Maryland's Buy Local Challenge
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Here are a few ideas to help you shop local, while having fun.
Western Maryland
Artist Studio Tour of Garrett County,
July 28-29, is an opportunity to meet 21 artists at seven locations and
view their work: pottery, wood-work, fused glass, jewelry, handmade
paper, recycled wood art and two-dimensional art (paintings and
photography). Tour includes artist demonstrations. For more information,
call the Garrett County Arts Council, 301-334-6580.
Mountain City Traditional Arts Center,
Frostburg (Allegany County) – A showcase for local Appalachian art, the
center has demonstrations, hand-crafted items for sale, artwork on
display, classes and workshops, and occasional performances. It was
established jointly by the Allegany Arts Council, Folklore &
Folklife Programming at Frostburg State University, and the
FrostburgFirst Main Street Program.
Rinehart Orchards,
Smithsburg (Washington County) – This 400-acre grower of apples and
peaches has been in business 81 years, in a county known for its
abundance of fruit orchards. Peach season begins in mid-July. Other
summer produce includes nectarines, plums, watermelons, cantaloupe, corn
and tomatoes.
Capital Region
Frederick Wine Trail
– Seven wineries and a combined 120 acres of vineyards along this trail
represent more than half of Maryland’s total wine production. (Four of
the wineries are located near Mt. Airy.) The trail intersects myriad
locations that have historical significance for the Civil War. Here are
the wineries:
Berrywine Plantations/ Linganore Winecellars,
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard,
Distillery Lane Ciderworks,
Elk Run Vineyards and Winery,
Frederick Cellars,
Loew Vineyards and
Orchid Cellar.
Black Ankle Vineyards is also in this area and
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard straddles Frederick and Montgomery counties.
Montgomery County’s annual
Farm Tour and Harvest Sale,
July 28-29 is a way to become familiar with the local products produced
at 14 county locations, including farms, orchards, animal sanctuary,
alpaca farm and a vineyard. The county also has
21 farmers’ markets.
Romano Vineyard and Winery,
Brandywine (Prince George’s County) – Since 1998, the Romano family has
kept bees and produced honey under the Golden Leaf Farm label at their
property in the southern part of the county. In 2007, the family
transformed the farm – where tobacco and soybeans had grown – into a
vineyard. They now cultivate six wine-grape varietals and craft wine
that comes only from the grapes in their vineyard. Honey is still
available in season.
The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center,
Frederick (Frederick County) – The Gift Gallery here features the work
of Delaplaine members: jewelry; wood, metal and paper items; paintings;
ceramics; and fiber arts. Located in the 100-year-old Mountain City Mill
along Carroll Creek, the center offers arts classes and presents more
than 50 exhibits each year in eight galleries. Events also include
lectures, films, workshops and art trips.
Central Maryland
Howard County’s third annual film Festival, Tuesday evening, July 17 at
Clark’s Elioak Farm
in Ellicott City, presents a screening of the documentary American Meat
– a look at the industrial meat industry and the sustainable,
local-food movement that has emerged in response to it. The evening also
includes food samples from county restaurants that will participate in
Farm-2-Restaurant Weeks,
July 18 – Aug. 6. During that time, more than 20 restaurants offer
pre-fixe menus with locally grown products at prices ranging from $10.12
to $40.12.
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts,
Annapolis (Anne Arundel County) – This multi-disciplinary arts center
offers participation in a wide range of programming related to arts
education, the visual arts and performing arts. More than 5,000
individuals take art classes each year. The center also has four
resident companies: Annapolis Chorale, Annapolis Opera, Annapolis
Symphony Orchestra and the Ballet Theatre of Maryland. A labyrinth –
modeled after the one at the Cathedral of the Chartres in Paris – is
available for public meditation.
Piedmont Wine Trail and
Carroll Wine Trail
– These two trails include a total of 13 wineries. The nine wineries
along the Piedmont Trail – in the countryside of Baltimore and Harford
counties – are:
Basignani Winery,
Boordy Vineyards,
DeJon Vineyards,
Fiore Winery,
Harford Vineyard,
Legends Vineyard,
Mount Felix Vineyard and Winery,
Royal Rabbit Vineyards and
Woodhall Wine Cellars. The Carroll County wineries are:
Cygnus Wine Cellars,
Detour Vineyard and Winery,
Galloping Goose Vineyard and
Serpent Ridge Vineyard.
Southern Maryland
Maker’s Market at
Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center,
Solomons (Calvert County) – Held the first Saturday of every month, the
market features handmade, homemade and homegrown items. Selection
includes crafts, hanging baskets, organic skincare products, produce,
cut flowers, baked goods, batik and fleece apparel, soaps and candles,
herbal teas, and folk art. Annmarie has an outdoor collection of
world-class sculpture.
Southern Maryland Trails: Earth, Art, Imagination
– This free, 128-page book is “a guide to all things handmade,
home-grown, locally harvested and authentically Southern Maryland.” (
Details about the four trails are available online.)
The guidebook is one of the programs of the Southern Maryland
Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC), the organization that
established the Buy Local Challenge in Maryland. SMADC also offers a
recently released So. Maryland,
So Good Farmers’ Market Guide, which has information about 29 markets.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s River Concert Series,
St. Mary’s City (St. Mary’s County) – Held outdoors on Friday evenings
in July, this free series presents guest performers in classical, jazz
and blues genres. The Chesapeake Orchestra under the direction of
Jeffrey Silberschlag is the resident orchestra for the series. St.
Mary’s College is adjacent to Historic St. Mary’s City, the birthplace
of Maryland and one of the best-preserved sites of a British colonial
settlement in North America.
Sunset Concert Festival and Farmers’ Market,
Waldorf (Charles County) – Friday evening concerts (through August)
begin at 7 p.m. in O’Donnell Lake Restaurant Park next to the Hilton
Garden Inn. Prior to each concert, a farmers’ market is open from 4 to 7
p.m. The market also opens on Saturday mornings at 8 a.m.
Eastern Shore
Adkins Arboretum,
Ridgely (Caroline County) – This 400-acre native garden and preserve
has the region’s largest selection of native plants – more than 600
species of native shrubs, trees, wildflowers, grasses and ferns. The
Native Plant Nursery is open weekdays.
Soup ‘n Walk, July 21, allows visitors to take a guided walk on the property, have a light meal and get nutritional tips.
Emily’s Produce,
Cambridge (Dorchester County) – Patrons can pick their own cut flowers
at this family-owned and operated market on Md. Route 16 (Church Creek
Road). Summer produce includes sweet corn, tomatoes, blackberries and
strawberries. Jams, jellies, relishes, sauces and homemade desserts are
also available. Paul Jackson, owner and operator, is a fifth-generation
grain farmer.
Toast Our Coast, Delmarva’s Wine & Ale Trail – A new trail of wineries and craft breweries stretches across the Delmarva Peninsula. Locations in Maryland include:
Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery in Vienna (Dorchester County);
Evolution Craft Brewing Company in Salisbury (Wicomico County);
Burley Oak Brewing Company in Berlin (Worcester County);
Costa Ventosa in Whaleyville (Worcester County);
Bordeleau Vineyards & Winery in Eden (Somerset County); and
Great Shoals Winery in Princess Anne (Somerset County).
I promote Dryden Farm by buying directly from the field. I like from-the-field-to me food. Great corn, tomatoes, varied melons, and all things good in season. And they have had the right amount of rain in this "droughty" weather. I will be headed back for more corn this week.
file photo
Support your local farm growers and established produce stands and farmer's markets. Also, inquire about the sources of the produce from stands that pop up on the sides of roads. I have found that some of these fly-by-night stands sell produce bought from places like Sam's and WalMart. Not saying that they all do it; just make sure you give your money to honest growers and established farmer's markets.
I also support How Sweet It Is in Eden, Maryland, an all-season produce market (and fabulous garden center) that buys fresh fruits and veggies from local farmers, when in season. They also grow many things like watermelons, strawberries, and pumpkins.
