"Urban farms should no longer be considered a temporary or interim use for vacant plots. They are the future and need to be protected."
- Hannah Sholder, CKC Founder and Director of Land Stewardship
PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
The food system upon which we depend is unsustainable for farmers, consumers and the planet. Solving the agricultural problems of our lifetime requires innovative, healthy, caring individuals, armed with the experience and understanding to tackle these challenges by 'working locally and thinking globally.'
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Alongside our partners, CKC is working to protect urban greenspaces that function as fundamental community-led, nature-sensitive, socially responsible assets that are geared towards addressing these problems (read our call to County Council to include a comprehensive green infrastructure plan as a core priority of THIVE 2050). Specifically, CKC is actively pursuing land for a second urban farm that would support the nutritional, educational and social-emotional well-being of low-income and low-food access neighborhoods in Montgomery County, MD (read the Executive Summary of our Unsolicited Proposal for Disposition of County Land here).
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In order to maximize the benefits that protected greenspaces provide, CKC focuses specifically on community-led food production in urban neighborhoods. We do this through three programs areas, including (1) Land Protection, (2) Farm Management and (3) Education & Outreach.
These three program areas are inter-dependent and collectively provide unique opportunities for people to connect, explore, discuss, learn and innovate in the pursuit of a safe, smart and sustainable local food system.​
CORE PROGRAMS
Farm Markets
Koiner Farm Market: Every Thursday, 5-7pm
Loiederman Farm Market: Third Wednesday, 4-7pm
Live the locavore life by shopping at our weekly Farm Markets. These are small produce stands, designed for walkers and bikers to stop by their neighborhood farm for some hyper-local mid-week produce. While there, you can swap your compost bucket and chat with your friendly neighborhood farmer.
We also host monthly Farm Concerts. These are special nights on the farm, featuring some of the best local musicians, artisans, cottage food businesses and food trucks that MoCo has to offer.
Subscribe to our Market newsletter for weekly emails, containing updates on seasonal produce and recipes, plus a featured list of musicians, artisans, food trucks and more. ​
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Urban Farmer Internships
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4-6pm at Koiner Farm
Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30pm at Loiederman Farm
Are you a high school or college student looking to get outside, learn a life skill, meet new friends, and give back to your community? Then apply for an Urban Farmer Internship at Koiner Farm or Loeiderman Farm today. Both farms are easily accessible by public transportation and staffed by knowledgeable professional farmers.
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These are paid internships for those who apply through the Montgomery County Department of Recreation's TeenWorks Employment Program. Non-TeenWorks Interns can receive up to 144 Student Service Learning (SSL) hours per year or one Montgomery College course credit per semester.
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Koiner Farm's volunteer slots are now full for 2025
Loiederman Farm is still accepting letters of interest for the Sunday evening volunteer crew - send your letter of interest to hannah@ckcfarming.org to join!
"Koiner Farm is my gym."
- Josh, Koiner Farm Volunteer​
Our farm volunteers have now been together for several growing seasons. Outside of their farm work, they have dinners together, exchange holiday cards, babysit each other's kids and support one another in good times and bad. Growing a connected community like this has always been our dream, even when we started the Volunteerships program back in 2017, before CKC was even incorporated.
This 2025 growing season is special because it marks the innaugural Volunteership program at Loiederman Farm.
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Care Farming
Thursdays, 10:30am-12:30pm at Koiner Farm
Coming soon to Loiederman Farm
Care Farming at Koiner Farm is specifically for young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Care Farming sessions are offered every Thursday, April through October, from 10:30am-12:30pm.
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<< Learn more about Care Farming here >>
Link coming soon!
Fun-on-the-Farm Field Trips for K-8th graders are offered at both Koiner Farm and Loiederman Farm. We welcome teachers and administrators to reach out and schedule Koiner Farm visits on Tuesdays and Loiederman Farm visits on Wednesdays.
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The Workshop series is an opportunity for urban farmers, gardeners, and makers of natural products to share their unique skills and knowledge with the broader community! Topics range from the art of hot sauce making to flax spinning to the garlic festival.
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