Tulsa-Area Gardener Prepares Food For Winter To Help People With Diabetes

A local farmer is prepping his garden for winter so he can continue growing crops for North Tulsans despite falling winter temperatures. He says he is doing something he loves while doing Something Good for Tulsa.

The FreshRX program partners with local farmers to provide fresh, local produce to people in North Tulsa, with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes and high A1C levels. The power of the program is the origin of these fruits and vegetables is no mystery.

Each piece of produce is grown by local farmers, like Earl Stripling.

"You are not going to find a garden nowhere in America just like mine," said Stripling.  

He is currently getting creative to prepare his crops to thrive in winter temperatures.

"They can still breathe but it keeps the frost and the cold off of the plants," said Stripling.  

Not only has he made a living out of his passion, but he is improving the health of Tulsans in the process.

"We do the distribution every 2 weeks, and we do a cooking demo," said Erin Martin with FreshRX. 

Some of Earl's produce goes to FreshRX. Tulsans in the program say are already seeing dramatic decreases in their A1C levels and overall quality of life.

"We are 6 months into our 12-month program, and we have just started our fundraising for the next 6months so we can expand the program," said Martin. 

Erin Martin with the FreshRX program says these fruits and vegetables are tools, and when everyone has equal access to them contribute to thriving communities.

"When we have healthy soil we create healthy plants, fruits, and vegetables, to create healthy humans, a healthy world, a healthy environment, and a healthy community altogether," said Martin. 

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