Baltimore County, MD Hello Baltimore County, 2 Aug 2016

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From YouTube: Visit the County’s Agriculture Center in Hunt Valley

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Enjoy great events and programs at the County’s Center for Maryland Agriculture on Shawan Road.

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Welcome to hello, baltimore county., I'm ellen kobler, and today we are at the beautiful.

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Baltimore county center for maryland, agriculture.

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I'm here with center director chris mccollum.

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And with bronwyn mitchell-strong.

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Who is the program manager for the maryland agricultural resource? Council.-.

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Thank you both for joining us today. thank you.. Thank you.. Chris,. Tell us a little bit about this gorgeous facility.

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Well, we're now in our sixth year.

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We opened in 2010.

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it's a 149-acre county park, that's open to all citizens.

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365 days of the year, from sunrise to sunset.,.

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We have demonstration and research projects all across the entire farm.

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We also have some livestock and other items that we use.

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As resources for both the farming and non-farming public.

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We really want to help farmers be much more profitable.

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So that we can sustain it,, keep development pressure off our farmlands,.

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And at the same time, we want the non-farming public to better understand where their food comes from and understand what agriculture's all about.

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agriculture's a huge industry in this county.

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And so we want to try to make sure that we have a strong industry.

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For many, many years to come.

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Can you give us a sense of how significant agriculture is in baltimore county?.

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Agriculture actually is-- covers a bunch of land in baltimore county,, obviously in the northern part of the county..

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But it's about a $300 million industry,, including the horse industry or the equine industry.

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It is very broad-based., we have a very thriving nursery business and greenhouse business.

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We have a thriving grain business as well.

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So,, it's very broad-based.

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Bronwyn, tell us a little bit about the group marc, maryland agricultural resource council and what you folks do.

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Sure, we're the non-profit arm of the facility and we are really responsible for the programs and projects here.

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That connect the general public to this farm.

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We like to call this the "people's farm", because less than one percent of the population lives on a farm.

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So if you can't understand or appreciate the importance of agriculture,.

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If you're not here and you can see, it, feel it,.

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Smell it, and be a part of it.

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So,, our programs are really designed to connect people with agriculture.

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We start them young.. We have a farm sprout program where we teach preschoolers all about agriculture, and all the way up.

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We have a variety of family programs and events throughout the year.

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So we're really also trying to foster the new generation of farmers.

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The average age of a farmer in baltimore county is over 60.

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Is that right? it is., and so the new generation of farmers are for the first time in history.

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Going to come from the non-farming community., so it's really important that we cast a broad net and get as many people here to the farm park as possible,.

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Get them excited and engaged in agriculture.

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So they can be our future ag-leaders in the county.

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And one very interesting program that you have to connect people to their food and to the farm is poultry for the people.

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Tell us about that and then we're going to go. Take a look at some chickens.

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Sure!, this is a great innovative program.

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That allows us to teach people about poultry and where their food comes, from,.

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While supplying the baltimore county shelter system.

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With a steady supply of high-quality protein.

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Okay, we'll find out more. we're going to go. Look at some chickens, now.

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Okay. ( ♪♪♪ ).

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All right,, so the farm park is a farm as well, and those baby chickens are just adorable., aren't they, though?, oh my gosh!, so bronwyn, you have a new friend now, megan goffney from the community assistance. Network.

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Please tell us about the poultry for the people. Program.

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sure! poultry, for the people is a great partnership.

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It's a partnership between the private citizens of baltimore, county.

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As well as the baltimore county, shelter system and the farm park.

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It allows us the opportunity to utilize chickens, --.

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These chickens that we've seen -- on the farm to educate the general public.

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About the importance of agriculture in their lives.

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now, in addition, folks are able to purchase.

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These wonderfully happy chickens, here.

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they're, fully ready-to-eat chickens,, thanks to our partner farmer, tom albright,,.

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Who manages the processing and freezing of the chickens.

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And when they do so, a second chicken is then donated.

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To the baltimore county, shelter, system.

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In addition,, the people who purchase the chickens.

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Get a tax, deductible donation of $20 per chicken.

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And recently, down at the west side, shelter,.

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We did a little grand opening for the program,.

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So that was a big day down at the shelter.

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Megan,, please explain to us how this fresh meat that's coming in.

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Benefits the shelter and the residents?, it's a unique program.

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Sure. so,, you know, our organization oversees the two largest shelters in baltimore county.

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so, every day, we're feeding over 230 people.

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So, to have this partnership with these chickens coming in --.

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Number one,: it's a high-protein diet,, which is great..

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You can prepare chicken numerous ways,, you know.

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so,. We enjoy the flexibility of that.

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in addition,. It helps to save on our budget..

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You know, we're a non-profit organization.. We probably serve between both shelters, almost 10,000 meals, a month, you know., so to be able to cut down on our budget is a wonderful addition.

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And not only that,, but also the education piece..

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I look forward to having the children of our east side shelter coming out to the agriculture center to be able to see.

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How their food is made and processed.?

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I think that's a wonderful addition.

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All right,, that's fantastic., poultry for the people; -- thank you,, ladies. yes! thank you., you're, welcome., (, ♪♪♪, ).

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All right, and we're back with chris mccullom and with bronwyn mitchell-strong here at the baltimore county ag center.

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Chris, tell us about some of the demonstration crops and livestock that you have here.

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So, we've taken this land after many, many years of not being in production and put it back into production,.

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But in unique ways to help show the agricultural community.

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Different new crops that they may want to try that they can grow.

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To produce a better income or have new markets, reach new markets,.

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Those kinds of things. so, this year we're growing some sorghum -- that is, it's a different crop for this area.

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It's a grain,, right? yeah,, it's a grain. and so we're going to see how that goes and we'll collect some data, we'll show the farmers how that worked. Out,.

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You know, what it did in this particular climate.

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And so on and so forth. on top of it,, we also grow some crops for the general public, -- pick-your-own, sunflowers and indian corn..

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Those will be ready, the latter part of august, and you can come out with your kids or family or whatever.

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And you can pick as many as you: want, drop a few dollars in the bin.

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And enjoy a day out on the farm., you can have a picnic or whatever you might want to do.

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and in addition, we have some partnerships with our local and state.

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And federal partners to show some other things that help the bay,.

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Like our grass research and demonstration that we have, those kinds of things.

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All right, and bronwyn, speaking of demonstrations,, the master gardeners here, have a demonstration garden.

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tell us quickly about that.

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Sure!, well, we invite everybody to come out to the farm., bring your family, bring your dogs, come out and learn.

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And explore our trails,. Take you all throughout the property,.

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And they'll take you right to the demonstration gardens where you can see six or seven different types of gardening.

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That the master gardeners have put together.

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it's a way to teach the general public how they can do.

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Different things at home, planting plants that can help the bay.

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And the bay-wise program, helping teach the general public.

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How to grow their own food at home,, too.

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Very nice! in the minute we have left, some of the most fun things you do. Are the events.

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tell us about that and we'll send people to your website,, which is www.marylandagriculture.org.

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Yeah, we-- again,, we do want--. This is the people's farm.

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It's your resource to come out here and explore and we have a variety of different events all throughout the year.

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The one that's coming up is the one that we're probably most known, for., it's our family farm day.. We really kick off the fall festival season, here.

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It's on september 25th., we have a whole bunch of demonstrations,, food,, music, and fun.

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Very good. so bring the whole family out to the farm.

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Thank you both very much for joining us..

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Thank you. thank you., and thank you for watching hello, baltimore county.

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