Tanya Spandhla
Story & Photography by Caroline Taylor
Tanya Spandhla had been tending her small plot in a community garden near her
home in Germantown. It was a satisfying hobby. But her commute to work each day took her past verdant swaths of farmland and she was pulled toward doing and growing more. What Tanya yearned for was a few acres of her own to cultivate crops like the ones she and her family tended together years ago in Zimbabwe. After hearing Tanya pine for “a little piece of ground” for some little time, a friend urged her to research local resources that might help.
“As soon as I touch the soil, I am energized.
I am ready to take on the next task.”
Tanya discovered Land Link Montgomery, and it was a good day for all of us. After hearing again and again from a growing number of established and aspiring farmers that the single greatest challenge to farming in Montgomery County is the lack of access to affordable acreage, Montgomery Countryside Alliance (MCA) began exploring ways our nonprofit might help. Luckily, local producer, Vermont transplant and MCA board member Shannon Varley had previous experience with a program called New England Land Link. Its premise was pretty simple: create a user-friendly online platform for landowners willing to lease/lend farmable acreage to connect with farmers searching for land.
In 2011 Land Link Montgomery was launched, and with the steady administration of MCA staffer Kristina Bostick, the program has successfully connected farmers to land on over 450 acres in the County. And while the program’s concept seems fairly simple, as things generally go, the details can be less so. Kristina helped Tanya connect with a physician’s small acreage in Olney. The match worked very well until the hungry local geese and deer population began devouring more than their fair share of her produce. The best solution for Tanya was to relocate on another farm. Ultimately, she was paired with Edgewood, the Becker family farm in the Laytonsville area. It was 2015 and Tanya’s Passion to Seed Farm was born.
Helping farmers like Tanya Spandhla has been deeply satisfying. The success of the program is more than the numbers of acres linked or the dollars earned by each farmer, though those are central goals. The initiative attracts farmers to the County who have ultimately launched or expanded businesses but also, importantly, have strengthened our rural community. New producers bring new ideas, products and energy. Tanya, for example, grows specialty crops from Africa that are sought after not only from members of the local immigrant community but also by the growing diverse tastes of regional palettes. Kiwano, or horned melon, pumpkin leaves and a corn cultivar are Tanya’s cash crops and she cannot grow enough to meet the desire. She has also signed up to supply produce to Manna’s Community Food Rescue program which connects farm, restaurant, and store overages to communities in need. And, remarkably, Tanya actively serves on both Montgomery County Food Council and Montgomery Countryside Alliance boards.
“We want to keep the land in farming.”
This past March, just about five years after their match, Tanya, father and daughter John and Frances Becker, and I met to talk about how the program was working for them. Greeted amiably by Vivian the cat, we sat together in the parlor of the historic 1780 farmhouse. The longevity of the place, carefully preserved but joyfully lived in, spoke to the family’s mission. I had questions. Had the program fulfilled expectations? Did they have advice for others? Frances, ninth generation on the farm, was quick to note that she really had no expectation other that she wanted the farm to continue to farm. The larger portions of the 180-plus acre farm have been leased for years to commodity producer Drew Stabler. There was good land, two flat acres adjacent to the farmstead that was too small for big equipment, available for a small-scale producer. John had married into the farm and having been a career educator he hoped that the land might help someone hone their craft. The Beckers wanted the producer to use organic techniques, to protect habitat around the farmhouse for critters. “I love this land and the wildness with resident fox, turkeys, woodpeckers,” Frances said adding, “It was important to have someone who cares for this land.”
Tanya, father and daughter Francis Becker with Vivian the cat
As far as lessons learned, Frances offered up the case of Tanya’s new greenhouse. “Tanya asked if she could build one for season extension and controlled growing conditions. I should have asked the size,” Frances noted. “I should have told you,” Tanya acknowledged. John Becker smiled. It is a pretty good-sized greenhouse. We all agreed that clear and consistent communication between farmer and landowner is key.
And yet you could see from the ease of the conversation and the shared compliments that this was a good match. “Tanya shares her produce. We love that,” Frances remarked. “I came into this knowing it would not be an overnight success,” Tanya emphasized. “I wouldn’t have gotten this far without the Becker’s warmth and support.”
Before parting, we all laughed long and hard at the story of Tanya’s sloppy collision with a big manure pile on the farm and the ensuring comedic joint effort to get her car free.
“This land gives me hope, something to look forward to. This is a life sustainer for me.”
I caught up with Tanya again at her farm on a mid-July’s hazy, thick day. She had taken a break in the shade, with needed fortification of now very soft chocolates and cool water which she generously shared after motioning me to sit with her. We were both taking time away from busy. This lovely, rangey bit of land is clearly her element— her contentment and peace immediately felt. The conversation flowed along with life philosophies shared. “Farming teaches me about
patience and being in the moment at each stage when the crops are growing up. The beauty of planting a tiny mustard seed, and then...the harvest of the big leaves,” she beamed. It is a tangible thing. But it is also deeply spiritual. “There is a much deeper meaning than the financial transaction,” Tanya said. And that is what we have heard over the years from other producers—the satisfaction of deeper human connection through the planting, nurturing and shared harvest.
Kiwano, or horned Mellon, is a specialty fruit from Africa and one of Tanya’s cash crops
We also talked about the other substantial challenges to farmers here, including securing knowledgeable and affordable labor, groundhogs and deer. “The ground hog that lives near the greenhouse is so fat he can’t even walk,” Tanya complained. And there is the cost of fencing, and a watering system. And the rain… the incredible destructive volume and velocity of the storms that the region is experiencing has resulted in heavy crop loss, especially last year. But Tanya is like most all farmers—an optimist—and is buoyed by the strong bond she has formed with her customers, those at market and those who come to the farm. “They start asking for corn in February!”
“MCA’s Land Link program has allowed us to connect with and learn from local farmers as well as keep our land in agriculture. We have had the opportunity to house two vegetable farmers and market their produce. We have learned about planting and preserving the land and have the luxury of eating fresh produce throughout the season.”
Tanya offers her produce at Main Street Farmers Market and Artists Market in Kentlands
There is reason for optimism. The positive signs are there for Land Link and the growth of farming in the Reserve. For several years after the program was launched, we had a paucity of land owners in the system. And now land owners, seeing the value of having their land in farming, are signing up in greater numbers. The latest Agricultural Census shows an increase in farms in Montgomery County. That works for all of us!
Land Link Montgomery
Helping farmland and farmers find each other...
There are currently 14 farms and 28 farmers awaiting a match, presenting a perfect opportunity to grow together.
6078 Landowner Seeking Farmer Unique opportunity available for leasing approximately 15-18 acres of land at no cash cost. Additional 90 acres may be available as well. Interested only in farmer with demonstrated experience in regenerative agriculture. Nonprofit owners’ goals include: farmer earning profits, documented increases in carbon sequestration, educating County, farmers and interesting public in results.
6068 Landowner Seeking Farmer For Lease – 1-30+ acres for a kind farmer who would be open to our family learning and helping some! Prefer mixed use of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Open to livestock. Studio apartment available.
Water and electric, barns, large garage, etc. Multi-year lease preferred. Open to your ideas and suggestions.
6071 Farmer Seeking LAND WANTED: FARM Land to Lease or Rent to Own: My wife and I are a couple interested in pursuing agriculture as a family. We are looking for 3-5 acres of land for organic vegetable farming and goats/lamb to raise for meat. If you are a retiring farmer and want to share some part of your land with a couple passionate about agriculture and preserving your legacy, please contact us. I have over
10 years farming experience in Africa before relocating to the U.S. My ambition is to continue my love for
farming here.
6076 Farmer Seeking Land We are a mid-40s couple looking for 20 acres or more to start an agritourism business somewhere between DC and Frederick. We have an interest in U-pick crops, table crops, commodity crops, orchards, cut flowers, chickens, sheep, horses, bees, and Christmas trees. One of us has extensive gardening experience and comes from a farming family. We both have experience with agritourism in Europe.
Learn more: http://www.mocolandlink.org/