Garrett County

Join the seed-saving movement with our first annual Seed Circle Project. This year's seed choice is Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter Tomato. We will highlight this heirloom tomato and show you how to save seeds at the end of the season, so you can return dried seeds to local seed libraries or your local extension office.

Free seeds or plants will be available and the only thing that we ask is that you pass along seeds to friends, neighbors, and donate what you can back to seed libraries across Allegany and Garrett County. 🍅 Seeds will be available while supplies last in Allegany and Garrett Counties, but anyone can come to learn about tomatoes! Locations for picking up free seeds for this project will be announced in March!

A Virtual Tomato Basics Gardening Class will kick off our seed saving year on, February 23rd at 12:30pm!

Register here: https://go.umd.edu/2026SeedCircleProjectRegistration

The University of Maryland Extension, the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and the Agriculture Law Education Initiative will host a free workshop, “Understanding Eminent Domain,” on Monday, February 17, at 6:00 p.m. at Garrett College in McHenry, Maryland. The workshop is designed to help landowners better understand how eminent domain and utility easements may affect their property, particularly in relation to proposed electric transmission lines.
The workshop will take place in Room 111 of the GIEC Building, located at 687 Mosser Road, McHenry, MD 21541. There is no cost to attend, but registration is encouraged by February 13.

This educational program will explain how eminent domain works, what landowners can expect during utility easement negotiations, and the options available to protect landowner rights and pursue fair compensation. The session is intended for landowners, farmers, and community members who want to be informed and prepared when facing potential infrastructure projects affecting private property.

“Landowners often have questions and concerns when approached about easements or potential transmission projects,” said Paul Goeringer, Principal Faculty Specialist and Extension Specialist in agricultural law with the University of Maryland. “This workshop provides practical, plain-language information to help landowners understand the process and make informed decisions.”

Participants can register online at https://go.umd.edu/TLWorkshop. For additional information, interested individuals may call (301) 334-6960.

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), University of Maryland Extension, and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host three one-day workshops on Jan. 13th in Mountain Lake Park, Jan. 27th at the Central MD Research and Education Center, and Feb. 11 at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, in the English Room. The Farm Succession and Estate Planning workshops will be from 10 am to 2:30 pm.
The free program will assist Maryland farm families in starting the estate planning process, including creating a successful succession plan, having difficult conversations, and health insurance options for farmers. A grant funds the program through the Northeast Risk Management Education Center.