Autumn Delahoussaye- Gaithersburg Maryland May 2026

Delahoussaye’s most surprising victory came last winter. When the city announced it would no longer plow a short pedestrian path connecting the Kentlands to Shady Grove Metro —a path used by 200+ daily commuters—she didn’t start a petition. Instead, she hand-delivered a “Snow Day Letter” to each of the five city council members. The letter was just one sentence:

But the fruit isn’t the point. The orchard hosts weekly “Soil & Spanish” meetups, where native English speakers practice Spanish while weeding, and Spanish speakers practice English while harvesting. “Autumn doesn’t just plant trees,” says local librarian Marta Reyes. “She plants bridges.” Autumn Delahoussaye- Gaithersburg Maryland

Her flagship project, “Harvest at the Brickyard,” turned a neglected city-owned lot behind the Olde Towne Plaza into a community orchard and outdoor classroom. With a $5,000 grant from the city’s Neighborhood Program, Delahoussaye organized over 200 volunteers to plant 15 fruit trees—pawpaws, persimmons, and heirloom apples. Delahoussaye’s most surprising victory came last winter

Autumn in Gaithersburg: The Quiet Force Behind the City’s Green & Cultural Revival The letter was just one sentence: But the

“People ask what I ‘do,’” Delahoussaye says, brushing mulch off her jeans. “I listen. Then I show up. That’s the job.”