The Montgomery County Farm Tour and Harvest Sale will be taking place July 23-24, with over 19 farms across the county participating to host events for residents. The tour aims to help promote farms in the area and enrich community members in the diverse agricultural industry right here at home.
Leading up to this event, Montgomery Community Media’s multipart “Farm Tours Series” will focus on a select group of these participating farms each week. All photos are taken by Joe Ryan.
In part three of this series, myMCM will focus on the following farms: Camp Olympia, Lone Oak Farm Brewing, Tusculum Farm and Waredaca Brewing Company.
Camp Olympia
Since the 1950s, Camp Olympia has provided children throughout the county with a place to learn, grow and have fun.
Founded by Stephen and Elizabeth Benedek, the pair created the Rockville summer camp because of their involvement in athletics and teaching of physical education.
“Stephen was inducted into the Georgetown University Hall of Fame for his very successful coaching of the track team. This quality leadership has been the driving force behind our successful program since 1958,” the company states on their website. “Today, Elizabeth continues the legacy that she helped to build with her husband, Stephen.”
The camp operates with the goal of challenging its campers to learn more and “be the best that they can be.”
“The activities that we offer are not only supervised and organized, but the children will LEARN,” the company states on their website. “We are an educational, instructional summer camp and proud of it.”
In addition to being a sports and learning camp, Camp Olympia also serves as a nursery school and child care center. The spot also offers horseback riding for children and adults.
“On Farm Tour Day you are invited to see a variety of demonstrations including riding, sports and swimming performed by our staff and campers,” the company stated per the event brochure. “Different demonstrations will be offered every half hour.”
Camp Olympia will be open during the farm tours weekend only on Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, residents can visit the official website here, or call at 301-926-9281.
Lone Oak Farm Brewing
At the heart of Montgomery County, Lone Oak Farm Brewing spans 28.66 acres. The farm was initially purchased in 1949 by Samuel Riggs IV, a dedicated farmer and also the chairman of Sandy Spring Bank for over 30 years.
“Lone Oak is not just a brewery at a farm. Rather it’s a farm with a brewery,” the company states on their website.
Located in Olney, the farm is filled with wildflowers, wildlife and several crops. There are also “bees raised to produce honey.”
During the farm tours weekend, Lone Oak Farm Brewing will be open for residents to experience the majestic farm as well as beer “from ground to glass.”
Lone Oak Farm Brewing will be open to residents on Saturday, July 23 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 24, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tusculum Farm
Located in Laytonsville, the 500-acre Tusculum Farm has been around for generations, since the first house was built on the land in 1747 by Henry Griffith. The land, which was owned by John Beale Bordley, was not bought by Griffith until 1797.
Ownership of the farm proceeded to change many times throughout the past two centuries. In 1807, following the death of Griffith, it was sold to a man named Henry Howard, according to the company’s website.
In 1865, the property continued to change hands, sold from Frederick O. Gaither to Enoch B. Hutton. Throughout the many sales of the farm, the deed referred to the property as “Tusculum,” which was a tribute to the ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy.
The farm is also home to two important landmarks, such as “The Hay Barn” and “The Workshop.” According to the Index History Prop Montgomery County January 2000, the buildings were built in the late nineteenth century and in 1942 respectively.
In the following years, more barns were built, including the northernmost barn which was erected in 1944-1946.
1964 saw new ownership of the land as Carl and Virginia Freeman, a married couple, purchased the property and named it Tusculum Farm Home. The two provided the farm with various renovations and saw their son, Joshua Freeman, married there in 2001.
Today, the farm is run by Michelle DiFebo Freeman. In 2019, Tusculum Farm began to operate as a bed and breakfast, and also an event venue.
“We look forward to hosting you and your family and friends the next time you are looking for a getaway,” the company states on their website.
During the farm tours weekend, Tusculum Farm is planning to host farm tours and will have “food and beverage offerings, kids games, live music and lots of surprises for all ages,” according to the company per the event brochure.
Tusculum Farm will be open only on Sunday, July 24, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, residents can call at 833-733-2276 or visit their official website here.
Waredaca Brewing Company
Also in Laytonsville, Waredaca Brewing Company started in 1932 when R. Beecher Butts created a camp for boys in Maryland. In fact, it was originally located at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Democracy Boulevard, according to the company website.
Camp Waredaca, as it was called, stood for the WAshington REcreational DAy CAmp and hosted “thousands of campers” in its day.
“The farm slowly transitioned away from camp life to become what is presently one of the area’s best equestrian eventing barns and riding lesson facilities,” the company states on their website. “Today, the descendants of Beecher and his family have continued this tradition of kids, horses, and family.”
Throughout its history, Waredaca Brewing Company has received various awards, including recognition by the Maryland Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP).
“Since its inception in 2010, FSCAP has certified 91 agricultural conservation stewards protecting over 27,000 acres in 16 counties within the State. Waredaca is one of 20 horse farms in the state to receive this distinction,” the company notes on their website.
The 230-acre horse farm also includes a microbrewery. During the farm tours weekend, visitors will be able to sample beers and “enjoy gorgeous views of [the] hillside,” according to the company per the event brochure.
Waredaca Brewing Company will be open on Saturday, July 23, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also on Sunday, July 24, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. More information can be found on the company’s website here. The farm can also be reached by calling 301-774-2337.
Part one of this series includes Butler’s Orchard, Doc Waters Cidery, Red Wiggler Community Farm and Do No Harm Farm. And then part two includes the Button Farm Living History Center, Homestead Farm, King Barn Dairy MOOseum and Windridge Vineyard.
