Land and Cultural Preservation Fund

April 5, 2019 By Land and Cultural Preservation Fund

Community FARE supports Farm to School taste tests at 2 elementary schools

The SHOWCASE below is a write up on (and was copied directly from) the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) website. Thanks to our partners at FNS for posting this – and sharing the photos! We would love to show you the kids happily eating the apples and listen to Katlyn talk about the orchards and growing apples – but we cannot without parental permission.

FCPS NUTRITION SERVICES SHOWCASE

FCPS Food and Nutrition Services is partnering with Farm to School Frederick Maryland to bring more local fresh fruits and vegetables to our schools.

We held our first 2 local-food taste tests at Lincoln Elementary School on March 8th and Monocacy Elementary School on March 29th featuring apples from Catoctin Mountain Orchard. We tried a twist with these local apples and wedged them to see if this would help get more apple into our students’ bellies and less apple into the trash. Students even got a lesson on how and when apples grow from Farmer Katlyn Robertson!

With the help of Catoctin Mountain Orchard and Farmer Katlyn Robertson, Community FARE, the Frederick County branch of the University of Maryland Extension Office, Frederick Community College Hospitality Program, and Frederick Memorial Hospital’s Community Health and 5210 Program, kids at Lincoln Elementary got to taste local Pink Lady and Ever Crisp apples. We have partnered with Catoctin Mountain Orchard for over 10 years to serve local apples, peaches, plums, pears and even Kiwi Berries.

Good nutrition and learning go hand in hand! The Nutrition Services department is made up of a team of food and nutrition professionals that are dedicated to students’ health, well being and their ability to learn. We support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness.

Meals, foods and beverages sold or served at schools meet state and federal requirements which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines. We provide students with access to a variety of affordable and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students.

March 29, 2019 By Land and Cultural Preservation Fund

Friends to Honor Environmental Activist George Rudy

George Rudy was a one-of-a-kind person and activist who worked relentlessly on behalf of the citizens of Frederick County and the region. In his professional life, Rudy was a nuclear systems expert specializing in assessing risks in the industry. He brought this interest in public health and safety risk assessment to his volunteer efforts within the environmental community in Frederick County and the region.

Among the many issues he worked on were the Monocacy River, Fort Detrich, Walkersville’s water treatment plant, the gas pipeline proposed to run under the Potomac, Rt. 270 and mass transit opportunities,and the proposed incinerator project. He wrote and shared countless memos and white papers detailing specific suggestions to fix environmental problems in Frederick and in Maryland, on a great variety of subjects.

Despite his physical disability at the end of his life, George made his way to countless meetings, even where the accessibility for the handicapped was unavailable or challenging at best. He was tireless in his advocacy, sometimes appearing at different public evening meetings three times a week and often during the day as well. He demonstrated his passion for the environment until the day he died, which happened suddenly on January 13th of this year. The Smarter Growth Alliance member organizations (which includes Friends of Frederick County) decided to plant 3 trees in Rudy’s honor in a Frederick park (trees and technical guidance provided by Stream Link Education). There will also be a plaque in front of the trees to honor Rudy; donations accepted to help cover the cost of the plaque.

Please join us for a tree planting to commemorate George’s life of dedication: Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. in Clerestory Park, Frederick

March 29, 2019 By Land and Cultural Preservation Fund

Food Council sponsors presentation about Local Eating

Join us for a presentation and discussion with author of The Chesapeake Table, Renee Brooks Catacalos.

When: Sunday, April 28th 2-3pm

Location: Fox Haven Learning Center, Jefferson MD

Hooked on the local food movement from its early days, Catacalos opens the book by revisiting a personal challenge to only buy, prepare, and eat food grown within a 150-mile radius of her home near Washington, DC. From her in-depth, on-the-ground study of food systems in the region, Catacalos offers practical advice for adopting a locavore diet and getting involved in various entry-points to food pathways, from shopping at your local farmer’s market to joining a CSA. She also includes recipes for those curious about how they can make their own more environmentally conscious food choices.

Introducing readers to the vast edible resources of the Chesapeake region, Catacalos focuses on the challenges of environmental and economic sustainability, equity and diversity in the farming and food professions, and access and inclusion for local consumers of all income levels, colors, ethnicities, and geographies. Touching on everything from farm-based breweries and distilleries to urban hoophouse farms to grass-fed beef, The Chesapeake Table celebrates the people working hard to put great local food on our plates.

Books will be available for sale from the Curious Iguana Bookstore of Frederick, MD. Renee will sign books after the talk. Please register for the event here. Arrive early and bring a picnic! Stay afterwards for a Frederick County Food Council meeting. Donations accepted to benefit the Frederick County Food Council.