November Already?!
Parks, Peppers, and Public Safety—It’s Fall in Frederick!
A couple of weeks ago, Frederick Health joined the Urbana Volunteer Fire Department at their annual Public Safety Open House to share information about diabetes prevention and management resources available in the community. The timing couldn’t have been better, as we had some fresh produce to share as part of our collaboration with the hospital.
My favorite part of participating in community events is the great interactions that unfold throughout the day. For example:
I rolled up with a car full of unexpected produce. Of course the volunteer firefighters didn’t miss a beat - they immediately brought out a dolly and set-up an extra table.
Five different people were thrilled to see Asian eggplants! This variety wasn’t familiar to us before we started growing it, so it was fun to discover that they have such a local fanbase. One attendee noted that she finds them perfect for grilling alongside zucchini, due to their similar size and shape.
By the end of the day, the only produce left was a pile of green peppers. A young attendee stopped by, surprised (and a little saddened) that these veggies had been left behind - and quickly helped fix that!
One attendee shared how much a continuous glucose monitor had improved their health management, while another described the inspiring work she and her colleagues are doing to address hunger in the community.
A conversation with one of our local park rangers sparked a flurry of questions from me about what it’s like to care for our parks and trails. The collage below, taken on Halloween during a walk in a local park with a dear friend, might help explain why the topic sparked so much enthusiasm!
