Notice of Intent: FY2016 Statutory Aid Cooperative Agreement Funding

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The objective of this long-term relationship is for the Accokeek Foundation (Foundation) to continue operating the farm and providing educational and interpretive programming to the community and park visitors of all ages at a reduced cost to the United States. The Foundation, a non-profit organization, purchased land within Prince Georgeâ¿¿s County, Maryland and operated the National Colonial Farm. The purpose of the farm is to demonstrate and educate visitors of all ages about typical southern Maryland colonial farming methods/techniques, raising heirloom crops and livestock, sustainable and organic farming techniques, provide environmental education and other programmatic activities. The Foundationâ¿¿s land was conveyed in 1961 to the United States to help establish Piscataway Park. The Foundation, established in 1957 in the Accokeek/Piscataway section of southern Maryland, has a long-standing history and association with this area, the Piscataway native Americans, and the community at a whole. Their continued operation of the National Colonial Farm, as they did prior to the 1961 conveyance, has provided ongoing preservation and protection of Piscataway Park and its resources. The Foundation has become engrained within the community with its numerous volunteer opportunities, historical demonstrations, sharing its expertise through programs in heritage and organic farming, preservation of the Potomac River and watershed, environmental protection, etc. The Foundation established and operated the Ecosystem Farm which an 8-acre solar powered farm practicing and teaching sustainable agriculture. As members of the American Livestock Breed Conservancy, the Foundation promotes and sustains heritage farm animals such as American Milking Devon Cattle, Black Spanish Turkey, Buckeye Chickens, Hog Island Sheep, and Ossabaw Hogs. The Foundation has operated as the eyes and ears of the National Park Service since the park was established. Through their expertise in sustainable agriculture and historic farming, knowledge of the areaâ¿¿s colonial history, coupled with their intense dedication to preservation of the land, the ecology, the Potomac River and watershed, and the environment, makes the Foundation irreplaceable to the park and the community. The Foundation provides a diverse array of programming and experiences that would be extremely difficult to replicate with another single organization.

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