LAND LINK Montgomery
power more intentionally in local and regional food systems, by strategically shifting a portion of their existing food budgets toward procuring locally and regionally grown and produced foods, advancing economic resilience, food security, environmental stewardship and regional agricultural vitality.
As part of the challenge, each participating jurisdiction designates a“ Local Food Investment” point person who coordinates with agencies and departments internally while supporting data collection and reporting efforts. The OFSR has demonstrated regional leadership in enacting programs and policies that align with the goals of the Challenge over the past several years, and will collaborate with partners throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia to ensure the success of this initiative.
“ Prioritizing locally grown food in public purchasing strengthens farmers while expanding access to fresh, nutritious food for Montgomery County residents. The Local Food Procurement Challenge helps ensure that public dollars support local agriculture including many immigrant and diverse producers, and AfriThrive sees firsthand how those investments benefit both farmers and families across our county,” said Dr. Truphena M. Choti, founder and CEO of AfriThrive, one of several County-based farm partners that have been engaged through the local food procurement efforts of OFSR to date.
The innovative programmatic and political approaches undertaken to connect County residents with the producers in and around the Agricultural Reserve reflect Montgomery County’ s commitment to building a food system that is community-centered, economically sustainable, and resilient in the face of uncertainty. By investing in local farms and food businesses, expanding institutional purchasing opportunities, and improving access to locally grown food, the County is creating stronger connections within the food system that will foster long-term health, economic, and environmental benefits and stability for the entire community.
Ciara O’ Brien is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Montgomery County’ s Office of Food Systems Resilience. She supports community partners and initiatives that expand local food access across Montgomery County’ s food system.
Farmers seeking land
LAND LINK Montgomery
A program of Montgomery Countryside Alliance helping farmland and farmers find each other...
Land Link has matched 36 new and expanding farmers with long-term leases. Here are a few of the farmers who are still seeking land through the program.
n Backyard farmer with 8 years of sustainable farming experience looking to expand the scale. It will be just vegetables. I would need access to water( must have) and electricity( nice to have) and a farm about 1 acre or less.
n A resident of Montgomery County is seeking to lease a minimum of one acre of land in Maryland, preferably with access to water and fencing. The goal is to establish a small-scale farm focused on cultivating select vegetables and crops native to Africa and others. This venture aims to serve the African diaspora community in the United States, providing them with familiar produce while promoting healthy eating habits.
n I’ m a clinical herbalist and educator seeking a small, quiet piece of land to sustainably grow 3 – 5 medicinal herbs that I use in my practice, cultivate mushrooms, and live in intentional relationship with the land. I hold an MS in Environmental Science, and my work is rooted in land care, slow growing, and reciprocal relationship with place. While I’ m not a production farmer, I bring experience in growing medicinal herbs, native planting, and land-based education.
n Local farmer with 10 years of experience in cultivating Gotu Kola( Centella asiatica), aiming to establish a small-scale operation dedicated to growing and harvesting this table crop plant with long-established benefits for mood, circulation and healing. Seeking 1 / 4-1 acre.
n Community herbalist ready to grow! I have been a grower of herbs in gardens large and small for many years and completed the Beginning Farmer Training Program at Eco City. Working with a mentor through Future Harvest and utilize sustainable growing practices. We grow a wide variety of aromatic medicinal plants and herbs, some culturally relevant vegetables. Looking to steward up to one acre.
Bethesda Beat profiled“ The Faces of Land Link” at: bit. ly / BBLandLink plenty I summer growing 2026 7
Mocolandlink. org