The Charles Koiner Conservancy for Urban Farming (CKC) is a nonprofit urban land trust. We protect and sustain community-led urban farms in Montgomery County, MD.
The Charles Koiner Conservancy (CKC) emerged out of a need to preserve an iconic urban farm in downtown Silver Spring, MD - Koiner Farm. Koiner Farm was operated by Mr. Charles Koiner for 40 years, until his passing at the age of 98 in January 2019.
In 2010, Mr. Koiner's way of life was documented in the film, Corner Plot. In 2018, Mr. Koiner he was named "The First Urban Farmer," by Montgomery Magazine. And 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. CKC also manage the farm's day-to-day operations at Koiner Farm with help from a team of dedicated volunteers and interns. Ultimately, CKC is working to establish a network of neighborhood farms that collectively support a more sustainable and resilient food system in Montgomery County, MD.
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
Program
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.
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Farm Management
Program
Our Farm Management team runs the day-to-day operations at Koiner Farm, inlcuding all crop production and 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.
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Farm Education
Program
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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The buzz ...
Koiner Farm Volunteer, Frieda, talks about what life at her neighborhood farm means to her in Summer 2020.
Koiner Farm volunteers and neighbors remember Charlie Koiner, who would have been 100 in November 2020!
Koiner Farm is open and welcome to the public - mask up and come check out what's happening at your neighborhood farm.
CKC's Co-Founder and Deputy Director, Hannah Sholder, named Local Hero by Congressman Jamie Raskin!
Check out other CKC videos on our YouTube channel.
We are thankful for our partners and sponsors:
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We are honored to serve our community:
Number of students served:
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:
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:
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.
