In this update:

* Come to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair!
* "You Say Tomato, I Say Agricultural Disaster" - thoughts on the late blight
* Tip sheet on planting your fall garden (hint - August is the time!)
* Beyond Organics - the Wisdom of Joel Salatin



Come to the Ag Fair!

If you love food, farms, animals and fun, then come on out to the 61st annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, starting this Friday, August 14 and running through Saturday, August 22, at the Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Maryland!

In addition to the carnival rides, ice cream and classic corn dogs, the Agricultural Fair is the single largest event devoted to food and farms in Montgomery County. You will find loads of fresh produce for purchase, farm animals of every description, beekeepers, gardening supplies and master gardeners to help you grow. Montgomery Victory Gardens will be there, tabling with the Montgomery County Master Gardeners, as well as some of our favorite colleagues, like Red Wiggler Community Farm (showing off their champion garlic crop!).

So don't miss out - come the Ag Fair starting this Friday! You can find complete Fair information and schedule here.



This article, which appeared in Sunday's NY Times, is an excellent reflection on both the challenges and responsibilities of food gardeners. To quote the author "When you start a garden, no matter how small, you become part of an agricultural network that binds you to other farmers and gardeners."

In addition to pointing out the wisdom of biodiversity, even in your small home or community garden, the author makes an invaluable addition to the reasons we must create truly local food systems, and advises against getting our starter plants from big stores that imported their plants - and the disease - from large industrial growers. "A tomato plant that travels 2,000 miles is no different from a tomato that has traveled 2,000 miles to your plate. [Buying starter plants locally] is an effective way to help local growers, who rely on sales of these plants before the harvest arrives. It's also a way to protect agriculture."

To read the entire article on late blight and its lessons for gardeners, click here.


Tip Sheet on Planting Your Fall Garden - Start Now!

As you have no doubt heard us say before, fall gardening is a wonderful opportunity in our region, where the mild autumn temperatures allow an entire second (or in some cases, third) crop of some of your favorite vegetables. The key is to start it this month, so the plants have sufficient sunlight and time to grow to maturity before the first frost.

The Montgomery County Master Gardeners have just developed an excellent short tip sheet on growing your fall garden, including which veggies to grow and when to plant them. While it was not posted on their website in time for this MVG update, we will be glad to send you an electronic copy. Just send an email to info@montgomeryvictorygardens.org with the words "Fall Gardening Tip Sheet" in the subject line, and we'll send it right back to you so you can get started!


The Wisdom of Joel Salatin

If you've read Michael Pollan's bestselling book The Omnivore's Dilemma or seen current movies such as "Food, Inc." or "Fresh," then you know who Joel Salatin of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is.

The self-declared "Christian-Libertarian-Environmentalist-Capitalist-Lunatic" has quickly become one of the most famous farmers in the country, and for good reason. He is one of the most avid and vocal practitioners of sustainable local farming in the country, and one of the most successful.

In last month's Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine, Joel talks about "free range" meat, vegetarianism, industrial agriculture and the future of sustainable, local farming. Always interesting, often provocative and invariably on target, if you care about local and sustainable food, Joel Salatin is someone you want to listen to!

Click here to read the interview, "Sustainable Farmer Joel Salatin Goes Beyond Organics."




Please send us your feedback and suggestions! Montgomery Victory Gardens is a new community, and we'd love your participation to help us grow. Let us know what's on your mind, and please send us any items, particularly about local food production, that MVG can promote. Email to info@montgomeryvictorygardens.org

Thanks!

Gordon Clark,
Project Director