Nick's Organic Farm Supporters Will Host Rally Wednesday

More than 40,000 area residents signed petitions to save from its proposed fate of becoming soccer fields.

Now, the organizers hope to turn the petitions over to County Executive Ike Leggett's office Wednesday with a bit of fanfare during a rally in Rockville.

“We have been getting such tremendous public support for preserving Nick’s Organic Farm, and people want to know how they can further help this effort,”  Nick Maravell, the owner of Nick’s Organic Farm, said. “We hope that through the petition delivery and rally, our elected officials will take note of how much support there is for continuing farming at this unique site.”

A local agriculture advocacy organization, the Montgomery Countryside Alliance, launched the petition on Change.org, where they collected more than 22,000 signatures.

“We have seen overwhelming public support for preserving the farm and turning it into an educational center. More than 40,000 people have signed our petitions, and 88 percent of the recently submitted public comments about the property's development called for keeping the farm," Sara Shor, Campaign Organizer for Save Nick’s Organic Farm, said. "We hope that the County Executive Leggett will listen to his constituents and stand up for local and sustainable food and agriculture that benefit health, the environment, and the local economy.” 

If Maravell isn't granted the permit to keep his farm, he will have to vacate it come Jan. 1, 2012.

In addition to the rally, organizers hope out-of-town residents will support their cause by calling Leggett's office and supporting the petition's acceptance. 

The rally will begin at 10:45 a.m. at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville.

For more information or to sign the petition visit Change.org.