JOANNE CLENDINING: From the shore to the mountains and all points in between, Maryland agriculture is in business.

Did you know there's a field-side mechanic just a phone call away?

Trees give urban renewal a breath of fresh air?

And an invasive fish is malicious, but delicious?

Don't go anywhere.

Stories about the people who work the land and feed our state are coming up next on "Maryland Farm and Harvest."

NARRATOR: Major funding for "Maryland Farm and Harvest" is made possible in part by: The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, investing in smarter farming to support safe and affordable food, feed, and fuel, and a healthy Bay.

Additional funding provided by: Maryland's Best, good for you, good for Maryland.

A grant from the Rural Maryland Council, Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Fund.

MARBIDCO, helping to sustain food and fiber enterprise for future generations.

A grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Program.

Farm Credit, lending support to agriculture and rural America.

The Maryland Soybean Board and Soybean Checkoff Program, progress powered by farmers.

The Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association.

The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts.

The Maryland Farm Bureau Incorporated.

The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment.

The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation promoting the importance of agriculture in our daily lives.

The Maryland Pork Producers Association proudly works to educate consumers and advocate for farmers.

Taste what pork can do.

(theme music playing).

(bird chirping).

JOANNE: Maryland farms come in all shapes and sizes, but they all grow food to feed us and our animals.

Hi, I'm Joanne Clendining, welcome to "Maryland Farm and Harvest."

This week, we're in Whitehall, Maryland, at a fantastic specialty crop farm called One Straw Farm.

Since 1983, Drew and Joan Norman have cultivated a dedicated following of customers through their CSA program and at the farmers' markets they attend.

One Straw Farm is certified organic, and the Normans' passion for soil health and land stewardship is at the very core of their farming philosophy.

Coming up, a new twist on urban renewal breathes new life into city neighborhoods.

But first, those old tractors, planters, combines, or any other farm machinery can break down at the most inopportune time.

And if you don't do your own wrenching, it's time to give Mike & Sons a call.

(tractor engine).

♪ ♪ Another day and another long commute to the office for Michael Greaves.

Mike is a mobile farm mechanic, so his office changes day to day.

MICHAEL GREAVES: Ah, today's a new day.

JOANNE: While his home base may be in Eastern Shore's Trappe, Maryland, on any given day, he can find himself traveling hours to all parts of Del Marva, including the western edge of Maryland's southern shore.

MICHAEL: So, I'm probably an hour to two hours at most for where I'm going, but it is a fair bit of driving, though.

JOANNE: Today's job site in Harwood, Maryland, is a perfect example.

MICHAEL: Funny thing is, is that when you look on the map, and I'm literally just going straight across and right back down to right about where I'm at.

JOANNE: And that puts him back in farmer William Ford's garage, finishing a repair on a 10-year-old tractor.

MICHAEL: When I was here before.

WILLIAM FORD: We didn't know what was wrong with it, so Mike came over here, and luckily it was a simple fix rather than a very expensive, tough fix.

MICHAEL: So, I came here and found that I had broken bolts on my clutch, right on this plate, on this gear here, right on that, so I got a new one of those.

JOANNE: It's pretty universal that farmers have to be Jacks and Jills of all trades.

But while many larger farms employ full-time mechanics and fabricators to keep their machinery rolling during planting and harvests... (murmured talking) Smaller farmers may not, so they will make repairs as best as they can until something beyond their scope hits the fan.

WILLIAM: There are some things that I don't trust myself or know how to do.

General repairs I can do myself, but when it comes to the big stuff, I call Mike.

JOANNE: Who has the know-how, but better yet, he brings a truckload of tools.

MICHAEL: So, my truck, "mobile garage," as we put it, I've gotta have everything I need, everything I think I need when I go.

So, on the top of the truck, you'll see I've got my crane, got my welder generator, my compressor, spare fuel cans to keep it running.

Truck is an absolute mess.

I got lights on the truck, got spare parts, an assortment of hardware, and a lot of connectors, things to make your quick repairs in the field.

You try to prepare for what you can.

Parts, sensors, bearings, things like that.

You don't know what you need from big to little stuff.

JOANNE: Having the right tool or part where you need it when you need it is essential.

Mike may have one or more jobs in a day, like this next one in Denton, Maryland.

Where he's prepping not one but two massive combines for the upcoming wheat harvest.

MICHAEL: Basically, changing concaves and adjustments and settings, and then find anything that might be of concern before they get going, like "That belt's broken."

Mmm, yummy.

Two's about what I got in me in a day.

(laughing).

Any more than that, you're tired.

JOANNE: Which is understandable since these concaves are over 80 pounds each, but they're essential to a plentiful grain harvest.

MICHAEL: The grain gets between this and the concave, and that's what threshes to get the seed out of the pods and stuff or off the cob.

JOANNE: These wired gaps are sized for particular grains, larger spacing for corn and thinner for wheat, allowing fresh grain to fall through the gaps.

MICHAEL: And then these augers here are what carry it back to your shaker, so that way it can help separate it.

JOANNE: With the concave swapped out, it's time for an overall checkup and some flexibility.

MICHAEL: I'm also looking for any cracks in the frame.

You would love to talk to an engineer for five minutes, but the we all know how that goes.

Definitely don't build 'em to work on 'em.

I go through more screens on my phone, gets dropped and banged, and cracked.

JOANNE: That phone... (phone ringing).

Just might be his most important tool of all.

MICHAEL: Hey Tommy.

You get a lot of calls throughout the day; you try to help him as far as you can.

You got new batteries in that thing, didn't you?

JOANNE: Between Mike's laptop and phone, he can search parts, error codes, and can even link to a tractor's control interface.

And then take me into your calibrations.

They usually need just a vote of confidence that, hey, this, it's okay if I do this, you know?

And you just give them a little nudge, and then they're fine.

Yeah, you're, you're not running all season long like this, so it, it, you're okay.

You get to know these guys, you know, you feel bad for 'em a lot of times, you get in a bad spot, and so you work with them.

I don't plan on doing anything else.

This is what I'm good at, I think, so that's what I wanna keep trying to do.

As long as your body holds out.

(laughs).

JOANNE: Owners of older farm equipment have no fear.

Mike has two sons, so be assured there will be plenty of mobile mechanics helping to keep Maryland's older farm equipment up and running.

And did you know the costs of parts and labor for agriculture machines and equipment has nearly doubled in the past two decades?

In addition to parts and labor costs, it's estimated that manufacturer repair restrictions cost farmers an average of three billion dollars a year.

(bird chirping).

♪ ♪ Alright, it's time to test your inner agronomist.

Here is our thingamajig for the week.

Do you think you know what it is?

Well, here's a hint.

If you need to make a ton of sauerkraut, then this is the tool for you.

Stay tuned, and we'll have the answer at the end of the show.

You know, the old saying, an early bird gets the worm?

Well, an early riser also gets to witness some beautiful sights, especially when the dew is rising off the pasture.

Here are some of our favorite picks of those misty mornings.

Enjoy.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When you think of trees, the first thing that comes to mind are forests and parks, but our next story focuses on greening up urban neighborhoods, replacing concrete slabs with life-changing trees.

(tractor engine).

♪ ♪ Here in Baltimore City, a movement has taken root.

KEEPER: Get about maybe a foot around the tree.

JOANNE: Led by numerous volunteer groups, urban greening is transforming Baltimore sidewalks through urban canopy.

And today, Rayco Turner and volunteers with Midtown Baltimore are leading the charge.

RAYCO TURNER: We typically work with each community's tree store to organize a tree planting per community.

And then we have the events with certified tree keepers to safely show us how to get those trees in the ground.

KEEPER: Let's go ahead and break ground first, because I have a feeling that there was a tree here at some point.

And if there's any surprises in the dirt, I wanna know that first up.

RAYCO: Today's trees are gonna go towards our goal of 350 trees by the fall to meet the requirements of our Chesapeake Bay Urban Trust grants.

JOANNE: More and more cities are investing in greenery, and with reason.

Studies have shown that trees can reduce runoff, boost mental well-being.

RAYCO: Adding shade to homes that can help lower electricity bills when it comes to the summer months.

I would also say it improves the quality of life.

JOANNE: And they also increase the value of surrounding homes by up to $15,000.

It's no wonder this movement has seen a boom.

RAYCO: I know what we're doing here today will help improve the tree canopy, not only in Baltimore City, but all across the world.

JOANNE: Some enterprising individuals, such as Joe Barley of Clear Ridge Nursery, have capitalized on the success of these expanding programs.

JOE BARLEY: Now we're up to 180,000 plants.

We have the two properties that we're working on.

We have about 25 employees now.

So, our customers are environmental landscape contractors, government agencies, whether it's federal, state, or local, and non-profit conservation organizations.

JOANNE: But these 180,000 trees aren't grown from seedlings.

Rather, these small trees are frozen and shipped from the West Coast.

The freezing temperatures prompt hibernation and prevent them from expending excess energy growing leaves.

Once they arrive, the crew pots the trees and acclimates them to the nursery's climate.

JOE: We don't start 'em from seed; we actually buy the liners, the small plants, we plant 'em on and grow 'em to a larger size, that's what we do.

JOANNE: Over the course of six years, Clear Ridge Nursery will then prune, water, and fertilize each tree, making patience one of this industry's most essential tools.

Fortunately, Joe Barley possesses this virtue in spades.

JOE: In the early '90s, the state of Maryland passed The Conservation Bill, and that, in turn, gave me an idea for the nursery.

When they say it takes at least three years before you know if a business is gonna succeed.

I never brought in a dime for four years.

JOANNE: But conservation became this nursery's mission, raising native plants to facilitate the state's reforesting goals.

JOE: It's all native grown plants for conservation, started for conservation work.

JOANNE: But he attributes this incredible growth to his late wife, Sharon's support.

JOE: Without her support and her faith, this still would've just have been an idea.

So, the family was the core that got it started.

JOANNE: So, each maple, red bud, honeysuckle, and other native trees pulled from these rows and bound for Baltimore become more than just the fulfillment of an order, but an extension of this family's legacy of improving their community.

And that legacy is now being carried on by Joe's daughter, Jessica Todd.

After returning from college, she stepped into the role of CEO and will one day take over the farm.

JESSICA TODD: My mom had an amazing ability to trust my father and his vision.

So, if you saw what this property looked like when my father bought it, you would understand why she cried.

And he knew that no matter whether he succeeded or failed, she was gonna be there to help pick him up when he needed.

I wanna be able to continue on that legacy of, of growing a really strong plant.

You see it on the sideline or in the sidewalk or in a, in a park, and you're like, oh, wow, that that started with us.

JOANNE: Midtown Baltimore will then pick these trees up from an intermediary nursery and will eventually make their winding journey from seedling to sapling to sidewalk.

VOLUNTEER: This is our tree.

We named it Treeonce, we have triplets, we have Rootella up there, and Sprout down there.

JOANNE: And while Joe May never see these trees reach their full height, he knows their impact will be felt long after he's gone.

JOE: For me, my legacy here would be the planting of the trees throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

They're really what matters most to me.

And just like Midtown Baltimore, Clear Ridge Nursery knows that their goal isn't to witness the outcome, but to make it possible.

VOLUNTEER: Treeonce!

GROUP: Treeonce!

JOANNE: Launched in 2007 by the mayor's office, the Tree Baltimore Initiative hopes to cover 40% of Baltimore in canopy by 2037.

And did you know an acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people every day?

(bird chirping).

Coming up an invasive fish that's actually a palate pleaser.

But first, there's a reason why farmers decide to plant certain crops in a particular field.

And Emma Jagoz gives us the lowdown on this week's "Ask A Farmer How It Works."

♪ ♪ EMMA JAGOZ: Hi, my name is Emma Jagoz, and I'm the owner and farmer here at Moon Valley Farm.

A question I'm often asked is, how do I decide what to plant where on my diversified organic vegetable farm?

Well, in short, the answer is complicated.

♪ ♪ Our farm is laid out in a series of blocks, each block dedicated to a specific crop each season.

This helps us to break up pest and disease cycles year after year, and to extract different soil nutrients.

Right here, we have peppers, and we won't have peppers in this same spot for another four years.

Last year, this field was planted in strawberries, and as you can see, it's now in tomatoes.

In addition to crop rotation, we take many plant needs into consideration, such as shade tolerance, soil preference, and irrigation needs.

There's many factors to consider when selecting which plant to grow in what field, but this holistic approach allows us to grow the healthiest possible plants for our customers.

♪ ♪ JOANNE: On this week's "Farm to Skillet," chef Matt Lego goes fishing for dinner, and the catch is an invasive that's tastier than it looks.

(sizzling).

♪ ♪ CHEF LEGO: Hi there, I'm Chef Matt Lego, and welcome back to my kitchen here at Leo Annapolis.

Today I'm gonna be cooking up something that should be on everybody's radar: wild-caught blue catfish.

If you didn't know, blue catfish is an invasive species in our area.

It's hurting the Chesapeake.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that it's delicious and it's very accessible.

In fact, I joined my friend, photographer and Bay conservationist, Jay Fleming, out on his boat on the Bay to haul in a few of these monsters.

Check it out.

♪ ♪ JAY FLEMING: Come on, fish.

Make us look good.

There's a fish.

Kitty alert, kitty alert.

Tell me that's not fun to pull 'em in like that.

MATT: That's crazy, holy cow.

Gaffer up, cap.

JAY: So, on our third hook in, we got a nice one, probably 25 pounds right in the barrel.

MATT: You said there's 100 hooks on each line?

JAY: Yeah.

Get pulling, chef.

Here kitty-kitty.

MATT: This is a mean way to make a living.

JAY: Yep.

So, the blue catfish were first introduced into the Chesapeake Bay in 1973 and '74, around that time by the state of Virginia, as like a sport fish.

So little did they, they know that it was gonna become an ecological disaster for the Bay.

MATT: So, what makes catfish in the Bay such an ecological disaster?

JAY: These catfish, as you can see from what we're catching today, get pretty big, and they've got a voracious appetite.

MATT: Mm-hmm.

JAY: They feed throughout the water column; they even feed on clams in the bottom, so they feed on fish, menhaden, perch, striped bass, shad.

I mean, they eat everything.

MATT: They eat crabs, too, don't they?

JAY: They eat crabs, yeah.

MATT: So, as Marylanders, we love our crabs.

So, eating more catfish is actually protecting the blue crabs.

JAY: Absolutely, protecting the species and protecting the commercial fishery for blue crabs.

MATT: Mm-hmm.

JAY: Which is Maryland's most valuable commercial fishery.

They're easy to catch.

So, for anglers, it's a great opportunity to get out and, you know, help make a difference and catch something that's good to eat.

MATT: Yeah.

As a complete novice just the, the sheer bang for your buck factor of pulling one of those 25-pound bad boys outta the water.

The thrill is, is pretty cool.

JAY: You should stick to the pan, though.

MATT: Yeah, I know.

I think you're right.

JAY: Yeah, we'll catch 'em for you.

MATT: Yeah.

Man, that was so much fun being out there on the boat, seeing these monstrous fish up close and personal.

It feels good knowing that we're doing our part to clean up the bay of these invasive species.

So, the first thing that we're gonna do here is we're gonna trim these filets up a little bit and make 'em into nice portions to lay in the pan.

For this recipe, we're gonna get our bacon diced up and get ready to make our grits.

First thing we're gonna do is get our chicken stock in a pan, some whole milk, and we're just gonna let that come up to a boil and add in our grits.

The last two things we need to do is whisk in some Grana cheese and some nice cold cubed butter.

Now it's time to get our fish underway.

(pan sizzling) We want nice, golden, and browned butter.

So once our filets are at this stage, we're gonna transfer 'em onto a baking sheet and finish 'em off in the oven.

(pan sizzling) We're gonna add in our onion, our tomato.

We're gonna add our bacon back into the party.

This cold cube butter is gonna add a little bit of extra body to our sauce, a little extra richness.

Oh yeah.

That fish is ready to go.

It's time to plate everything up.

Herbs.

JAY: Well, hey.

MATT: Oh, hey, what's going on, Jay?

JAY: Not much, man.

MATT: Well, you're just in time, man, you want me to fix you up a plate?

JAY: Perfect.

MATT: Beautiful catfish and grits.

You wanna give it a shot?

JAY: Yeah, man, love to.

Mmm.

It's what I like to call malicious but delicious.

MATT: That's right.

That's tasty.

JAY: I approve, man, well done.

MATT: Thanks.

You can get this recipe at home go to mpt.org/farm for this recipe and to learn more about the invasive blue catfish.

JAY: And remember, the only way to beat 'em is to eat 'em.

JOANNE: Mmm, blue catfish is some good eating.

Be sure to check out mpt.org/farm for all our recipes and resources.

Plus, you can watch all "Farm and Harvest" episodes there as well.

Also, don't forget to follow us on social media for show updates, pictures, and videos.

Now, hold on, we're not done yet.

Remember our thingamajig?

Did you guess it?

Our hint was if you need to make a ton of sauerkraut, then this is the tool for you.

This is an antique cabbage slicer you'd place a head of cabbage in this box and then slice away.

Just watch your fingers.

Congratulations if you got it right.

Join us next week for another thingamajig, along with more stories about the diverse, passionate people who feed our state.

I'm Joanne Clendining, thanks for watching.

(music plays through credits).

NARRATOR: Major funding for "Maryland Farm and Harvest" was made possible in part by: The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, investing in smarter farming to support safe and affordable food, feed, and fuel, and a healthy Bay.

Additional funding provided by Maryland's Best, good for you, good for Maryland.

A grant from the Rural Maryland Council, Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Fund.

MARBIDCO, helping to sustain food and fiber enterprise for future generations.

A grant from the Maryland Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Program.

Farm Credit, lending support to agriculture and rural America.

The Maryland Soybean Board and Soybean Checkoff Program, progress powered by farmers.

The Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Association.

The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts.

The Maryland Farm Bureau Incorporated.

The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment.

The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation promoting the importance of agriculture in our daily lives.

The Maryland Pork Producers Association proudly works to educate consumers and advocate for farmers.

Taste what pork can do.

(bird chirping).

♪ ♪