Farm Dinners on the Shore Focuses on “Farms & Food: Next Generation”Farm Dinners on the Shore, a venture begun in 2010 pairing regional chefs, local foods and upper Eastern Shore farms to create fine dining events right on the farms, is creating a different
experience for its final dinners series of the year at Lockbriar Farms in Chestertown.
The Lockbriar Farms series will consist of a Signature Dinner on Saturday, October 22, and a late afternoon cook out on Sunday, October 23. The theme “Farms & Food: Next Generation” reflects the participation of young chefs, young farmers, and the students of the Kent County Middle School Victory Garden program.
Students attending the Kent County Middle School (KCMS) have been getting “down and dirty” these past few years – that is, they have been planting and harvesting the Victory Garden at the KCMS. The garden was established in April of 2010 under the leadership of Sabine Harvey, Master Gardener and Horticulture Program Assistant with University of Maryland Extension, Kent County. Under Sabine’s leadership – students, parents, community volunteers and partners have created a garden that has sown many benefits in the community.
Since its inception, the garden has been “feeding” the community in many ways. Students’ minds, capabilities and sense of community engagement are fed through the goals of the program:
1.) to help students understand how food is grown;
2.)to provide students with hands-on opportunities to plant, tend and harvest a garden;
3.)to teach students how to use fresh produce and to encourage healthy eating;
4.)to connect students to their community by participating in a project that supports economically disadvantaged families.
And, since inception, over 803 lbs. of produce has been harvested and donated to the local food pantry, summer camps and the backpack program for KCMS families in need. Harvested produce has included: beans, bok- choy, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and a variety of herbs.
The Victory Garden has received financial and in-kind support from the town of Chestertown, the KCMS PTA, Lowe’s, Washington College, the Local Farm Service Bureau (the People’s Garden Project), Brambles, the Optimists, Chesapeake Bank and Trust, FAM & M Insurance, Russell Kersey and R.T. & T. Maintenance and Mechanical.
For the Farm Dinner on October 23, students will provide some of their harvest for the meal, and will participate along with Sabine Harvey. Information about the Victory Garden at Kent County Middle School and the University of Maryland Extension will also be available. For more information on the University of Maryland Extension and the Victory Garden access University of Maryland Extension (Kent County) – www.kent.umd.edu.
Saturday’s Signature Dinner will also feature the Next Generation, in the form of chefs. Frequent Farm Dinners Guest Chef Rob Parker is also a culinary instructor, and for this multi-course dinner with wine pairings his students will be front and center, not only preparing the meal but participating in the demonstrations and explanations of the courses.
Wayne and Marcella Lockwood, owners of Lockbriar Farms, are well versed in multi-generation farm families, and their children, Jacqueline and James, play an active role in the operation of the farm. Jacqueline is a familiar face to shoppers at the Chestertown Farmers Market, running the stand on Saturdays and Wednesdays. “Farms & Food: Next Generation” recognizes the contribution that children make to the family farm’s vitality.
Space is still available for both Saturday and Sunday dinners.
Complete menus, pricing and information on reserving your seat is available on their website www.farmdinnersontheshore.com. To join their mailing list email [email protected]. A portion of the proceeds for the Lockbriar Farms dinners will be donated to the Kent County Middle School Victory Garden.
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