PLENTY magazine FALL/WINTER 2020 | Page 2

The PLENTY Mailbox

I was Montgomery County Planning Director when we hatched the idea of the Ag Reserve , and I nurtured it through the 90s until I retired . When I forfeited a trip to Venice to stay home to be sure our handling of the first transfer of TDR ’ s into housing on Avenel Farm would stand legal scrutiny ( it was litigated and it did stand ), I did not envisage that I would live to see the day when there would be a lovely magazine such as you have created . I will soon be 90 , and would like to have some copies to pass on to my children . With all best wishes for much continuing happiness and fulfillment .
~ Dick Tustian !
( We asked Dick Tustian to write the opening article of this issue upon receiving his letter . He said YES !)
Like a lot of people who saw videos of panic and fistfights over toilet paper at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown , I worried about what would happen if the food supply chain were compromised . And with so much time on my hands , I started container gardening with the hopes of getting some practice in growing food . So I picked up this free magazine because now I wanna know more about agriculture . How have I lived 20 + years in this county and never heard about the wonderful Agricultural Reserve ? This publication is a gem . I ’ d probably know more if I haunted more farmers markets . But I don ’ t and that ’ s a shame . I wonder how many other MoCo residents are the same as me . I guess the time is right and better late than never to learn about this resource . So thanks for your work . Cheers !
~ Jimilee Komolafe
Another GREAT issue of Plenty — you do such a terrific job !! Beautiful photos and well written articles , especially the article on Gene [ Kingsbury ]. Your magazine just gets better with each issue . Thank you so much for your support of our Ag Reserve .
~ Sue Kingsbury Ketron