The Agricultural History Farm Park is home to 455 acres of rolling hills, open fields, an apple orchard, and a variety of farm
animals. The County’s rich farming heritage can be experienced firsthand while exploring its barns, historic buildings, and
modern farming activity center, or by attending its many programs, demonstrations and events.
People visiting the Agricultural Reserve
are generally struck by its timeless
beauty. How is that being protected
and maintained?
The Montgomery County Planning
Department is working to preserve
scenic roadways that reflect the
agricultural character and rural
origins of the county. Did you know
that John Denver’s signature song
“Take Me Home, Country Roads”
is actually based on a memorable
drive he and his collaborators took
down Clopper Road, a once bu-
colic winding road in Montgomery
County, in the early 1970s?
Our Rustic Roads Program
provides a system for evaluating,
protecting and enhancing these
inspiring lanes and byways. So far,
98 rustic roads have been protect-
ed, preserving their natural beauty
and historical significance. The
roads are identified in the Rustic
Roads Functional Master Plan,
which is currently being updated
to recognize additional rustic and
6
plenty I autumn harvest 2019
exceptional roads and document
their histories.
While the Ag Reserve is pri-
marily a working agricultural land-
scape, it also offers residents and
visitors a wide variety of activities
for everyone to enjoy. From quiet
hiking trails to horseback riding
and boating, beer and wine tasting
to apple picking, destinations are
increasingly attracting tourists
to the beauty and bounty of our
farmland. To further enhance and
expand upon these opportunities
that bring economic benefits and
stability to the Reserve, Mont-
gomery Planning is conducting an
Agritourism Study to respond to
increasing interest in agricultural
education, tourism and entertain-
ment. We are working with farm-
ers and residents to look at ways
of supporting activities with a
direct connection to agriculture in
this area, including farm-to-table
activities and event venues, as well
as to increase awareness of the
Agricultural Reserve.
How is climate change influencing and
directing your efforts now?
Montgomery Planning wants to
keep the Reserve green. We are
partnering with Montgomery
Countryside Alliance (MCA) on
the Re-Leaf the Reserve campaign
to plant trees in the Agricultural
Reserve. The planting of a one-
acre pilot project was completed
in April 2019 on a working farm in
Dickerson that was identified as an
ecologically sensitive stream cor-
ridor of the Little Monocacy River.
MCA has 80 more acres already
identified for planting with more
landowners looking to get involved
(visit: mocoalliance.org/releaf).
The program supports the county’s
pledge to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 80 percent by 2027
and 100 percent by 2035.
The costs of purchasing, in-
stalling and caring for the Re-Leaf
native plantings are supported
by our forest conservation funds,
which are used for a variety of