I live on Brickyard right by the farm. I don't want those soccer parents here. Find some another place to play.

Soccer is a vital part of Montgomery county. Do we want it to be the only part? This is not about traffic, it's about school board owned organic soil and the opportunities it provides for our students health and well being. Let's think rationally about other locations in Potomac that will not destroy this soil. Our children's health and soccer performance ( at a different location ) will benefit for years to come. If you haven't seen the other side of this story visit savethissoil.org.

It is NOT a small group of people who want to preserve this farm. I have two sons who play soccer for MSI and we love soccer but there are other places to set up fields ... ruining this farm is analogous to mountaintop removal. Once its gone, its gone and it affects our entire ecosystem. It's a big picture problem that a lot of people don't understand but should take the time to...

I have two daughters who play for MSI teams and our entire family opposes laying down soccer fields on top of this educational farm. The Brickyard Educational Farm is for all children in MoCo. The soccer fields are just for a few who are members of MSI and pay for use of the field. The soccer fields are not a public use of the land. I also thought the article's argument about long commutes was disingenuous, as Potomac, for most soccer players, is an extra long commute on busy two-lane roads that can't handle heavy traffic. I can just see the long line of cars trying to get to the Brickyard site on a Saturday morning. It would take us hours to get to those fields. Further, MoCo has 500 soccer fields, many of which need maintenance. MSI should put its money toward fixing up those fields rather than scraping away this public, open-to-all, educational gem in the heart of where we live.

I live in Montgomery Village, and I believe the 32 year old geographically isolated organic seed farm buffered away from commercial farms will be impossible to replicate on another location within 12 months. A "shovel ready" regulation soccer field *stadium* at Northwest Branch Recreational Park near Aspen Hill/Wheaton is looking for a private-public sponsor and MSI Soccer has said no because the land is not in Potomac. School systems all over the country recognize the important of teaching kids about nutrition and where there food comes from. If MSI Soccer needs more fields, let them have the reclaimed landfill the County Executive offered the farmer. If the County Executive thinks eating food grown on a reclaimed landfill is acceptable, it has to be good enough for soccer games.

We only have 5 billiards parlors in MC. Clearly, we have a much greater unmet need for billiards than for soccer. We have an even greater need for cricket fields, squash courts, and ski jumps. According to the county's own study, the need to develop more soccer fields in Potomac is very small. Why should soccer devotees get 100% of what they want when all these other needy groups don't even come close?

Nancy Lee
I live in Potomac. I have four children, all of whom have played soccer at every level from MSI first-grade clinics to NCSL & WAGS. I have traveled the county and the tri-state area just like every other parent. However, I think that traveling is part of playing sports other than school athletics. For example, if your children swim in the winter, you are driving them to the pools. No one is clamoring for new pools. Yes, there is competition for the soccer fields. There has ALWAYS been competition for these fields. nothing has changed - so why pretend that the need for these FOUR fields is an urgent matter. FOUR more fields will not make a dent in what MSI would like. So let's not pretend that FOUR more fields will change anything.
Why doesn't the county and MSI put night lights at their soccer fields because that would allow games and practices to go on later. Instead of making a land grab, maybe MSI and the County Executive could think outside the box for solutions.

188,000 hours divided by 400 playing fields (county data, as shown in the article) amount to 500 hours per year per playing field. This works out to less than 90 minutes per field per day. There is no shortage of playing fields.

NO soccer fields. Are you kidding me? One of the leading causes of cancer is the preservatives in our food.. we need organic farms to grow GOOD food so the players we are referring to can actually live healthy lives and be able to choose to play soccer. This is craziness!! If you think soccer fields are more important then our families health, you need a check up from the neck up!! Who are the parents that are willing to let this happen? You have got to be kidding me.

Number of ball fields in Montgomery Co: 400.
Number of seed-saving organic farms: 1.

savethissoil.org

I live in Bethesda, and so would not be affected by this land use as an immediate neighbor. However, as a taxpayer and supporter of the public schools (I am a 30+ year retiree of MCPS), I am appalled at the lack of transparency and the lack of citizen input allowed by this process that has taken place. All parties interested should have equal access via an un-biased and re-opened application process and citizens should have a right to view and assess whatever back-room deals might have already been made, as our County Council has requested.
I am appalled that a forward-thinking county should ignore the environmental groups, community groups, individual noted environmentalists and the governor who recognize the value of this safe, organic soil. Scientific studies have shown the negative effects on all creatures by chemicals needed to turn this land into soccer fields and paved parking, and especially on children and pregnant women, who, when subject to routine and casual, so-called "chronic", exposure, may experience genetic damage.... increases in behavioral disorders, in-vitro developmental delays, adverse neuro-development, and cancers in humans linked to toxic exposure.
Lastly, it is imperative that we keep this educational land with an educational purpose so that we teach our youngsters and our young farmers to provide healthful, local, organic foods to our communities and schools....the taxes I have paid for 35 years and continue to pay demand nothing less.

A small group who do not want fields in their back yard? Well, I see this in a completely different light. I live in the Silver Spring/Wheaton area. I work in MoCo schools. We desperately need soccer fields here in my neighborhood. I am really sorry for all the parents in Potomac who have to drive their kids to soccer practice. Here in my area, generally both parents work full time, some work two or more jobs, and they take the bus. Their kids have to take the bus if they want to go to soccer or anywhere else. You may not have noticed, but the Brickyard fields have no public transportation options. How are my kids supposed to get there? If MSI cares about children so much, why do they not build fields here where we really need them? Wheaton Regional even has an allocated space. Even better, why does MSI not invest money is some of the existing fields that are in dire need of upkeep?
Aside from that, as someone already mentioned, children’s health is not just about physical exercise; it is about nutrition as well. An educational farm accessible to all children, not just fee-paying soccer members, sounds like a wonderful idea to me.
Once again, the rich get their fields. The rest of us…?

I've written on this before--and can't believe this debate continues! I was born in "old" Potomac, before the McMansions, when fields like this were everywhere. It pains me to see folks working so hard to remove one of the last real working farms in Potomac--I for one am always so glad to drive past it and remember the Potomac I once knew and loved. Why are we so busy erasing our history? And for all we know, this farm may end up being a valuable part of our future!

"but the land is still county land,"

WRONG. This is State land. The land is the property of the Board of Education which is an entity of the State of Maryland, not Montgomery County. This is not county land.

Just curious.. who is getting the profits from crops and educational programs from whats there now? I am, and have been a Montgomery- ("old" potomac raised) resident of MC for 41 years.

Great question. Brickyard Educational Farm is a project of a local non profit., CILSFA. The crops and seeds that would be produced by the educational programming would go towards funding the school programs. Another great part is that a portion of the crops that the young farmers raised would be required to be sold to local MCPS schools to be integrated into school lunches, fulfilling the Jane Lawton farm to school act. You can go to the blog on savethissoil.org to learn more about that act.

I grew up around there and remember it as the corn field. There are a lot of issues about this. First, MSI has gone to the county and asked to take over the maintenance of them but the county said no because then MSI would want preferential treatment to get first use of the field. I think the county is making a bad decision there.
John Hendricks / Discomery put his money where his mouth was when he was fed up withthe crappy fields. -Discovery Soccerplex.
The farm has been getting a sweet deal for along time. I grew up going to school in that area, my kids have as well. So far none of us have gone to the farm for educational purposes.

One more thing...Soccer kids are in the minority. The majority are all the kids that are not in soccer. If this land should serve the purpose of the majority, then the Educational Farm wins hands down. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett is trying to act in the best interests of the "minority" not the majority. Not everybody in MC lives and breathes soccer on the weekends.

I read somewhere that MC has at least 500 soccerfields. Do we want 600, 700, 800 soccerfields? It's insane and never going to be enough. There's so much green space at parks, and other places that are already just grass. Level those and use that. This plot belong to ALL the students. It is so much better off being used as a educational farm that ALL students can take advantage of than for a select few to kick around a ball.
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and MSI are just being donkeys about it.

This discussion always fails to mention that the organic farm on Brickyard is a nationally recognized organic farm with teaching programs for both agriculture students and thousands of MoCo school kids. It is one of very few farms in the nation with this nationally recognized status and teaching capability. MoCo schools have a "No Child Left Inside" program and nationally we now recognize the necessity of teaching our kids how to eat so that they can grow healthy bodies and play sports. My kids played MSI soccer. I am all for soccer; but not at the expense of a national farming treasure that touches the lives of thousands of elementary and agriculture students every year. This area is already more soccer friendly than most. We have a soccerplex one street over and single fields right around the farm. As has been previously noted, there are many other locations for soccer fields. There is no other location for this farm because it is an organic farm. It takes many years to create organic soil and organic farms can not be within a five mile pollination range of GMO farms. Understanding that we are what we eat, that our kids need to learn about nutrition and how we grow our food so they understand what they are eating, why would you destroy a farm that is unique in MoCo and one of a handful like it in the nation to put in soccer fields that we can put somewhere else? Clearly, somebody is not thinking clearly. We need to keep moving forward, not backward.

We had the chance to take some of kids on a fieldtrip to the Brickyard farm where they got to help hands-on with the planting and got to see all the amazing things that make up the fabric of life on this farm. These kids were just glowing and in the ride home they were just so excited about their experience. They were so upset that the farm was going to be destroyed and were coming up with ideas left and right of what they could do to help save the farm. This is truly a one-of-a-kind special farm, I see it touch their hearts and they really felt bonded to the land and food. I've taken my own kids to different farms before but this is the only farm they feel really special about and really connected with. While other states are so far ahead of MC in sustainable teachings and connecting kids with healthy food, MC keeps falling farther behind because we have leaders that just don't get it. The school board, Dr. Starr and Executive Leggett doesn't get the fact that this is not just another farm, it is a gem. To destroy it to put up another typical pesticide-laced soccerfield and asphalt parking lots is shameful and a disservice to all Montgomery County kids. Needless to say our group of kids were heartbroken when we told them that was probably their last trip to this farm.

Potomac Patch is so misinformed! Their information is out of date. This issue should not be framed as a binary decision of soccer fields or farm based education for the children of Montgomery County. Moreover, no one is arguing for the retention of a private organic farm. And no one should be advocating for private soccer fields for MSI. This is public land which should be used for public education. On the contrary, we should all be advocating for using the Brickyard Road Farm Site to educate the children of Montgomery County School System about sustainable farming, preserving the environment and healthy food production. It should not be a zero sum game. There is only one, I repeat, only one certified organic farm buffered from any GMO contamination in the county. This land offers an extraordinary opportunity for our school system to establish a model of farm based education. In 2012 it was demonstrated how popular and effective the Brickyard Educational Farm in educating our children. If fact my grandchildren played soccer in the morning and enjoyed learning at the Brickyard Educational Farm in the afternoon. They could not wait to return to the farm.

Ed

Thanks to those folks who recognize just how unique it is for an organic farm to be far enough away from GMO corn and soybean fields to prevent the mixture of GMO and non-GMO seedstocks. This land is a gem and it's current use is unique in farming and food production. Brickyard Educational Farm will educate the children of Mont. County on farming and seed production at a time when it's needed more than ever. The choices in agriculture between natural and chemically or genetically altered foods are extreme and we'll all learn about the risks which greatly increased when chemical fertilizers were introduced and "technology" in food production brought about changes that include great increases in yields but also nitrogen and phosphorus that creates a dead zone in the Bay each summer. There is an opportunity to educate children and adults about food production on this unique piece of land. If MSI can redirect it's planned investment to upgrade fields in Wheaton and other parts of the county, this can be a win-win, and a truly educational experience can flourish in Potomac, MD

Know what we really have a shortage of in MoCo? Strip clubs. There are none. What does that have to do with children? I'll tell you. . .

When these kids with bitchy helicopter parents grow up, they won't be able to find a date because they haven't done a damn thing for themselves or learned to be strong. They'll be lonely, and need strip clubs. Won't someone think of the children and build some strip clubs?

Seriously, I appreciate the want of another soccer field, and it sounds like the people involved really just want it in Potomac so they don't have to soil themselves with the sight of the hoi polloi. Keep the farm, please. Food, real food that isn't full of subsidized crap, is expensive. The more options to grow it, the better.

Part Two: Potomac Patch, your position is short sighted. There is a plethora of soccer fields and other land which could be used for soccer fields (The County Executive offered such land) which does not require the destruction of an irreplaceable resource in Montgomery County. But there is not one other place for our children to learn and experience sustainable agriculture at a true producing organic farm as Brickyard Educational Farm. At 15 miles from the White House it has the potential to be a national model, one that once again will show that the Montgomery County School System is the leader in the nation.
Just think of the damage and destruction of this precious resource offers that we will squander.
Not only are the opportunity costs priceless, plowing under and paving that precious soil would take away the only heritage seed farm in the county which could teach the children something very important about our planet and the environment which is already in jeopardy. It is the organic soil and the dedicated educators that will help teach children about the necessity for sustainable farming practices and how organic practices translate to healthy bodies and a healthy planet.
Your article on soccer fields calls into question your professional journalism and credibility. If you haven’t seen the other side of this issue visit: savethissoil.org and brickyardeducationalfarm.org.

Edward Jon Guss

“Our family adds considerably to congestion,” Hayden said. “The home field for our child in the Bethesda Soccer Club is in Muldoon’s Farm in Beallsville, which is 17 miles from Potomac. And the home field for our child in the Potomac Soccer Club in Germantown is 13 miles from Potomac.”

Why are permanent soccer facilities being allowed on farmland in the Ag Reserve - served by groundwater and narrow roads. The zoning code does not permit these types of facilities in the area long designsted for farming and resource protection. Where is the code enforcement?
Moreover- Rare and important Brickyard Farm derserves both praise and protection.

Totally hate the idea of more soccer fields - anywhere. But, especially on Brickyard. It's the last thing we need. Sorry that the schools are so monster sized in this area that they can't provide area for all kids to play a sport. I needs to be addressed in another way.

The MSI website contains a document articulating its stance on the Brickyard Property. (https://msipremier.d4sportsadmin.com/object.aspx?id=196) In section 3, "Thoughts in Opposition to the Project," it states: "(MSI) ...cannot accept it as a reason to perpetuate a narrow business use of public land that could provide broad public benefit."

The MSI website also states that "MSI provides soccer participation opportunities for 15,000 Montgomery County youth."

And US Census data reveals that Montgomery County has nearly 1 MILLION residents, presumably all of whom need to eat.

Soccer playing kids constitute 1.5% of the county population.

So which is the narrow use of public land here???

Big misunderstanding here. This is not public land up for grabs. It is land that has already been dedicated to the use of public school children for the public school system in our state. All children are entitled to a free public education. This land is dedicated to make that happen. This land already has a stated owner and purpose.