Top left and right : camping facilities at Little Bennett has something for every camping style . Above : Comus Farm is a working farm in Dickerson .
homes in or close to the Ag Reserve is limited , but has increased seven bedrooms , and is primarily
accommodate up to 20 people in
in recent years . County rules allow rented as part of Comus ’ wedding such rentals for up to 30 days and packages , says Lauren Huyser , who they must be licensed through the with husband Iago , has owned the Department of Health and Human Services . A sample search large family getaways as well . Once
farm since 2019 . But it ’ s great for
for a week ’ s stay through Airbnb a dairy operation , Comus is still a or VRBO yielded about 15 options working farm , with both crops and that could be classified as a farm or farm animals . country stay . Among the most notable right in the Ag Reserve were Kramschuster and Jason Hebeisen
Over in Boyds , proprietors Ann
the main farmhouse at 300-acre are transforming Honey Acres into Comus Farm in Dickerson and 77- a retirement destination for older acre Honey Acres off Darnestown horses , a farm education center , Road in Boyds . The Comus farmhouse dates back 100 years but concerts ). Two of Ann and Jason ’ s
and a music venue ( instruction and
has been fully renovated . It can children are musicians and live on the farm . The property currently has one rental house that accommodates up to eight people . The house dates originally to the early 1800s but has been renovated and modernized several times . “ What we ‘ re trying to create is a peaceful , nature-oriented place and community in the country ,” Ann says . She ’ s also exploring the possibility of taking advantage of the campground ordinance to create tent camping sites .
The impact of the new campground ordinance remains unclear . But along with other evolving changes in the Ag Reserve — such as more breweries , wineries and innovative farming practices — it holds the possible promise of adding to the Reserve ’ s dynamism and diversity . The challenge , as ever , will be to balance the new with the tried and true — that is , preserving and enhancing farmland and farming amid the bucolic beauty and bounty that is the Ag Reserve .
Steven Findlay is president of Sugarloaf Citizens Association . SCA commented on various iterations of the campground ordinance as it was being developed .
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