Fresh Picks at Glade Link Farms
Gwen Whitmore can hardly recall a time when farming was not a part of her life. Her father, Ken, established the farm over 50 years ago in Walkersville, MD as a hobby. He enjoyed gardening and sharing fresh food with neighbors. He took advantage of vacation days through his full time government job to prepare crops at the beginning of each farming season. Beginning seeds were sowed in 1966 and the first strawberries were harvested in 1967. Today, Glade Link Farms is situated on over 100 acres in Keymar, MD co-owned and managed by Gwen and her brother.
Family, fresh food, and community are synonymous with Glade Link Farms.
Late spring is an exciting time at the farm as families flock to the fields for “pick-your-own” crops. Sweet, bright red strawberries are aplenty mid May through June along with crunchy green sugar snap peas. Blueberries are ripe for picking late June into July. Glade Link offers a seamless farm to table experience.
Upon arrival, receive a 5-quart bucket and enter the fields.
Field attendants help direct which rows to pick from.
Buckets can be filled with as little or as much as one desires.
Farm goers return to the farm stand with filled buckets to be weighed and provide payment.
Take home and enjoy!
Eating what you pick is half the experience!
Gwen and her staff cherish seeing generations of families return year after year to pick fresh berries, and shares:
“When children pick their own food, they make a direct connection to where it comes from. They are more likely to eat fresh, local food as they grow up.”
After the hustle and bustle of berry season, Glade Link Farms offers a variety of fresh produce for sale at local markets and their farm stand.
Outside of her busy duties overseeing the farm, Gwen is dedicated to helping the Frederick community learn about farming and fresh food. She has volunteered her time working alongside Farm to School Frederick sharing her knowledge with students as part of the Local Harvest for Growing Minds program. The programs provides engaging learning experiences for students to help them understand the source of their food.
Visit Glade Link Farms daily late spring through mid summer for berry picking.
Call their hotline at 301-898-7131 or visit their Facebook page for daily picking updates.
See them at the Field Fresh Farmers Market on Saturday mornings July through October.