Cultivate KC

Have you seen her?! Our box truck looks SO good. A huge thank you to our donors, our volunteers, and to Dennis Baughman of Midtown Signs and Malisa Monyakula of Lulu's Thai Noodle Shop for helping us to make our box truck street ready again! Doesn't she look snazzy?!

Look at these fantastic raised beds that Caroline Honas + volunteers built at our Westport Commons Farm!

While you're planning your #CultivateALocalHoliday meals, we'd like to keep shining a light on some of the food access issues our country faces. Of course Kansas City isn't the only area struggling with a food access crisis. What are other cities doing to tackle the problem? In many areas, local government has stepped in to implement some innovative programs to combat their food deserts. Read more about a few of these successful programs- Baltimarket, Resident Food Equity Adv...isors (RFEAs) that provide insight on health food policy, and non-profit grocery stores- at the following links. https://health.baltimorecity.gov/programs/food-access https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/resident-food-equity-adv https://www.philabundance.org/ See more

Last week we took a group of New Roots for Refugees farmers and staff to Urbavore Urban Farm. Brook and Dan showed us around, told us about their orchard, berries, soil management practices, their chickens and pigs, and the ways their plans and operation have changed over the years. They are amazing, hard-working people dedicated to finding the most sustainable ways to live and farm. It was an inspirational visit and we are so glad to have them as friends and allies.

Want in on these veggies? Come work with us! We are currently hiring for an AmeriCorps VISTA Outreach Coordinator to serve with us in a one year position. We'll... also be hiring for a part time staff member in the next few weeks- stay tuned! Link to the job description and application is in our bio. #VISTA #Americorps #newroots See more

Well, friends. Katherine Kelly, our beloved Executive Director, has officially moved on from Cultivate KC. It's bittersweet. But we are so excited to see where her journey takes her next. (Don't worry. The search for a new ED is going very well!) Even though we're just sure she planned her exit during this pandemic so we couldn't throw her the party she deserves, we still had to send her off with a tiny, outdoor, socially-distanced potluck happy hour last Friday. It was a lov...ely time. We've also set up a little online scrapbook of sorts and WE NEED YOUR HELP to make it special! Please click below and leave Katherine a sweet thank you, retell a funny memory, upload a few great old photos. We need to hear from the rest of this tight-knit community, and let her know how pivotal and appreciated she has been in developing this thriving food movement. https://www.newlywords.com/katherine-kelly-cultivate-kc-co-

I sent Chad from Welcome House home with 12lbs of romaine, 15lbs of turnip greens, and around 70lbs of tomatoes today from Westport Commons Farm. #westportcommo...nsfarm Welcome House is a 90 bed rehab facility that helps men with drug and alcohol addiction find a new path in life. It's an honor to grow food to help feed them as they fight to change their lives. I love my job. #urbanfarming #urbangrown #soilfoodweb #volunteers #localfood #localproduce #kcfoodie @cultivatekc @ Plexpod

Our good friends at Broadmoor Urban Farm are looking for volunteers for a Community Farm Day THIS FRIDAY, 11/6, 9am - 5pm. Volunteers will be helping construct (20) 12x4x2 raised beds at the Broadmoor Urban Farm located at 8200 W. 71st St, OPKS. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mary at 913-993-8728 to schedule your slot time. Or click on this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d4daaaa2ea13-raised Shifts will be 1-2 hours and masks will be required to be worn at all times. A box lunch is provided if you sign up before Thursday!

With the holidays coming, food will be on everyone’s minds. Yet some parts of Kansas City are determined to be a food desert. In these neighborhoods, not only are full-service grocery stores hard to find, they’re difficult to get to and shop from. This short video illustrates the same issues many in Kansas City face: https://youtu.be/kQeorPkPLmU In light of this, Cultivate KC challenges you to find your favorite holiday ingredients from local farmers or vendors within the... Kansas City metro area. ! We need to support these farmers and the places from which they sell. Post a picture of your successful or not so successful local food finds this month on Facebook or Instagram, tagging us and using #CultivateALocalHoliday. We can’t wait to see how creative you get finding your favorite foods- or making new food traditions!

We need a couple things from you this afternoon- Please go outside and soak up a little sunshine. It's good for you! And if you haven't already, VOTE. It's good for everyone!

Kansas State Senator and US Senate candidate Dr. Barbara Bollier stopped by Juniper Gardens Training Farm Saturday afternoon. She visited with some New Roots for Refugees farmers and staff. We love hearing these hard-working farmers share the big successes they have accomplished, and also voice the issues they have faced along the way. Plus we're always thrilled to show our elected officials the work Cultivate KC does every day!

It's looking so good, Farmer Dan!

Roughly 1 in every 8 Americans receives SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) assistance. These short audio stories were recorded in 2018, but they're more relevant now than ever. These are typical folks, trying to survive a rough time, and find the food they need. This is what food insecurity looks like in America. I think I'll listen while I'm driving today. Will you take a listen too? https://storycorps.org/snap-matters-with-the-robert-wood-j/

The growing season is winding down, but conference season is ramping up. It's the time for connecting, learning, and planning! The pandemic has definitely changed the nature of food system and growing workshops and conferences. They may look much different this year, but the turn to virtual events has broadened the range of events that farmers and food leaders can participate in! Did you know that Cultivate KC tries to maintain a calendar of useful growing workshops and conf...erences in our area? https://www.cultivatekc.org/farmers/workshops-classes/ And this page is all our events and other events our staff members are participating in: https://www.cultivatekc.org/events/ If you have suggestions or would like your event added, don't be shy. Email me at [email protected] for consideration!