Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) original series Maryland Farm & Harvest returns for its 10th anniversary season on Tuesday, November 15 with the first of 13 new half-hour episodes. A preview is available for viewing at https://bit.ly/3sLY69T.
Maryland Farm & Harvest airs on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and online at mpt.org/livestream. Encore broadcasts are available on MPT-HD Thursdays at 11 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each episode also airs on MPT2/Create® on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Episodes are also available to watch on demand using MPT’s online video player.
The popular weekly series takes viewers on a journey across the Free State, telling engaging and enlightening stories about the farms, people, and technology required to sustain and grow agriculture in Maryland, the state’s number one commercial industry. During its 10th season, the series takes a look back to when it all began nearly a decade ago and revisits some favorite farms and farmers from past episodes.
The season premiere episode features farms and locations in Baltimore, Carroll, Garrett, and Queen Anne’s counties as part of a “veteran farmers” themed episode. These farmers have dedicated their lives not only to growing our food, but also to serving and defending our nation.
Joanne Clendining, who has earned two Emmy® awards from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her work on Maryland Farm & Harvest, returns as host. She is joined by Al Spoler, who handles duties for each episode’s The Local Buy segment.
Segments featured in the November 15 episode are:
- Iraqi War Veteran and Grain Farmer (Queen Anne’s and Carroll counties). When Evan Miles came home from a tour of duty in Iraq, he resumed the life he left behind – farming the fields of his beloved Eastern Shore. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks moved Evan to join the military to serve his country. After two tours of duty with the U.S. Navy, he returned to Bluestem Farms, his family farm in Chestertown, which grows commodity crops such as corn, soybean, and wheat. When Maryland Farm & Harvest visited Evan, he was operating a large combine, harvesting winter wheat destined for specialty breads, cookies, and crackers. Viewers also hear from cattle farmer Rob Burnett of Good Run Farms in Union Bridge, who also serves as Executive Director of the Maryland Chapter of Farmer Veteran Coalition. Rob, an Army veteran, explains how being a farmer and a veteran are analogous to each other.
- Vietnam War Veteran and Permaculture Farmer (Garrett County). Kenny Braitman returned home from Vietnam in 1968 a profoundly changed man. In the heat of a major battle, Kenny lost both of his legs as he attempted to save a fellow Marine. But he would not let his injuries keep him down. He learned and embraced a forward-thinking farming method called Permaculture. This approach to agriculture looks to nature and forests as models to create sustainable and resilient food-producing ecosystems. In response to climate change, Kenny started Edgesville Farm in Frostburg with the hope that his farm will outlive him, and help feed his community in a time of need.
- The Local Buy: Regenerative Farming/Pasture Raised Chickens (Baltimore County). When Vince Matanoski retired from the U.S. Navy after 31 years as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) Officer, he decided to drop anchor on an 81-acre farm he and his wife Carin call Ladybrook Farm in Monkton. During this episode’s The Local Buy, segment host Al Spoler visits the farm on what was originally part of the famed My Lady’s Manor in Baltimore County. Vince shows Al the farm’s pasture raised chicken operation where they gather fresh eggs. Then, Carin whips up a brunch-style dish that uses local produce and, of course, eggs from the farm. A recipe for this dish will be available for viewers at mpt.org/farm.
More than 13 million viewers have watched Maryland Farm & Harvest on MPT since the series’ fall 2013 debut. The series has traveled to more than 430 farms, fisheries, and other agriculture-related locations during its first nine seasons, covering every Maryland county, as well as Baltimore City, and Washington, D.C.
Past episodes can be viewed at video.mpt.tv/show/maryland-farm-harvest/, while episode segments are available on the series’ YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/MarylandFarmHarvest/featured. Engage with the show on social media @MarylandFarmHarvest on Facebook and @mdfarmtv on Twitter.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture is MPT’s co-production partner for Maryland Farm & Harvest. Major funding is provided by the Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board.
Additional funding is provided by Maryland’s Best, Rural Maryland Council, Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (Marbidco), a grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Program, Farm Credit, Maryland Soybean Board, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Wegmans Food Markets, Maryland Nursery, Landscape & Greenhouse Association, Maryland Seafood Marketing Fund, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Maryland Farm Bureau, and The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment.
Other support comes from Mar-Del Watermelon Association.
SYNOPSIS OF NOV. 15 EPISODE —
During this season opening veterans-themed episode of Maryland Farm & Harvest, join host Joanne Clendining to find out how an Iraq War veteran returned to work at his family farm in Queen Anne’s County, discover why a Vietnam veteran farmer in Garrett County embraced the Permaculture agricultural farming method, and visit with Al Spoler as he learns about pasture raised chickens from a retired Navy officer in Baltimore County during The Local Buy segment.
About Maryland Public Television
Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through instructional events and Thinkport.org. MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org.
