Abberly Crest Blog

An old farm will once again be the site of local produce soon, in Lexington Park, MD. This is great news for the neighborhoods and communities around South Maryland.

A new farmers market is being constructed at the 108-acre property at Forest Park Road and Route 235 just south of Patuxent River Naval Air Station and it should be open by the Fourth of July.

County government bought the land in September 2006 with the aim of preserving the land and to start a farmers market, five lots were also donated to Patuxent Habitat for Humanity.

The farmers market project is a collaboration between county government and the Home Grown Farm Market, a group of seven local farmers. However, no farmers have signed up yet to actually sell produce at the market; the group is awaiting its opening.

The market will be housed in a 50-by-100-foot barn, and the goal is to eventually keep it open all year instead of just the growing season.

The market will have electricity, but not running water. The project used $428,000 of cigarette lawsuit settlement money, and most of the dollars went to site plan work.

It will be a producer market, meaning that whatever is sold there has to be grown on the seller's own farm. All farmers in Southern Maryland are invited to sell there. There will be room for between 10 and 15 sellers within the barn.

The location of the market is ideal for the workers at Pax River who use Gate 3, which exits onto Forest Park Road.
The market is "an incubator for farmers," and "it's going to take some time to grow and build."

Original article by By Jason Babcock of SoMdnews.com

Lexington Park is an area with beautiful scenery and weather, so get outside. Getting fit, and staying healthy, doesn't have to be hard. There is an easy way to do it, go for a walk. Walking fits into any schedule, and it can be done alone or with a friend.

When you walk, you can get to know your neighbors better. When you are outside you meet others who are outside. You start with smiles, and then conversations begin. Start a walking group with a few of your neighbors. There will certainly be a few others that want to get outside, get walking and get fit. By walking you can better your health and enjoy your neighbors.

Once you start walking you will become energized. Whether you are new to getting exercise through walking or if you are just starting out, there are numerous benefits from this easy and fun exercise.

Best of all there are many health benefits. A simple 2 mile a day walk can decrease your risk of heart disease by up to 40%. Increased health and well being have been proven with any type of daily walking regimen and physical exercise gives you a feeling of well-being. It gets our endorphins going and helps to better our mood. Who can argue with fresh air and sunshine? Walking for 15 minutes a day gets us our daily dose of vitamin D. When you feel happier you enjoy life more and others notice.