* Host: IT'S A BIG LITTLE WORLD OUT THERE BEYOND THE SUBURBS AND THE BELTWAYS.

DID YOU KNOW THAT SOME FARM KIDS NEVER OUTGROW THEIR TOYS... THAT THIS TINY BUG CAUSES BIG PROBLEMS FOR SOYBEANS... AND THAT THESE PETITE FLOWERS AREN'T JUST FOR DECORATION... DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

ALL THESE LITTLE STORIES ARE COMING UP NEXT ON MARYLAND FARM & HARVEST .

Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR MARYLAND FARM & 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... MARBIDCO, HELPING TO SUSTAIN FOOD AND FIBER ENTERPRISE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS...

THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND.

MID-ATLANTIC FARM CREDIT, LENDING SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AMERICA...

RURAL MARYLAND COUNCIL, A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR RURAL MARYLAND...

THE MARYLAND SOYBEAN BOARD AND SOYBEAN CHECKOFF PROGRAM, PROGRESS POWERED BY FARMERS... WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS, HEALTHIER, BETTER LIVES THROUGH FOOD...

THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS... AND BY...

THE MARYLAND NURSERY, LANDSCAPE, AND GREENHOUSE ASSOCIATION...

THE MARYLAND SEAFOOD MARKETING FUND...

THE MARYLAND FARM BUREAU, INCORPORATED...

THE KEITH CAMPBELL FOUNDATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT... AND BY... CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY MARYLAND RELAY, EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR SPEECH DISABLED TO STAY CONNECTED BY PHONE.

* Host: IF YOU GREW UP ON A FARM, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU RECEIVED TOY TRACTORS AS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT AT LEAST ONCE.

THESE MODELS ARE 1/16TH THE SIZE OF THE REAL THING, AND THESE GUYS ARE EVEN SMALLER AT 1/64TH.

HI, I'M JOANNE CLENDINING, AND THIS IS MARYLAND FARM & HARVEST .

WE'RE AT INVERNESS FARM IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND TODAY'S SHOW IS ALL ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS.

FROM KIDS TOYS TO SOYBEANS, WE'RE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT MARYLAND AGRICULTURE.

LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL ZOOM IN ON A PESKY INSECT THAT'S HARD TO FIND.

BUT FIRST, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A FARM KID TO ENJOY PLAYING WITH TRACTORS.

IN FACT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A KID AT ALL.

* Joe Trout: I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE FOR JOHN DEERE, WHICH STEMS BACK TO MY DAYS WHEN I WAS A KID.

Joanne: LOVE MIGHT BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

WHEN HE'S NOT WORKING AS A TRACTOR OPERATOR AT A USDA RESEARCH FARM, JOE TROUT IS WORKING ON HIS MASSIVE COLLECTION OF TOY TRACTORS AT HIS HOME IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.

Joe T: I HAVE APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 14, 1500 PIECES HERE OF TRACTORS, EQUIPMENT, TRUCKS, TOY WISE.

Joanne: AND HIS COLLECTION USED TO BE EVEN BIGGER BEFORE HE DECIDED TO DOWNSIZE AND FOCUS ONLY ON TOYS MODELED AFTER JOHN DEERE'S FROM THE 1960s AND '70s.

Trout: MY DAD LOVED HIS JOHN DEERE EQUIPMENT, AND IN 1967, HE BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 3020.

IN MY COLLECTION, THIS IS PROBABLY THE CLOSEST THING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT.

MY DAD CALLED IT "BIG JOHN."

THAT WAS OUR BIG TRACTOR ON OUR MOM AND POP FARM BACK IN WESTMINSTER.

SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS TRACTOR HERE IS VERY SENTIMENTAL TO ME.

EVERY TIME I LOOK AT IT, AND I THINK OF ALL THE FUN TIMES, I HAD DRIVING IT AND USING IT.

I LEARNED ALL MY LICKS ON IT, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

Joanne: AND IT WAS THE MEMORIES OF THAT TRACTOR THAT LED HIM TO TOY COLLECTING.

SINCE, THEY'RE TYPICALLY MEANT FOR KIDS, MANY FARM TOYS ARE SIMPLIFIED VERSIONS OF THEIR FULL-SIZE COUNTERPARTS.

BUT ONCE JOE GETS THEM, THEY DON'T STAY THAT WAY.

Joe T: WELL, EVERY TOY THAT I GET, BEFORE IT HITS THE SHELF, I SIT DOWN IN MY LITTLE SHOP AREA BACK HERE AND I GO OVER IT, AND LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE HOW CAN I MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE REALISTIC.

I LIKE HOOD CAPS, LIGHTS, PROPER TIRES, MUFFLERS, ET CETERA.

EVERYTHING HAS A JOE TROUT TOUCH TO IT.

Joanne: THROUGH, 25 YEARS OF COLLECTING, HE'S LEARNED THE BEST PLACE TO FIND MORE TOYS IS FROM OTHER LIKE-MINDED FANATICS.

AND THERE WERE PLENTY AT THE 34TH ANNUAL CENTRAL MARYLAND FARM TOY SHOW AND AUCTION.

Charlie Black: I'M JUST A BIG OLD BOY PLAYING WITH MY TOYS.

[laughs] * Joanne: IN JANUARY OF 2020, THE CARROLL COUNTY AGRICULTURE CENTER WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

Tim Talbert: THE KIDS COME FOR THE NEW TOYS, SO THEY CAN PLAY WITH.

BUT THE OLDER PEOPLE, LIKE I SAY, IT'S REMINISCING THE OLD DAYS.

YEAH.

I GREW UP ON THAT TRACTOR.

I DROVE THAT OLIVER 60.

I CULTIVATED CORN, AND I PLOWED WITH THAT, YOU KNOW.

Joanne: TIM TALBERT HAS ORGANIZED THE SHOW SINCE IT STARTED IN 1987 AS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE CARROLL COUNTY FAIR.

Tim: ALL THE HELP HERE IS ALL VOLUNTEERS THROUGH 4H AND THE FAIR BOARD.

SO ALL THE MONEY, THE PROCEEDS FROM THE DOOR, THE AUCTION TONIGHT, ALL WILL GO BACK INTO THE FAIR.

Joanne: THE SHOW INCLUDES VENDORS, COLLECTORS, AND SIGHTSEERS AS WELL AS ELABORATE DISPLAY BUILDERS.

THE TOY FARM FANTASY OF IRVIN AND CHARLIE BLACK SPREAD ACROSS SEVERAL TABLETOPS.

Irvin Black: BUT I THINK, HE'S MORE OF THE EQUIPMENT AND I'M MORE THE TRACTORS, THE COWS, HOW THE COWS ARE MILKED.

SO THAT'S MORE WHAT I ENJOY.

Charlie Black: IN OTHER WORDS, I'M MORE OF A CROP FARMER.

HE'S MORE THE DAIRY FARMER.

Irvin: THERE YOU GO.

Joanne: AS TOY FARMERS LARGE AND SMALL PERUSE THE SELECTIONS, ONE THING STANDS OUT, THE PRICES.

YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT WHAT PEOPLE PAY FOR RARE WELL-PRESERVED TOYS.

Joe T: AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, HERE'S A LOT OF NICE USE TOYS.

YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE WEAR AND TEAR ON SOME OF THESE, BUT STILL, I COULD TAKE THAT TOY AND HAVE IT LOOKING BRAND NEW WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

BUT I HAVE SO MANY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM NOW.

Joanne: THAT'S WHERE HIS FRIENDS LIKE SKIP COME IN.

Skip: IT'S BASED ON MY IMAGINATION.

[laughter] Joanne: HE MAKES CUSTOM TOY MODIFICATIONS AND JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT CAUGHT JOE'S EYE.

Joe T: WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO BE ADDING TO MY COLLECTION TODAY.

IT IS A JOHN DEERE 110 LAWN AND GARDEN TRACTOR.

THIS WAS A BROKEN TOY AT ONE POINT THAT HE CREATED SOMETHING OUT OF, KIND OF UNIQUE.

SKIP ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING FOR ME.

WHEN I DON'T BUY SOMETHING FROM SKIP, HE'S USUALLY VERY UPSET AT ME.

Joanne: BUT FOR JOE, THE PASSION GOES BEYOND COLLECTING.

THESE SHELVES ALSO HOLD MEANING AND MEMORIES.

Joe T: WAY BACK IN THE EARLY 2000s, MY FATHER HAD A SERIES OF STROKES.

THAT WAS A VERY TOUGH TIME FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

BUT TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO MY TOY ROOM AND SPEND THREE OR FOUR HOURS WORKING ON TOYS, I DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE.

SO, THESE TOYS HERE ACTUALLY, LITERALLY GOT ME THROUGH SOME ROUGH SPOTS.

Joanne: AND YOUNGER, OLD, THE APPEAL OF THESE LITTLE MACHINES SEEMS AGELESS.

Joe T: THE TOYS ARE MORE THAN JUST PLAY THINGS.

THEY ARE VERY EDUCATIONAL.

THEY'RE VERY MEDICINAL.

THEY'RE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY'RE NOT JUST TOYS.

* Joanne: ALL RIGHT, IT'S TIME TO TEST YOUR AGRICULTURAL EXPERTISE.

HERE IS OUR THING-A-MA-JIG TO DO FOR THE WEEK.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?

HERE'S A HINT, IT'S NOT A BREAD BOX.

STAY TUNED AND WE'LL HAVE THE ANSWER AT THE END OF THE SHOW.

NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS CUTER WHEN IT'S SMALL, AT LEAST THAT'S THE WAY IT IS WITH ANIMALS.

WE ASKED FARMERS TO POST PHOTOS OF THEIR BABY LIVESTOCK ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND WHAT THEY SENT US WAS ADORABLE.

* Joanne: OF COURSE, NOT ALL TINY THINGS ARE CUTE.

FOR OUR NEXT FARMER, A LITTLE BUG HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE BIG PROBLEMS FOR HIS SOYBEAN CROP.

* A BIG SOYBEAN HARVEST STARTS WITH ATTENTION TO ALL THE LITTLE DETAILS.

Kyle Hutchinson: SO, I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT THESE ARE ALL SHARP, NOT BROKEN.

Joanne: INSPECTING THE KNIVES ON THE COMBINE, DOING A QUICK TASTE TEST.

Kyle: IF THEY SNAP, THEY'RE CLOSE TO BEING READY AFTER CHEWING...A SNAP.

Joanne: IT'S ALL PART OF THE JOB FOR 4TH GENERATION FARMER, KYLE HUTCHINSON, WHOSE FAMILY HAS BEEN GROWING SOYBEANS HERE AT HUTCHINSON BROTHERS FARM IN CORDOVA SINCE, WELL.

Kyle: AS I CAN REMEMBER, CERTAINLY SINCE THE '70s, MY FATHER STARTED FARMING IN THE '60s WITH ONE OF HIS BROTHERS.

SO, I WOULD THINK BACK THEN ALSO.

Joanne: RECENTLY, HE'S BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON A TINY PROBLEM HIDING IN THE BEANS.

Alan Leslie: OH, HERE'S ONE THAT ACTUALLY SNAPPED OFF.

YOU CAN SEE THAT CLEAN CUT FROM WHERE THEY ACTUALLY CHEWED THROUGH IT.

THAT'S WHERE YOU LOSE YOUR MONEY.

Joanne: ON THIS MORNING IN EARLY OCTOBER, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION AGENT ALAN LESLIE JOINS KYLE TO SCOUT FOR A TROUBLESOME INSECT KNOWN AS "DECTES STEM BORER."

Alan: SO, DECTES STEM BORER HAS BEEN KIND OF AN INTERMITTENT SPORADIC PEST OF SOYBEANS IN MARYLAND AND DELAWARE.

ONLY RECENTLY, FARMERS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZING AND REPORTING THAT IT HAS, BECOME A MORE SERIOUS PEST.

Joanne: DURING THE SUMMER, FEMALE BEETLES LAY THEIR EGGS INSIDE SOYBEAN PLANTS, BUT THE DAMAGE DOESN'T SHOW UNTIL AUTUMN.

Alan: THE LARVAE COMPLETE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE INSIDE OF THE MAIN STEM OF THE PLANT.

AND ONCE, THE PLANT DRIES DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD NORMALLY BE HARVESTED, THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE BASE OF THE PLANT TO THROUGH THE BASE OF THE STEM OF THE PLANT, AND THEN BURY THEMSELVES IN THE CROWN OF THE ROOT.

AND THAT SEVERELY WEAKENS THE STEM.

AND IF YOU GET ANY KIND OF WIND OR STORM EVENT, THEN THAT PLANT WILL JUST SNAP AND FALL TO THE GROUND.

Joanne: AND SUDDENLY, BEANS THAT WERE READY FOR HARVEST HAVE FALLEN OUT OF REACH OF THE COMBINE.

Kyle: THE HARVESTING EQUIPMENT DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PICK UP THAT PLANT ONCE IT BREAKS OFF AND FALLS, IT JUST KIND OF PUSHES THEM OVER, AND THEN YOU'RE JUST KIND OF SLIDING OVER TOP OF THEM AND NOT GETTING THEM INTO THE MACHINE.

SO YOU HAVE LOST THAT PLANT.

YES, YOU COULD GO OVER WITH YOUR HAND AND YOU CAN PICK IT UP AND PUT IT IN THE HEADER, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT WHEN THERE'S 120,000 PLANTS PER ACRE.

WORST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE PROBABLY 25% YIELD LOSS.

AND I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE ALL YOUR PROFIT RIGHT THERE GONE.

[COMBINE NOISE] Joanne: THANKFULLY, TODAY'S CROP LOOKS SAFE.

* ALAN HAS STUDIED DECTES STEM BORER SINCE 2017.

ALTHOUGH, NOT AS DESTRUCTIVE AS SOME PESTS, THIS NATIVE INSECT HAS PROVEN TRICKY TO CONTROL.

FOR ONE THING, CHEMICAL SPRAYS AREN'T VERY EFFECTIVE.

Alan: NOW, THERE'S SEVERAL REASONS THAT INSECTICIDES DON'T WORK.

THE FIRST IS THAT THE ADULTS ARE THE ONLY LIFE STAGE THAT YOU CAN TARGET.

OUR WORK SHOWS THAT THE ADULTS WILL EMERGE BETWEEN THE BEGINNING OF JULY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST.

SO, A SINGLE APPLICATION INSECTICIDE IS NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU SEASON LONG CONTROL OF THE ADULT POPULATION.

AND THE EGGS ARE LAID INSIDE THE PLANT, THE LARVA HATCHES, IT SPENDS ITS ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE DEVELOPING INSIDE THE PLANT, AND YOU CAN'T SPRAY IT, IF IT'S INSIDE THE PLANT.

SO, YOU CAN'T GET ANY COVERAGE WITH CHEMICAL INSECTICIDES.

Joanne: FARMERS CAN TILL THE GROUND AFTER HARVEST TO BURY THE LARVAE, BUT THIS CAUSES UNWANTED SOIL EROSION.

A MORE PROMISING OPTION: CROP ROTATION.

Alan: SO PLANTING THE SAME CROP IN THE SAME FIELD, YEAR AFTER YEAR TENDS TO BE A PROBLEM BECAUSE PESTS HAVE A CONTINUOUS HOST, AND THEY CAN STAY IN THAT FIELD, AND REPRODUCE, AND BE HAPPY, AND SUCCESSFUL EVERY YEAR.

SO, DECTES STEM BORER CAN'T REPRODUCE ON CORN, THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE ROTATED IN BETWEEN PLANTING SOYBEANS.

SO, EVEN GOING A SINGLE YEAR INTO CORN MEANS THAT ENTIRE FIELD IS NO LONGER SUITABLE HABITAT FOR DECTES.

Kyle: THE ISSUE IS WHERE WE PLANT A LOT OF OUR FULL SEASON SOYBEANS, WE PLANT THAT ON OUR POOREST GROUND BECAUSE THEY'RE A CHEAPER CROP TO GROW.

SO, YOU TRY TO ROTATE THEM INTO CORN BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ISSUE WITH CORN, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT EVERY OTHER YEAR BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR POOREST GROUND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO LOSE MONEY ON IT.

SO, IT'S KIND OF A CHICKEN AND EGG THING, YOU KNOW.

YOU GOT TO ROTATE THEM SOME, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT TOO MUCH.

[COMBINE NOISE] Joanne: BUT THE OPTIONS DON'T STOP THERE.

Kyle: TIMELY HARVEST IS ANOTHER THING.

IF YOU KNOW YOU GOT A PROBLEM IN THAT FIELD, BE THERE WHEN THEY'RE READY, DON'T WAIT ANOTHER WEEK, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE BREAKING OFF THAT WHOLE WEEK AND YOU'LL BE LOSING PLANTS.

Joanne: BY INCORPORATING ALL THESE STRATEGIES, KYLE'S FOUND LITTLE BUG ISN'T SUCH A BIG PROBLEM ANYMORE.

Alan: IT'S IMPORTANT TO STUDY PESTS LIKE DECTES STEM BORER AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR BIOLOGY, BECAUSE JUST BLINDLY SPRAYING INSECTICIDE OVER A FIELD, AND JUST HOPING THAT WILL ERADICATE YOUR TARGET PEST IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE.

SO, LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND MAY BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE IS IMPORTANT.

* Joanne: SOYBEANS ARE THE SECOND MOST POPULAR CROP GROWN IN MARYLAND AFTER CORN, BUT THESE ITTY-BITTY BEANS WEREN'T ALWAYS THE ECONOMIC HEAVYWEIGHT THEY ARE TODAY.

HERE'S SOME BEAN HISTORY FROM THEN TO NOW.

* Joanne: THE UNITED STATES IS THE WORLD'S LEADING PRODUCER OF SOYBEANS, BUT THE BILLIONS OF BUSHELS OF AMERICAN SOYBEANS GROWN EACH YEAR AREN'T ACTUALLY ALL THAT AMERICAN.

SOYBEANS ORIGINATED IN EAST ASIA AND MADE THEIR FIRST JOURNEY TO THE AMERICAN COLONIES IN 1765.

BACK THEN, THEY WERE KNOWN AS "CHINESE VETCHES," AND CONSIDERED A FOREIGN CURIOSITY.

* THIS REPUTATION CONTINUED UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

THAT'S WHEN SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED SOYBEANS WERE A VALUABLE SOURCE OF PROTEIN AND OIL.

THEY REPLENISH SOIL WITH NITROGEN AND THEY GREW WELL WITH LIMITED RAINFALL.

THIS RESEARCH AND A SEVERE DROUGHT DURING THE 1930s HELPED INCREASE SOYBEAN POPULARITY.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THE 1940s THAT SOYBEAN FARMING REALLY TOOK OFF IN THE U.S. WORLD WAR II WAS INCREASING DEMAND FOR OILS, LUBRICANTS, PLASTICS, AND OTHER SOYBEAN PRODUCTS, BUT DISRUPTION OF ASIAN TRADE ROUTES CUT THE WORLD OFF FROM ITS MAJOR SOYBEAN SUPPLIERS, SO THE U.S. RAMPED UP SOYBEAN PRODUCTION TO FILL THIS GAP.

Joanne: IN 1942, AMERICAN FARMERS HARVESTED 77% MORE BUSHELS OF SOYBEANS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

AFTER THE WAR, SOYBEANS REMAINED AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN EXPORT.

SINCE THE 1990s, SOYBEANS HAVE BEEN GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TO WITHSTAND CERTAIN HERBICIDES AND PRODUCE HEALTHIER OILS.

YOU'LL FIND SOYBEAN DERIVATIVES IN PRODUCTS AS VARIED AS LIVESTOCK FEED, PAINT, MARGARINE, BIO-DIESEL, AND TOOTHPASTE.

LOOKS LIKE SOYBEANS AREN'T SO EXOTIC ANYMORE.

* Joanne: COMING UP, AL SPOLER STOPS TO TASTE THE FLOWERS.

BUT BEFORE WE GO TO AL, DID YOU KNOW A TYPICAL EAR OF CORN HAS ABOUT 800 KERNELS ON IT, MULTIPLY THAT BY 30,000 EARS PER ACRE, THEN HUNDREDS OF ACRES PER FARM.

AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF LITTLE KERNELS.

JOE LIGO EXPLAINS WHERE THEY ALL GO, AND THE WAY IT WORKS.

* Joe Ligo: THIS GIANT SILVER STRUCTURE IS CALLED A "GRAIN BIN."

AND IT'S WHERE A LOT OF CROPS GO AFTER THEY'RE HARVESTED.

THIS PARTICULAR ONE CAN HOLD ABOUT 8,000 BUSHELS OR 220 TONS OF CORN.

TO STORE THIS MUCH GRAIN IN ONE PLACE, THE FARMER HAS TO MAKE SURE IT'S DRY BECAUSE IF IT ISN'T, IT COULD GET MOLDY AND SPOIL.

FARMERS DO THEIR BEST TO HARVEST GRAIN WITH MOISTURE BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL.

AND MODERN COMBINES CAN EVEN TRACK THIS DATA IN THE FIELD, BUT SOMETIMES THE WEATHER OR OTHER CONDITIONS DON'T COOPERATE, THANKFULLY GRAIN BINS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP DRY THINGS OUT.

Joe: NOW, BEFORE WE LOOK INSIDE, I NEED TO MENTION THE GRAIN BINS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S POSSIBLE TO GET TRAPPED IN THE GRAIN AND SUFFOCATE.

ONLY A FARMER OR A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL WITH SAFETY GEAR SHOULD EVER ENTER A GRAIN BIN, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE STAYING ON THE OUTSIDE AND LOOKING IN WITH OUR CAMERAS.

AFTER THE FARMER FILLS THIS BIN, A GIANT FAN CONNECTED TO A HEATER FORCES HOT AIR THROUGH TINY HOLES IN THE FLOOR AND UP THROUGH THE GRAIN, DRYING IT OUT.

IT'S REALLY LOUD!

LONG AUGERS FROM ABOVE STIR THE GRAIN HELPING AIR TO CIRCULATE, SO EVERYTHING DRIES EVENLY.

EVENTUALLY THE GRAIN REACHES A SAFE MOISTURE LEVEL FOR STORAGE.

AND WHEN THE TIME COMES, THE BIN IS EMPTIED BY AN AUGER BUILT INTO THE FLOOR.

ONCE IT'S EMPTY, THE BIN IS READY FOR THE NEXT HARVEST.

SO, THE FARMER CAN FILL IT UP AND DRY IT OUT ALL OVER AGAIN.

AND THAT IS THE WAY IT WORKS.

* Joanne: NOT ALL FLOWERS END UP IN A VASE.

IN THIS WEEK'S THE LOCAL BUY AL SPOLER SHOWS HOW TINY BLOOMS CAN BRING FRAGRANCE AND FLAVOR TO THE TABLE.

AL.

* Maary Ackley: EDIBLE FLOWERS COME IN ALL DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES FROM BIG, BEAUTIFUL DAHLIAS AND SUNFLOWERS, WHICH CAN BE THE SIZE OF YOUR PALM OR EVEN YOUR WHOLE HAND, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE TINIEST, BITE-SIZED FLOWERS.

Al Spoler: IT'S A BUFFET OF BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS FOR THE BEES AND BUTTERFLIES, PLUS...A PLEASANT SIGHT FOR THE NEIGHBORS OVERLOOKING THIS URBAN FARM.

THESE DAYS, YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING INTO FARMING ARE BEING VERY CREATIVE ABOUT WHERE THEY PUT THOSE FARMS.

WE'RE HERE AT LITTLE WILD THINGS CITY FARM IN NORTHEAST, WASHINGTON, DC.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE AMONG OTHER THINGS THEY GROW A LOT OF FLOWERS, PARTICULARLY THE EDIBLE KIND.

HERE, FIRST GENERATION FARMER, MARY ACKLEY GROWS EDIBLE FLOWERS IN DIFFERENT SHAPES, SIZES AND FLAVORS.

SOME ARE FOR 30 VARIETIES, YOU MAY EVEN RECOGNIZE GROWING IN YOUR OWN GARDEN.

Mary: COMMON FLOWERS THAT PEOPLE MAY KNOW OF THAT ARE EDIBLE ARE, WHAT WE GROW ROSES, ZINNIAS, DAHLIAS, VIOLAS.

AND THEN, SOME OF THE LESS COMMON FLOWERS, BORAGE HAS A BEAUTIFUL CUCUMBER FLAVOR.

WE GROW BITE-SIZE GEM MARIGOLDS.

WE GROW ALL OF THE HERBS FLOWERS.

SO CILANTRO FLOWERS, FENNELL FLOWERS, ARUGULA FLOWERS, AND MANY OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

Al: TODAY'S HARVEST.

Mary: THIS IS A REGULAR SIZE MARIGOLD THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH FROM THEIR HOME GARDEN.

WE ALSO SAW A MARIGOLD CALLED A "GEM MARIGOLD," WHICH IS A BITE-SIZE MARIGOLD.

Al: BUT DON'T LET THESE PETITE PROPORTIONS DECEIVE YOU.

THESE BITE-SIZED BEAUTIES PACK A FLAVORFUL PUNCH.

* THEY TASTE EXACTLY LIKE TANGERINES.

IT'S REALLY AMAZING, SAME COLOR TOO.

WHILE, THE FARM IS KNOWN FOR THE DIVERSITY OF ITS EDIBLE FLOWERS, IT'S ALSO SET APART BY THE HANDS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.

Mary: WE'RE IN ALL-WOMEN TEAM OF FARMERS, AND SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT.

A LITTLE WHILE, I THINK IT WAS STARTED IN 2014, STARTED VERY SMALL ON THE SIDE.

IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE, AN AMERICAN DREAM TYPE OF STORY.

Al: MARY'S DREAM BLOSSOMED INTO A BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL MONASTERY.

YOU CAN SAY IT HAPPENED ON THE GO.

Mary: SO, I WAS ON A RUN ONE DAY, AND IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT WHILE FRONT YARDS, AND BACKYARDS AREN'T AVAILABLE IN CITIES, INSTITUTIONS DO HAVE LANDS.

SO SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES, AND I RAN PAST THIS MONASTERY, WE'RE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HERE, AND I JUST EMAILED THE FRIARS, AND ASKED THEM, I SAID, "HERE'S MY LITTLE IDEA.

WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO ME TRYING TO START A SMALL GARDEN, A SMALL FARM ON YOUR PROPERTY?"

Al: THE SMALL IDEA SPROUTED FROM HALF OF A QUARTER ACRE LOT, AND THEN GREW INTO A MUCH LARGER INDOOR FARMING OPERATION.

Mary: THERE, WE GROW ABOUT 30 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF MICROGREENS, AND CHUTES, AND SALAD GREENS.

Al: AND IT'S HERE IN THIS 4,000 SQUARE FOOT VERTICAL FARM, WHERE ALL THE GREENS AND COLORFUL PEDALS COME TOGETHER.

Mary: INTO OUR FARM IS THE HUB OF OUR MICROGREEN PRODUCTION.

WE DELIVER EVERY WEEK TO ABOUT 300 HOUSEHOLDS ALL AROUND THE METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON DC AREA, INCLUDING IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.

Al: THE CUSTOMERS GET FLOWERS DELIVERED TO THEIR DOORSTEPS.

ONLY THIS BATCH DOESN'T COME IN A BOUQUET.

MARY'S FOUND UNIQUE WAYS TO SHOWCASE WHAT SHE GROWS.

Mary: YOU HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH WHAT WE DO.

AND SO, WE HAVE SOME CREATIVE PRODUCTS, ONE OF WHICH IS EDIBLE FLOWER CONFETTI.

IT'S ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PRODUCTS.

AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY JUST A MIX OF BEAUTIFUL COLORED PEDALS.

Al: AS THEY SAY, "GOOD THINGS DO COME IN SMALL PACKAGES."

I THINK, IT'S REALLY AMAZING THAT ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS CAN BE EATEN.

SO, WE ASK MARY, IF SHE COULD GIVE US SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO USE THIS IN RECIPES, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THOSE ON THE WEBSITE.

GO TO MPT.ORG/FARM, AND YOU CAN TRY AT IT HOME.

FOR THE LOCAL BUY, I'M AL SPOLER.

JOANNE.

* Joanne: THANKS, AL.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MPT.ORG/FARM FOR ALL OUR LOCAL BUY RECIPES, AND YOU CAN WATCH FULL EPISODES THERE AS WELL.

ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SO UPDATES AND A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES.

NOW, HOLD ON.

WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

REMEMBER OUR THINGAMAJIG, DID YOU GUESS IT?

OUR HINT WAS THAT IT'S NOT A BREAD BOX.

THIS IS A PEDDLER'S WAGON DESK.

AN OLD TIME TRAVELING SALESMAN COULD USE THIS FOR WRITING ON THE GO.

SO BASICALLY, IT'S A MINI DESK.

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.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY MARYLAND RELAY, EMPOWERING THOSE WITH HEARING AND SPEECH LOSS TO STAY CONNECTED.

* Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR MARYLAND FARM & 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... MARBIDCO, HELPING TO SUSTAIN FOOD AND FIBER ENTERPRISE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS...

THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND.

MID-ATLANTIC FARM CREDIT, LENDING SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AMERICA...

RURAL MARYLAND COUNCIL, A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR RURAL MARYLAND...

THE MARYLAND SOYBEAN BOARD AND SOYBEAN CHECKOFF PROGRAM, PROGRESS POWERED BY FARMERS... WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS, HEALTHIER, BETTER LIVES THROUGH FOOD...

THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS... AND BY...

THE MARYLAND NURSERY, LANDSCAPE, AND GREENHOUSE ASSOCIATION...

THE MARYLAND SEAFOOD MARKETING FUND...

THE MARYLAND FARM BUREAU, INCORPORATED...

THE KEITH CAMPBELL FOUNDATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT... AND BY... *