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come as neighbors ~ leave as friends to Van Vlack ( see his article in this issue on the importance of prime agricultural soils in the county ). Carlberg and Gustowarow have been invited to keep Fireside Farm at Potomac Vegetable Farms for the near future while they continue to search for a permanent home . Ideally , they are looking for 10-12 acres with a house and barn where they can serve farmto-table meals . Gustowarow has a vision of bringing dinner guests to the table through the tomato and wheat fields before they taste the pizza made from these crops by Gustowarow himself . “ You ’ re driving by the tomato field and then you ’ re eating the pizza with the tomato sauce ,” says Carlberg . “ This is why farmland is important !”
Carlberg has talked to several landowners about a long-term lease or eventual sale but hasn ’ t yet found the right fit . Many of the financing options she and Gustowarow are exploring , including Farm Service Agency loans , take longer than a traditional mortgage to process and aren ’ t amenable to a quick sale . The Fireside Farmers are looking for the opposite – a slow sale , with a chance to put down even deeper roots in Loudoun , build relationships , grow their business and their community . “ I ’ ve been doing this since I was 26 , and now I ’ m 42 , and both Casey and I see this as our careers ,” says Carlberg . “ My best farming years are right now .”
Amanda Cather is the Mid-Atlantic Program Manager for American Farmland Trust and co-owner with her husband Mark of Plow and Stars Farm , a pastured livestock operation in Poolesville , Maryland .
108 South Street , Suite 101 • Located in Downtown Leesburg , VA 20 wander I fall • winter 2022
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