Category: Food and Farming

One Straw Farm is the largest organic vegetable farm in Maryland and has been in operation since 1985. Located in White Hall of I-83 and a pit stop away from Heathcote Community in Freeland. The farm supplies families, restaurants and wholesalers with a seasonal collection of certified organic produce. You can receive produce individually through a member fee or visit over 30 different markets, grocers and restaurants in the Baltimore area including Mill Valley Garden Center and the Waverly Farmers Market. The farm has 750 members all of which are within a 50 mile radius. Their website has a helpful harvest chart which lists when and what produce will be available. There’s a great article in Baltimore Eats, November 2008 Vol 3-#11, about how Drew and Joan Norman got One Straw started.

Bay Organics , located in Dorchester County, offers a unique composting process through nutrient-rich soil enhancement products that aid in healthy cultivation for agricultural purposes. One primary focus is to assure pesticide free and environmentally friendly waste disposal from agribusinesses on the eastern shore. Through this work, their unique composting methods, and decades long experience in the soil and mulch industry, offer some of the richest and environmentally friendly soil in the region. Check out their Bay Organics T-shirts. Proceeds go to preserve the health and natural ecology of the bay.

South Mountain Creamery is a nationally recognized family-owned farm in Maryland, serving quality milk and dairy products. Most importantly, they promote an environmental health-conscious vision of food production. They use no hormones or antibiotics on any of their cows and encourage recycling of their glass bottles, sparing unnecessary landfill space. Using glass bottles not only maintains quality taste but also minimizes toxic residue seepage from cardboard or plastic. Come down and see the farm in Middletown firsthand; they welcome observation and assistance in milking and calf-feeding!

Door to Door Organics , located in Bucks County, PA, has been delivering organic produce to homes and businesses on the East Coast since 1996. The family owned and operated business delivers a variety of fruit, vegetable, or mixed fruit and vegetable boxes, depending on availability, using biodiesel to fuel their delivery vehicles. They strive to recycle everything possible and leave the smallest carbon footprint possible, even composting their "NOT plastic bags". Visit their website for more information or to order online.

The Takoma Park Farmer’s Market consists of about two dozen producers that line Laurel Avenue every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It began in 1982 as both Washington, DC’s first Sunday market and one of the first "producers-only" markets. Everything sold at the self-governing market is fresh and local - produced by the people who sell it. Products sold at the market must be produced within a 125-mile radius of Takoma Park, meaning some non-regional products like bananas must be excluded. Visit the website for more information on the market or the participating farms.

The Yabba Pot Cafe, located at 2431 St. Paul Street, is “Baltimore’s premiere Vegan hot spot”. Owned by “Mama” Chef Skai, the restaurant offers Rastafarian-influenced cuisine called “Ital”, the main concept being that food should come straight from the garden to the table - no processing and no preservatives. She even uses traditional Afrikan clay Yabba Pots for stewing. The menu and specials change daily. A community-oriented business, the Yabba Pot also features cooking classes, workshops and seminars, as well as a poetry venue Saturday evenings. Check out the menu online!

One World Cafe is Baltimore’s only organic vegetarian restaurant and all those cakes believe it or not are vegan. Located off W University Parkway you can come in and enjoy a healthy full-course meal, relax at the bar or have a smoothie on the couch while you read the paper. You can check out there menu online.