Keeping the Fire Alive with Farm to School Frederick

Celebrating local farms, fresh food, and the partnerships that keep Frederick growing.

Last weekend, we were delighted to attend Farm to School Frederick's Annual Bonfire. Having grown up in a small town in western Pennsylvania, I’m no stranger to the joys of gathering around a fire pit.  Between swim practice, biking absolutely everywhere (because that’s what we did before any of us had a license), and the occasional Pink Floyd Laser Show in Pittsburgh, nothing quite compared to hanging out around a fire with friends. Last weekend’s event was no exception.

Farm to School Frederick is a nonprofit organization that connects Frederick County families with fresh, locally grown food and nutrition education. The organization purchases wholesale directly from nearby farms and partners with schools and community organizations to provide food-insecure areas with access to seasonal produce through programs such as their Veggie Van mobile market. Through hands-on learning experiences like gardening lessons, farm field trips, and seasonal cooking workshops, Farm to School also brings nutrition education to life in classrooms, cafeterias, and the community.  

We here at DeFeo Family Farm are thrilled to be one of Farm to School’s local farm partners and were grateful to celebrate the successes of the program last weekend with the team and community members that make it all happen.  And we’re grateful for you, too!  Every dozen eggs, bunch of carrots, or bag of lettuce you’ve purchased has helped keep our experiment in local growing going strong, which in turn strengthens our ability to share our harvest more broadly.