Maryland Agricultural Resource Council

The Maryland Agricultural Resource Coucnil (MARC) is the non-profit arm of the Baltimore County Center for Maryland Agriculture and Farm Park operated by the Baltimore County Recreation and Parks Department in Cockeysville, Maryland in Northern baltimore County.

The 150 acre farm park, which has been actively engaged in agriculture since the 1700's and which is now protected under an agricultural easement, offers the public unfettered acces to agriculture. It is "The People's Farm".

MARC's mandate is to utilze the farm as a living classroom to increase understanding and appreciation for the importance of agriculture, foster the development of a new generation of agricultural professionals, and demonstrate innovtive farming techniques. MARC's suite of programs connects a wide range of audiences to agriculture from its Farm Sprouts pre-school program to Arts on the Farm.

In partnership with the University of Maryland Extension Service, Baltimore County Public Schools and the Chesapeake Bay Trust, MARC is hosting a year-long Edible Schoolyard Training for teachers beginning in January 2016.

The 36-hour training will transpire over the course of a 12-month period. The training protocol will be offered to teacher teams (two teachers) from five schools. In this unique model, information taught to the teachers will be brought directly back to their schools for implementation (each school will be given a $200 garden starter package of materials/supplies). At the end of the training period, all five schools will have an edible schoolyard garden.