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The Charles Koiner Conservancy for Urban Farming (CKC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust dedicated to protecting and sustaining urban farms in Montgomery County, MD through community conservation.

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Spring Internships
Begin March 5th

We are excited to welcome an amazing new class of interns  to Koiner Farm for the spring 2024 season! Spring interns' orientation and first workday is Tuesday, March 5th from 4-6pm at Koiner Farm (737  Easley Street, Silver Spring). Learn more about our Urban Farmer Internships here.

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Volunteers Return
To The Farm

The Volunteer Crews are back at it again this year -  growing  healthy food for their community and making Koiner Farm the special place that it is. Since the Volunteer Crew start dates vary, volunteers should contact their Crew Leader via WhatApp if they have any questions. Learn more about our Volunteerships here.

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Farm Market Opens
Thursday, April 18th

(it's Emily's Bday... shhhh :)

The Farm Market at Koiner Farm officially opens Thursday, April 18th, from 5-7pm. Join our Farmstand newsletter for early-opening days, Third Thursday announcemnts and other fun farmstand updates through the sesaon. Join our Farmstand newsletter here.

As a nonprofit urban land trust, we protect community-led urban farms in food insecure neighborhoods of Montgomery County, MD.  The urban farms that we steward help people engage with their land, their food, and each other.  Through our cooperative stewardship model, we are trying to return the power of fertile land, the benefits of healthy food, and the peacefulness of open greenspace to people who need it most.

Land Stewardship

In 2019, with the support of the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), CKC established a conservation easement to permanently protect Koiner Farm from development. In 2020, our Land Stewardship Committee created a Strategic Conservation Plan to guide CKC's land preservation work and help us determine where and how urban farms should be established here in Montgomery County, MD. 
 
<< Click here for more info >>

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Food Production

Our Farm Management team runs the day-to-day operations at Koiner Farm, inlcuding all food production, food distirbution and closing the loop with composting.  A team of volunteers and interns work in partnership with skilled and experienced urban farmers to care for the soil and grow healthy food for their community.  We are always looking to add great people to our team so be sure to contact us if interested.
  
<< Click here for more info >>  

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Ag Education

 Our Farm Educators host on-farm field trips, workshops, picnics and more for our partner schools, troops,  religious organizations and fellow nonprofits. Our farm visit help kids engage with their land and their food in meaningful ways.   Our field trips are designed for K-8th graders and include seasonal, age-appropriate activities focused on composting, seed saving, pollinating, nutrition and more. 

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<< Click here for more info >>

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We are honored to serve our community:

Number of students served:

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3,663

Total,
since 2018

Since 2018, we have been hosting on-farm field trips for students in K-8th, as well as internships for high school and college students.  Students get to  experience a small, closed-loop food system right in their neighborhood.  CKC is an approved SSL organization for MCPS students. Learn more here.

Pounds of produce donated:

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8,520

Total,
since 2020

Since 2020, we have tried to donate 50% of our sustainably grown produce to those in need. Shepherd's Table (located 0.5 miles away) is our primary food distribution partner, as well as the Montgomery County Housing Opportunity Commitssion (HOC).   Learn more here.

Square feet of land protected:

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34,848

Total,
since 2019

Since September 2019, we have served as the primary stewards of Koiner Farm.  As the local steward, we are responsible for ensuring that the conservation easement, which is co-held by the Maryland Environmental Trust and CKC, is upheld and that the farm is truly providing a public benefit.  Learn more here.

Partners

Special thanks to all of our sponsors and supporters:

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Now, more than ever, the world needs healthy, informed, caring individuals armed with the knowledge and experience to create a sustainable and equitable food system. 

Thank you!

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Who was Charlie Koiner?

Charles Koiner owned and operated Koiner Farm - an iconic one-acre urban farm in downtown Silver Spring - for nearly 40 years (until his passing at the age of 98 in January 2019). The Charles Koiner Conservancy for Urban Farming emerged out of a need to protect and sustain Koiner Farm
 
In 2010, Mr. Koiner's way of life was documented in the film, Corner Plot.  In 2018, Mr. Koiner was named "The First Urban Farmer," by Montgomery Magazine. Today, Mr. Koiner's legacy lives on through the work of the  Conservancy named in his honor.  
 
The Charles Koiner Conservancy co-holds a conservation easement that protects Koiner Farm in perpetuity and manage the farm's day-to-day operations with help from a team of dedicated volunteers and interns.  Ultimately, the Charles Koiner Conservancy is working to establish a network of neighborhood farms that collectively support a more sustainable and resilient food system in Montgomery County, MD.

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