People are learning more and more about how the foods they eat affect their long-range health from preventing cancer to lowering cholesterol.

One of the ways that our neighbors are living healthier is by buying more organically grown foods. The Future Harvest-Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture is a nonprofit group comprised of farmers and educators who are dedicated to supporting profitable and sustainable food and farming systems in the Chesapeake Bay region.

The Alliance is sponsoring several field days this year to educate the general public about rotational dairy farming, growing vegetables organically, raising small ruminants, and using cover crops.

The next field day will be June 19 at the Belleview Farm, in Baltimore County. Owner Bobby Prigel will give a tour of the farm, focusing on his successful rotational grazing strategies, organic management and his plans for expansion into value-added enterprises.

Prigel has successfully grazed his herd since 1994. For more information, go to www.futureharvestcasa.org.

Right now, we're big time into the gardening season. The 140 volunteer Master Gardeners of Howard County are offering free educational programs about environmentally safe, effective, and sustainable practices that build healthy landscapes.

Check out their Web site at www.agnr.umd.edu/extension/local/Howard/files/mg to find out about their upcoming classes or programs.

The Farmers' Market is now open at the Glenwood Branch Library every Saturday, now through October, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The market will feature the season's freshest, locally-grown produce, baked goods, fruits of the season, flowers, and organically-grown produce and specialty items.

This market is a great opportunity to meet our local farmers and at the same time, buy some healthy food that is grown locally, as well.

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