Last week was the opening weekend of the Ecosystem Farm Market which offers fresh, organic produce to the public every Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm. (But don’t worry if you miss it on Saturday, there will be produce available for sale in the Visitor Center on Sundays–though I’m sure that the best veggies will go early!) It was a successful opening, welcoming approximately 50-60 locavores who found us via online, by following the road signs, read about the market opening in an e

At the heart of the Accokeek Foundation’s mission is the preservation of an awe-inspiring space where people of all ages, and from all backgrounds, can learn about Maryland’s rich cultural and natural heritage. In this space–Piscataway Park–we interpret life on the Potomac during the 18th century, culturally-significant agricultural practices, and land management practices that are beneficial for the environment. For many decades, this space has been providing a backdrop for

Spring (even cold and snowy) is always a really fun time to be on site because of the new additions that join our ranks. That’s right, I’m talking about farm babies. Each February and March, we welcome new Hog Island lambs and Milking Devon calves in a flurry of adorable bleating and wobbly frolicking. This year, to mark the occasion and share in the cuteness, members joined us for “Lattes with Lambs”–an open barn event that included coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, a Q&A with

Continue reading more about what the new season holds in store for us here at the farm, as Livestock Manager, Polly Festa prepares for her new arrivals… Today I find myself wishing I had the ability to speed up time. I am waiting with baited breath for the coming season. I don’t mean spring; I acutely enjoy the winter–as long as it is not an Upstate New York winter. The season I am so antsy for is the birthing season. The farmers at the Ecosystem Farm get to see their hard wo

by Becky Seward, Ecosystem Farm Manager Every plant we grow on the farm began somewhere in the evolutionary scheme of things as a wild plant, indigenous to some part of our planet, settling into its ecological niche. At some point humans came in, plucked out the plant and developed it into a tastier or hardier version of itself, in the process changing the chemistry of the plant for human consumption. The tomato, which has no direct native species (the primogenitor is the tom

by Becky Seward, Ecosystem Farm Manager (Written to the CSA community and published in this week’s edition of Field Notes.) I write to you on the tail end of a couple of beautiful days of rain and another gorgeous day of sun and warmth to wick some of that extra moisture off of the field. It has been a truly blessed season here at the Ecosystem Farm; I cannot believe the good fortune we’ve had! I have really enjoyed seeing you all around the community, and have been feeling s