Nick's Organic Farm has been under continuous organic management for the last 32 years. It is less than 15 miles from The White House and is one of the oldest organic farms in Maryland with rich soils from the past three decades of careful stewardship. It is also one of the only farms in the region that produces organic seeds. It’s able to do this because of its isolation from conventional farms, which insures there is no cross-contamination from genetically modified pollen. Nick’s Organic Farm is at the forefront of organic standards in Maryland and environmentally responsible farming practices that eliminate agricultural runoff into the Chesapeake Bay.

Unfortunately, the local government wants to destroy this farm, leased from the Montgomery County Public School Board, and turn it over to a private soccer company, Montgomery Soccer Inc (MSI) to develop private pay-for-play soccer fields. This would destroy 32 years of organic soil, and an invaluable resource for farm-based education.

Through the campaign to save the farm, and use the land for educational purposes, community activists and local organizations have joined together to create an educational program, Brickyard Educational Farm, inside of Nick’s Organic Farm. Its mission is to teach children about local and sustainable food and agriculture, and the soil, water, and biodiversity that sustain them. Already, Brickyard Educational Farm has served over 1400 kids through farm-to-school field trips and in class presentations.

Brickyard Educational Farm’s vision is to expand this non-profit onto the 20 acres of land and be a farm to school hub that provides farm-to-school field trips, internships, gardening skills trainings, professional development, and produces over 100,000 lbs of produce for the local public school cafeterias. We are also working with other local organizations to develop a farm incubator program designed to train individuals who are serious about going into farming as a profession. This farm-to-school hub would also continue organic seed production to maintain the biodiversity of our organic seed stock, thereby bolstering our national food security.

If we do not convince our legislators to stop soccer field development by August 15th, 2012, our lease will run out, and we will lose this invaluable farm and educational center. Every county has soccer fields, but we have the opportunity to lead the country with a program that integrates farm-to-school principles with farmer training, on an nationally renowned organic farm.

The Montgomery County Executive, Ike Leggett, or the soccer organization, MSI could stop this at any time. The Montgomery County Board of Education could also recall the lease to use the land for educational purposes under the pretense of Brickyard Educational Farm.

All of these decision makers have a chance to step up and represent the overwhelming majority of people who support this farm and its vision. We are asking them to support this burgeoning movement that is revitalizing experiential education, connection to where our food comes from, and an appreciation for the land and agriculture. We are getting down to the wire, and we need your help!

Please help us by signing our petition, and if you live in Maryland, join our email list, so you can stay updated about actions that we will be having in the upcoming weeks. Thank you for your support of farm-based education and sustainable food.