4-H

One program that I found out about recently is called 4-H. This is a program that young children can get involved in. 4-H was created in the early 20th century to introduce a hands-on approach to learning that was more directed at and involving of the country lifestyle. 4-H is a growing prgorams that can now be found in over 80 countries around the world.

"I Pledge my Head to clearer thinking,

my Heart to greater loyalty,

my Hands to larger service,

and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world."



This is the pledge of all 4-H clubs. Many of the local 4-H chapters in Southern Maryland are highly involved with the raising of farm animals and livestock as well as plants and nature.

historic saint mary's city

The farm that I am going to tell you about today is one of the oldest places not only in Maryland but the entire continent of North America. Saint Mary's City was the 4th permanent settlement when the British began coming to America. Today you can find Saint Mary's City near the southern most tip of Saint Mary's County. Here you can find outlines and frames of barns, churches and other structures that scientists and archaeologist know from research were once there. As a child growing up in St. Mary's County, I have had the pleasure of taking a field trip or two to Saint Mary's City and experiencing all of the history and entertainment it has to offer. Though Saint Mary's City is more of a settlement than a farm, in 1634 when it was first established, farming and working the water was one of the few ways of life. A historical attraction, Saint Mary's City is a place for people to visit and learn about the history of Southern Maryland and experiencing it's beautiful sights as well.

Flat Iron Farm

Every year since I was a child my family and I have driven around Saint Mary's County at Christmas time to look at light decorations. To this day there is one home that sticks out in my mind for their over the top lighting displays and decorations. Bubby Knott is a local business man with a fetish for Christmas lights and displays. Every year Knott decorates the front of his 200-acre farms that faces the road for all to see. His driveway goes up a hill around the front of his house and then back down the hill. Once you reach the top you have the option of getting out and enjoying the festivites in one of his many barns, you can see and pet some of his livestock and animals, but most of all you just enjoy the elaborate lighting displays. This is another way that farmers in the Southern Maryland area are utilizing their land. I especailly like this idea not only because I have been viewing it every year as far back as I can remember, but also because it gives back to the people and allows them to see and appreciate his farm land.

New Ideas

So as this project gets closer to the end, I've found out quite a bit about Southern Maryland farms and their many different uses. I've already talked about Bowles Farm and how some farmers lease and/or use their land for farming, but there are still those out there using their land. Some Southern Maryland farmers are now growing catnip on their land and selling it. Apparently it is in demand and you can get paid a decent amount of money for growing this seemingly odd crop.

Another unusual crop that is being grown in place of tobacco and other dying crops are sweet potatoes! One of my favorite foods, sweet potatoes can also be grown from your own home garden, not just on farms! A family friend of mine actually has won prizes for growing the largest sweet potatoes around.

A final alternative that used to be practiced more often in the past is growing fresh fruits and vegetables as well as flowers. With people consciously trying to eat more healthy, roadside stands are the perfect place to sell your crops, or just keep them for your own satisfaction and meals! To learn more about starting your own roadside produce stand click here!

Preserving a Part of History

(photo: google.com)

Southern Maryland is recognized by many as very "country" and very rural. However, with the growth of Washington D.C. and the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, what was once so beautiful and scenic is now facing extermination. As mentioned before, tobacco farming was a major source of income and way of life for a majority of farmers in Southern Maryland. Since these farms have been bought out and their crop is no longer being produced, a part of what makes Southern Maryland so unique is being lost. The tobacco barns that you used to be able to see all around are becoming few and far between. These barns add character and beauty to the southern counties in Maryland. There is an effort, though, to save these barns and preserve them. This effort is called the Southern Maryland Tobacco Barns Preservation Initiative. Through this initiative, awareness about the current situation dealing with the loss of tobacco barns will be addressed as well as setting up a fund to help preserve the barns still standing. These barns are a special part of Southern Maryland culture and history, and in order to keep them standing, something must be done.

(photo:google.com)

Another option

Another unique and interesting tactic used by farmers today is when they lease their land for hunting purposes. Since the tobacco buyouts and the selling of land for commercial development, farmers have begun leasing their land to hunting clubs or groups of organized hunters. These groups pay a lump sum, ranging from anywhere between $250-800 per person, to reserve hunting rights so that the land is exclusively theirs to hunt. The farmers are planting and producing crops such as hay, corn, soy beans, biologic seed, etc. in order to attract the wildlife that is being hunted. This biologic seed is not only used for hunting, but also to increase animal growth and development in their natural habitat. For this farming alternative, clubs and organizations can buy/rent the land by the month or for the entire year. This is a good way for farmers to make a steady income so they will be able to keep their land and not have to sell for commercial use.

Now What?

So what do farmers do now since one of their main crops (tobacco) has been taken away from them? Well, in Southern Maryland farmers have come up with different ideas, but I'm going to tell you about one of my personal favorites that is not only unique but successful as well!

(photo: somdthisisliving.somd.com)

1) Bowles Farm:

The owners of Bowles Farm have been creating corn mazes for the past six years. For those of you who do not know what a corn maze is, it is simply what it sounds like; A maze, made out of corn. It is open to the public and only a small fee is charged to wander through the extensive mazes. Bowles Farm also has a petting zoo, picnic areas, barrel rides, wagon rides, and a place to find the perfect pumpkin for Halloween. During the spring summer and winter, Bowles Farms also rents out one of their barns, which is not your typical barn, it is furnished, has heating/air conditioning, a state of the art kitchen, restrooms, etc. The most popular events that the barn are used for are wedding receptions/parties, and dances or fund raisers. I recently went to one of these fund raisers held by the Young Farmers Association and it was pretty neat!

(photo:bowlesfarm.com)

Key Crops?

This weekend, I spoke with a farmer who grew up on a Southern Maryland farm and still lives there today. I learned about many different things, such as the history and size of the farm, as well as the animals and crops they raised. The most important topic, however, that came up was the crop issue. Seeing that the fields are mostly grown up, I asked if this farm was still being worked and if so, what they were growing. I was informed that the 20 plus acres we were walking across was previously covered with tobacco. Apparently in Saint Mary's County, one of the highest selling and most profitable crops was tobacco. Growing tobacco is a "300-year-old tradition" within Southern Maryland and has been a means of employment for just as long. But what I learned next is what makes this discovery all the more relevant.

(photo:google.com)

Several years ago, when laws were passed and information appeared about tobacco being so harmful to the human body, local farmers were hit hard. Recognizing that this was a career and only means of income for so many farmers, the government began issuing tobacco buyouts. These BUYOUTS consist of the government essentially paying farmers to stop growing tobacco to sell to cigarette companies as well as for personal use purposes. Though many farmers accepted this deal, there are still a few that continue to plant their tobacco each year. Since this buyout there has been a decrease in tobacco production and farmers have had to come up with other uses for their land, which we will tackle next...

First Blog

Honestly, I've never seen myself as the blogging type, but since I have to keep up with this one for digital publishing I'll give it a try. First, I just want to explain about the topic of my blog: Farms of Saint Mary's County. I was born and bred in Saint Mary's County and until lately have taken its beautiful scenery for granted. A few month ago I began dating a farmer who is also from Saint Mary's and he has basically introduced me to this whole other world that has surrounded me my entire life, but never even knew about. I have a new found respect and admiration for farmers in Saint Mary's County and am even starting to be proud of them. A few weeks ago I was in a class and when I told a classmate I was from Saint Mary's she responded with, "EWWW, really? Its so redneck there." So hopefully this blog will help you understand and maybe even appreciate the farms of Saint Mary's.