farmhouse style cider from certified organic, American heirloom apples on their 35-acre farm in Middletown. Organic pears, blueberries, black currants and other fruits make tasty additions to Willow Oaks’ ciders. Fabulous fruit, unique terroir and small-batch barrel fermentation let the flavors and aroma of the fruit shine through to a crisp, dry finish. Visit the website for tasting room hours and information.
HOMEGROWN HIGHLIGHT
Fresh organic produce, beef, jam, flowers, seedlings, potted fig trees and more are available at the farm store in the Willow Oaks barn. Relax on the deck, enjoy a glass of cider and take in the view.
