​The Caulders have been growing vegetables and berries in Howard County, Maryland for Friends and Neighbors for over 35 years.  We’re about Community; the Community that Supports Agriculture at Breezy Willow Farm.

Taking you to the Caulder family farm in rural Howard County, Maryland, the newly released video, ​​​ Breezy Willow Farm: from the Land and the Hand, leads you through  an abbreviated version of their day, from sunrise when their Rhode Island Red wakes them, through gathering eggs from their lovely, cage-free heritage laying hens, showing the love to their friendly Alpacas who provide the soft fiber, to applying sustainable farming practices using natural growing methods, and hand-picking top quality produce for the farm's CSA share members.



Community-Supported Agriculture at Breezy Willow Farm

"We are a place that you can come enjoy community while supporting the Breezy Willow Farm Community- Supported Agriculture (CSA) program," says RJ (Rose) Caulder who started her CSA program in her kitchen with just 12 shares in 2004. Since then, the family farm's CSA program has grown to include over 700 shares with some members traveling from nearly 50 miles away to obtain their shares.

"We set ourselves apart from other CSAs by offering Value-Added products," adds Jason Caulder.  
The Caulders offer their Breezy Willow Farm community two seasonal Value-Added CSA programs, the Early-Bird share program that runs March-May and their Summer/Fall share program that runs June-November, with pick-up days at the farm and at several convenient locations throughout Howard County.

When they arrive, "our CSA members check in to see what a bountiful share they will receive," says Jason Caulder. "Our members are able to select and receive between 10 and 11 seasonal, locally grown and/or produced items weekly. In addition to an assortment of 8 fruits and veggies, our members receive Value-Added products - farm-fresh eggs and premium breads from Great Harvest or The Breadery - each week. You don't purchase them as extra items.  Herbs will be also be included when available at no extra charge."

So how does the community sign up for one or both of Breezy Willow Farm's seasonal CSA programs?  To learn more about Breezy Willow Farm's seasonal CSA programs and to sign up, visit Breezy Willow Farm's website - www.BreezyWillowFarm.com - where you may also find an abundance of recipes and tips on how to store and prepare the farm-fresh products provided each week through the CSA program.

Bringing the Community Together

What else does Breezy Willow Farm offer its community?  Breezy Willow Farm welcomes you to take a drive in the country, to come together at the farm as a community. The farm is a great, natural setting for families to visit where friendly alpacas and friendly staff are waiting to greet you.  Children will see where their food is actually grown and ask questions.  There are also other opportunities for the community to become involved, such as the chance to participate through the farm's work-for-shares program.

"When the community supports our local farm they are helping to keep agriculture alive in their own community of Howard County," says RJ. "In addition, when members sign up, they are feeding other families in need. We donate shares to needy families  each week." All extra vegetables each week are picked by volunteers in the community and are donated to the Howard County Food Bank. Nothing on Breezy Willow Farm is ever wasted.
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The community is invited to visit farm store every Saturday, 10am to 2pm to pick up seasonally fresh, local produce and goods such as local cheeses, honey and breads.  The farm store also has gift items such as Breezy Willow Farm's hand-made soaps and scarves or socks made from the soft fiber provided by the Alpacas.  

A Peaceful, Natural Setting

Breezy Willow Farm: from the Land and the Hand was produced keeping in mind the serenity found on Breezy Willow Farm.  Colamiles provided a special rendition of "Half Acre" (Cover: Hem) making it local to the State of Maryland.  The lyrics to this special recording are beautiful, soul-soothing and were slightly modified to hearken us back to some of those memories that we love about living here in Maryland, which is especially true for the Caulders at their family-run farm, Breezy Willow Farm, where there is a peaceful, natural setting they call home. The video was produced by Alice Settle-Raskin of Alice's AgriMaryland for and in cooperation with Breezy Willow Farm. 

About Breezy Willow Farm: Learn more about Breezy Willow Farm and its CSA programs through visiting the farm’s website, www.BreezyWillowFarm.com or spend some quality time in the countryside this Saturday (or any Saturday) by finding your way to Breezy Willow Farm in West Friendship, Howard County, Maryland.

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Larriland Farms Fall Festival makes a wonderful outing for the entire family on weekends throughout October!  Join in on the fun to pick-your-own apples, pumpkins and a variety seasonal fruits and vegetables!  Children will get their thrills in the Boo Barn, find their way through the Straw Bale Maze, and enjoy a scenic Hay Ride. Visitors can partake in a visit to the Red Barn where you can find a wide selection of seasonal fruit, ciders, jams, jellies, fruit butters, and more; and enjoy Miss Polly’s delicious Apple Fritters and the Town Grill’s select menu.  AND . . . this Saturday, October 10, listen to the sweet sounds of locally Howard County Grown Miranda Judd! 

Enjoy Fall at Howard County Farms & Farmers’ Markets this Weekend,
October 10-11, 2015!  
See Select Events Listed Below!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH
  9:00 am – 5:00 pm  - Pick Your Own Apples, Vegetables, Pumpkins, Apple Fritters Hayrides, Straw Maze, and Boo Barn (Ages 3-7) Larriland Farms – www.PickYourOwn.com

9:00 am – 1:00 pm - Farmers’ Markets:
Ellicott City Old Town Market, The Wine Bin & Little French Market, Historic Ellicott City Facebook:.EllicottCityOldTownMarket

• Howard County Farmers’ Market,  Maple Lawn Center, 8191 Westside Blvd., Fulton
  Facebook: HowardCountyFarmersMarkets
• Glenwood Community Farmers’ Market,  Howard County Library – Glenwood Branch 2350 MD-97, Cooksville – Facebook: GlenwoodCommunityFarmersMarket

10:00 am – 5:00 pm  - Free Hayrides to Pick Your Own Pumpkin;  Feed the Farm Animals; Scarecrow Making; Face Painting; Educational Corn Maze & Mini Maze; Country Store
Sharp’s at Waterford Farm - www.SharpFarm.com

10:00 am – 5:00 pm - Pumpkin Craft & Coloring Weekend Pick a pumpkin. Take a Hayride, Pony Ride and Cow Train Ride. Gem Mining, too!
Clark’s Elioak Farm  - www.ClarklandFarm.com

10:00 am– 5:00 pm - Meet the 4-Hers Pick your Own Pumpkins
TLV Tree Farm - www.TLVTreeFarm.com 

10:30 am - Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds - Join us for a 10:30 am Hayride through our 530 acre farm then Enjoy the Sight of Horses & Riders & Lots of Happy Hounds!
Sharp’s at Waterford Farm –  www.SharpFarm.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11TH

9:00 am – 5:00 pm  - Pick Your Own Apples, Vegetables, Pumpkins, Apple Fritters Hayrides,
Straw Maze, and Boo Barn (Ages 3-7)
Larriland Farms -  www.PickYourOwn.com

9:00 am – 1:00 pm  - Farmers’ Market:

• Howard County Farmers’ Market, Oakland Mills Village Center,
• 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia
  Facebook: HowardCountyFarmersMarkets

10:00 am – 5:00 pm  - Free Hayrides to Pick Your Own Pumpkin;  Feed the Farm Animals; Scarecrow Making; Face Painting; Educational Corn Maze & Mini Maze; Country Store
Sharp’s at Waterford Farm - www.SharpFarm.com

10:00 am – 5:00 pm - Pumpkin Craft & Coloring Weekend Pick a pumpkin. Take a Hayride, Pony Ride and Cow Train Ride. Gem Mining, too!
​Clark’s Elioak Farm  - www.ClarklandFarm.com 
  

The Dayton 4-H Club is raffling off a Pig (a $200.00 value) as an annual fundraiser. The raffle winner has the choice of a local farm-raised pig or $200.00.

Have you ever tasted pork that is locally produced? Moreover, have you ever tasted meat that was produced and farm-raised by a 4-H’er? I’ve always had top quality meats produced through 4-H Livestock programs; the 4-H raised beef, pork, lamb, chicken is the tastiest! And, we know you will love the Dayton 4-H farm-fresh, tasty, juicy and savory pork!

The Daisy 4-H Club Pig Raffle Tickets - 1 for $2.00 or 3 for $5.00 - are on sale now and will be right up to the drawing which is on October 22, 2015!

The pig will be locally processed by for you Wagners Meats in Mount Airy, Maryland. The Winner will be called after the drawing. The winner is also required to pick up the processed meat.


For more information and to purchase a raffle ticket, please contact Kelly Hensing, Leader, Dayton 4-H Club at 704-293-4126 or email Kelly@hensingfarm.com.

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About 4-H: 4-H is the nation’s largest positive youth development and youth mentoring organization, empowering six million young people in the U.S. In partnership with 110 universities, 4-H life changing programs are research-backed & available through 4-H clubs, camps, after-school & school enrichment programs in every county & parish in the U.S. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System & USDA.

The Howard County 4-H Program has a wide variety of clubs that meet in various locations across the county. The traditional age 4-H clubs are for youth between the ages of 8-18 as of January 1st. Clover 4-H clubs offerr programming to youth between the ages of 5-7 as of January 1st. For more information about Howard County 4-H Clubs, click here.

The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, gender identity or expression.

Excitement was in the air and the sun was shining when the 2015 Howard County Farm-City Celebration kicked off with the Iron Chef Cook-Off and the presentation of this year’s Farm-City Scholarship at the Howard County Fair in mid-August.

The Cook-Off

This year, three teams composed of “Dads With Kids” were vying for the title of 2015 Farm-City Celebration Iron Chef Cook-off Champion. The teams were Alba’s Master Chefs, The Young Family BBQ Factory and Corley Culinary Artists.

The teams, which were armed with culinary students who attended one of two summer culinary camps, Chopped with Chef Alba and Healthy Little Cooks, were to each prepare a beef (main) dish and a vegetable (side) dish with the locally-grown or produced farm-fresh food provided, while judges observed their teamwork, food handling and safety awareness.

By 6 p.m., the grills were hot and each team used its culinary skills to grill beef, vegetables and fruit to make award-winning entrées that were then tastetested by the team of expert judges.

At the end of the competition, the winning teams were announced.

• Overall Winner: Alba’s Master Chefs

• Best Presentation: Young Family BBQ Factory

• Best Teamwork: Corley Culinary Artists

• Best Beef Dish: Young Family BBQ Factory

• Best Vegetable Dish: Alba’s Master Chefs

The final judging was based on the total presentation, including the plating of the food, table appeal and team apparel. The fresh-from-the-farm food items were donated from Clark’s Elioak Farm, TLV Tree Farm, Breezy Willow Farm, Larriland Farms, Bowling Green Farm-Cheese and Woodcamp Farm-Honey. TLV provided the gift basket that was presented to the Iron Chef Competition champions.

The contest was produced in cooperation with the above farms, the Howard County Economic Development Authority’s Agricultural Marketing Program, the Howard County Farm-City Committee, the Maryland Extension, Chopped by Chef Alba and Healthy Little Cooks.

Farm City Scholarship

The 2015 Howard County Farm-City Scholarship was presented to Jackie Bauer, who grew up on her family’s Rural Rhythm Farm and is a 2015 graduate of Glenelg High School. She is attending Oklahoma State University, where she is studying Agricultural Communications and Animal Science.

“With my degree, I hope to be able to share my passion and story about agriculture, to help others better understand the farming lifestyle and to educate them about the industry that not only feeds them three times a day, but also provides so much more,” Bauer said. “In short, I will like to help fill the gap between the farming and non-farming communities, particularly in Howard County.”

During Bauer’s senior year at Glenelg High School, Bauer interned for the HCEDA with Kathy Zimmerman, the county’s agricultural development manager. In addition, the HCEDA awarded her a paid internship this summer. Bauer was also named 2015 Miss Howard County Farm Bureau at the county fair.

Beginning in 2010, the Farm-City Celebration Committee has presented a scholarship to a recent Howard County high school (public or private) graduate who plans to pursue a career in agriculture, animal welfare or any other field benefiting the agricultural community.

Farm-City Celebration

Join in on 16 days of fun for families, learning experiences for kids of all ages, and an opportunity to appreciate the contributions our farms make to the quality of life for all during the 12th Annual Howard County Farm-City Celebration, to be held Sept. 26-Oct. 11.

Howard County Farms are welcoming visitors to fall festivals and when educational opportunities arise throughout the county. Learn more about the Howard County Farm-City Celebration at www.farmheritage.org.

Alice Settle-Raskin is the owner of Woodbine-based Alice’s AgriMaryland. She can be contacted at 240-449-6435 and alices.agrimaryland@gmail.com.
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For a full schedule of the 2015 Farm-City Celebration events, please right click to download the images below or to download a PDF, please click here.

The event participants are requested to make a $25.00 minimum donation when registering for this season's Mount Airy Women in Motion's Second Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics. In return, they will receive 2 Pint-sized jars with Butter Cream,  a free T-shirt, and the pure buttery enjoyment to Feel the Churn!  Preregistration is required.

To register and to make a donation, please visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/womeninmotion1

*In the event of rain, Feel the Churn will be held at Health Unlimited in Mount Airy.

**Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics originated as a Temple University program.  A adaptation of the first Temple University's Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics has quickly becoming a well-attended event hosted by the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Flagship sponsor!  
Both the Mount Airy Women in Motion Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics and the The Mount Airy Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk are American Cancer Society events.

Please remember to Buy Local & Eat Fresh at the Mount Airy Farmers’ Market, Every Wednesday, 3:30-6:30 pm through September 2015! The Heavy Whipping (Butter) Cream is produced by some Lovely, Local Cows and provided by the Frederick-based Dairy Maid Dairy!

About Mount Airy Women in Motion: The Mount Airy Women in Motion are women business owners helping women business owners, advance, encourage and grow their businesses.  We are group of Women Business Owners in the Mount Airy and surrounding areas networking together to help each other grow their businesses. We meet in Mt. Airy on the last Friday each month, 8:00 - 9:15 am, to network - share ideas and network or hear from different trainers and key note speakers. To learn more about the Mount Airy Women in Motion, please visit MountAiryWomeninMotionNews.Weebly.com.

Event Contact: Sheri Cates | E-mail: Sheri@shericates.com | Phone: 301-829-9660

​Post Event Coverage from Second Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics: "Feel the Churn: Making butter for breast cancer research" - Health & Fitness section, Frederick News Post, Page C1 - See article: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/feel-the-churn-making-butter-for-breast-cancer-research/article_e0e13db0-59ca-5888-b292-aab4c7cb3edb.html

Join the Mount Airy Women in Motion on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at 6 pm for Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics to benefit the Mount Airy Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at Mount Airy Farmers' Market, 3 North Main Street in Mount Airy, Maryland.

Come "Feel the Churn" while you dance in place to the rhythm of the music with an aerobics instructor to make your own butter to take home to benefit and warm-up for Mount Airy’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk!

While participants dance, they'll also get their churn on as they continuously shake jars filled with heavy whipping (butter) cream.

The event participants are requested to make a $25.00 minimum donation when registering for this first-time event. In return, they will receive 2 Pint-sized jars with Butter Cream,  a free T-shirt, and the pure buttery enjoyment to Feel the Churn!  Preregistration is required.

To register and to make a donation, please visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/womeninmotion1

*In the event of rain, Feel the Churn will be held at Health Unlimited in Mount Airy.

**Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics originated as a Temple University program.

The Mt. Airy Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is an American Cancer Society event.

Please remember to Buy Local & Eat Fresh at the Mount Airy Farmers’ Market, Every Wednesday, 3:30-6:30 pm through September 2015! The Heavy Whipping (Butter) Cream is produced by some Lovely, Local Cows and obtained through the South Mountain Creamery!

About Mount Airy Women in Motion: The Mount Airy Women in Motion are women business owners helping women business owners, advance, encourage and grow their businesses.  We are group of Women Business Owners in the Mount Airy and surrounding areas networking together to help each other grow their businesses. We meet in Mt. Airy on the last Friday each month, 8:00 - 9:15 am, to network - share ideas and network or hear from different trainers and key note speakers. To learn more about the Mount Airy Women in Motion, please visit MountAiryWomeninMotionNews.Weebly.com

Event Contact: Sheri Cates | E-mail: Sheri@shericates.com | Phone: 301-829-9660

Listen to Feel the Churn Butter Aerobics to Benefit Mount Airy Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - Public Service Announcement

Post Event Coverage: "Feel the churn, Mount Airy residents churn up support for breast cancer research at butter aerobics class," Carroll County Times -  pg. 1 & 8, Thursday, June 18, 2015, http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/ph-cc-butter-churn-aerobics-20150617-story.html