Local Organic Farm into Ballfields?! Act by COB Monday!

Local Organic Farm Emergency, Action Needed by COB Monday!

(sorry for late notice, we heard about this Sunday Morning)

Long time local resident and Organic Farmer Nick Maravell has been cultivating non-gmo organic seeds on the same piece of land leased from the County in Potomac for 31 years. The County just gave him two weeks notice that his farm will become ball fields that the community does not want /need.

This leads us to ask....Where is the process?

Why this matters:

-A complete lack of transparency and public process, even planning staff was caught unaware of this action.

-A confict with the County's stated goal of promoting increased production of sustainable local food.
-A breach of trust between farm leasees and the County. Organic farms take years to be established.
-How can we promote these leases and grow new farmers if the the leases can be unilaterally terminated? The lack of collaborative communication means farmers will go elsewhere.

Your letters and calls are needed by the close of business on Monday, March 7 to hold the County accountable to the public.

Please cc any correspondence to both Nick: nickmaravell@comcast.net and to info@mocoalliance.org.

Please read on for Nick's alert with all the particulars and contact info. Please take action as soon as you can.

Nick sent this letter to his customers with details on how this sudden move will terminate his 30+ year non-gmo organic seed buisness.

School Board Makes Sudden Move To Turn

Brickyard Road Organic Farm Site Into Ball Fields

Show support at Rockville Board of Education Tues. March 8, 10:05-10:35 am

Call/email School Board/County Council/County Exec To Demand Review

The Montgomery County School Board is planning to vote this Tuesday, March 8, to grant a ten-year lease to the county, allowing the county to work with a private athletic organization to construct ball fields on land at 8615 Brickyard Road that has been leased to a farmer of organic crops for more than 30 years.

For more information on this issue and on attending the BOE Hearing,

click here.

This decision needs a rigorous public debate before any action is taken. The Board of Education should delay action until all of the facts are made known.

Councilmember Berliner has written a letter asking for a delay in the process.
There has been no move on the part of the BOE to allow more time/ public input.

Please cc nickmaravell@comcast.net

and

info@mocoalliance.org

on any correspondence

Contact Board of Education Members

President-Christopher S. Barclay Christopher_Barclay@mcpsmd.org 301-431-7736

Vice-President-Shirley Brandman Shirley_Brandman@mcpsmd.org 301-320-6564

District 1-Judith Docca Judy_Docca@mcpsmd.org 301-670-3234

District 2-Laura Berthiaume Laura_Berthiaume@mcpsmd.org 301-279-1261

District 3-Patricia O'Neill Patricia_ONeill@mcpsmd.org 301-320-7600

District 5-Michael A. Durso Michael_a_durso@mcpsmd.org 301-924-3169