Produce, Food Trucks, and Mason Jars: a recipe for wellness

Through the last several months, I've been on a personal wellness project to develop healthier foundations in living: reducing stress, eating wholesome tasty foods and sharing some of what I've learned with others. This week I had the opportunity to share one of my favorite meal hacks, Jar Salads, with the customers at the Jamestown Mobile Market, a project of the Jamestown Renaissance Corp.

With the help of the JRC staff and a large group of volunteers, the Mobile Market reaches a minimum of 100 people weekly. The Mobile Food Truck customers receive fresh, local produce with the use of free $5.00 coupons or can be purchased at a rate of $1.00 per item. Last summer, the Mobile Market was only and idea on paper and this summer it's been a distinct joy seeing this dream become a reality. The idea of the mobile market is quite simple: bring local produce to people living in "food-desert" neighborhoods. The USDA defines a "food desert" as: "Parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas. This is largely due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and healthy food providers." Jamestown's Mobile Market has been a partnership with JRC, individual volunteers, and various organization sites

that host the weekly program: Conduit Church, Crestline Villa, The Gateway Center, The Salvation Army and Tree of Life Lutheran Church.

On a personal level, I'm learning that making changes for improved health and wellness it involves: compassion, creativity, practice using new tools, and a sense of community. A simple switch to prepping my lunches in common Mason Jars, is helping to make healthy change possible.

So this begs the question, "If this is possible on a personal level, what is possible on a grander scale?"

By combining the gifts and energy of professionals, volunteers, farmers, supportive sharing organizations and customers with their time, energy and resources; it's impressive what can be accomplished. I've seen it with my own eyes in the example of the 2018 Jamestown Mobile Food Truck Program. Thank you to all who support this effort and who made this idea a reality that brings life to the full to our community - and to me.

Be well,

P. Tara L. Eastman

Comments

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

Search This Blog