Cultivate KC

03/28/2025

Coming in late with a 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 post!

Check out this new resource-packed website that is finally live and full of great information for refugees and immigrants learning to grow and sell food in the US. And New Roots helped out!

ISED, the Institute for Social and Economic Development has supported people who work with the refugee community for two decades. Over the last several years, New Roots has worked with partners around the country, including other incubator farms, to develop and test plain language learning materials included in the new collection of resources on this site.

These tools are designed specifically to overcome language barriers that keep new Americans from accessing many of the same opportunities that are available to the English speaking public. Relying heavily on visual and multi-media messaging, the resources available on ISED’s website are available for both learners and educators.

We are proud to have been a part of this project- what a great resource it is!

Welcome to ISED Solutions Institute for Social and Economic Development Resource Library Information and learning library for beginning farmers and […]

03/26/2025

It’s 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, and this week is an easy one!

Our friends at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition are rallying support for funding the USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. Your organization, farm, business, or coalition is invited to sign a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate and House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittees. Read the letter and sign on here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSOYZw2SNS0AFq7qalLvxe_FSvuqIM83lmGFSKMcTDkiEdgg/viewform

And if you aren't one of those groups listed above, then this Wednesday, buy some local food, go to a farmers market, or sign up for a CSA! Find a new list of CSA shares on our website here: https://www.cultivatekc.org/localfoodresources/

03/25/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 & 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞! Do you have the date marked on your calendar?

The Urban Grown Tour is an exciting opportunity for the greater Kansas City community to visit local neighborhood farms and gardens, learn about sustainable growing practices, and connect with local growers. Check the event page often to see more details as they develop! cultivatekc.org/urban-grown-tour

03/24/2025

Mark your calendars, and fill your gardens with transplants from New Roots farmers!

03/21/2025

𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 is all about taters today! Taters and hope. 🥔❤️🌱

Today’s GOOD NEWS FRIDAY story comes to you on a windy spring day, when your friends here at Cultivate KC are celebrating potatoes, in all their glorious forms. Over the last week, potatoes have been planted in the soil all over town, and we’re tickled to have a small role in that collective act...

03/19/2025

It’s 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬, and this week we’re going local.

It is budget season in the City of Kansas City, Missouri and Councilwoman Melissa Patterson Hazley has introduced a budget amendment to invest in urban agriculture and strengthen Kansas City’s local food system. These funds would support City Hall staff in addressing necessary revisions to the urban agriculture zoning ordinance and developing systems to help urban growers navigate city regulations.

Contact your KCMO Councilmember today and urge them to support Councilwoman Patterson Hazley’s budget amendment for urban agriculture to invest in the future of Kansas City’s community health, climate resilience, and strong local food system.

Find your Councilmember here: https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/city-officials/city-council-members

03/14/2025

Friends, we have news. We have joined Earthjustice in a lawsuit filed yesterday to challenge the illegal federal funding freeze that is devasting many organizations and farmers in our community.

Please read the article below to learn more about why we have joined this lawsuit.

You can also view the Earthjustice release here: https://shorturl.at/jxmGi

Friends, we have news. Cultivate KC is proud to join Earthjustice in a lawsuit filed yesterday to challenge the illegal federal funding freeze that is devasting many organizations and farmers in our community.   Over the last four years, urban farmers and local food systems leaders cautiously welc...

03/12/2025

It’s 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬, and here’s how you can support your local food system this week:

This week, the USDA canceled $1BILLION in funding to support local food purchasing for schools and food banks. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and Local Food for Schools and Child Care program are administered by each state to help keep healthy, locally grown food in our communities and invest in local producers.

Missouri farmer and President of The Kansas City Food Hub board of directors, Katie Nixon, wrote, “This is a HUGE loss for our local farmers and food hubs. Our food system is still trying to recover from the days of the USDA where farmers had to “get big or get out.” When programs like this are yanked from under our farmers’ feet, it feels like maybe we are returning to that sentiment. Our communities are more vibrant and healthier when we have many different farms, small, medium and large, to help feed us all. We have lost nearly all medium-sized farms, and our small farms struggle every season to make the business viable. This program helped with one of the more challenging parts of the business, which is market access.”

Call your US Senators and Representative today and ask them to reinstate funding for Local Food for Schools and Child Care and Local Food Purchase Assistance programs. We know these programs make a tremendous impact toward building strong local food systems while feeding healthy food to students and communities – they are a win-win for farmers and communities and must be continued.

Find your senators here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

LEARN MORE:

States have been notified that they will not receive 2025 funding for schools to buy food from nearby farms.

03/10/2025

What are your plans for Earth Day? Come get your hands dirty helping out on some Midtown urban farms and celebrate this amazing blue marble that sustains us!

Plus there will be a happy hour after the volunteer portion of the day with a few vendors, snacks, and drinks. Sign up through the link below, so we know how many folks to expect:

Help us celebrate and nurture this amazing blue marble we call home. Join us for an Earth Day volunteer event followed by a happy hour to celebrate Mother Earth- and your hard work! Join us, along with our friends at the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, as we offer some much needed springtime help to M...

03/07/2025

And to balance the heaviness of the extra advocacy work we're asking for... 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬!

We have great news: It's been an 18 month long project, but we are so happy to announce that the Diana Eisman Community Greenhouse is officially open to farmers! This brand new greenhouse serves New Roots farmers as well as offers rental space to community growers. Read all about the project below.

And JOIN US for a celebratory Grand Opening Happy Hour on April 8th: https://www.cultivatekc.org/events/greenhouse-grand-opening/
There is nowhere as full of hope or that smells as good as a greenhouse in the springtime.

  On a hot, sunny day eighteen months ago, Cultivate KC Executive Director Brien Darby unloaded several shovels and a freshly printed banner from the trunk of her car at the corner of North 1st and Walker Avenue in KCK. The empty lot, and future home of the Diana Eisman Community Greenhouse, was fi...

03/05/2025

We're starting something new, and we're calling it 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙒𝙚𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮:

Good news! Last week, Missouri State Representative Yolanda Young announced that she has filed a budget request to help established nonprofit organizations who are advancing the local food system in food-insecure areas on Kansas City’s Eastside. Your voice can help secure this funding to support the many organizations that help feed Kansas City.

If you live on the Missouri side, please reach out to thank Representative Young and to your MO State Representative and Senator to help our legislators understand how important this funding would be to our community.
___________________________

You can start with this script:

Hi, my name is _________ and I’m a resident of ________ district in Missouri. I am reaching out because I have concerns about the negative impact the illegal federal funding freeze and grant terminations are having on local food systems, farmers, and food security in our region. I am grateful for Representative Yolanda Young's proposal to invest in food systems organizations to help make sure our communities are fed. This is important to me because ______. Will you join Rep. Young in advocating for the state to help fill this funding gap?

Thank you,

Your name
Your full address
___________________________

Find your MO legislators here:
https://house.mo.gov/MemberRoster.aspx?year=2025&code=R
https://www.senate.mo.gov/Senators

03/04/2025

We are looking a few people to put their event planning and/or fundraising skills to use AND support Cultivate KC! We're recruiting community members to join our Midtown Hoedown Planning Committee.

Last year's event was SO much fun, and we could use some additional support to ensure this year is even better! The event is scheduled for September 13th, and the committee currently meets monthly. Please message us if you're interested or if you know someone who would be a good fit.

02/28/2025

02/24/2025

𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗖𝗬 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: The federal funding freeze is having a deep impact on local food system - we're joining with Kansas City food systems nonprofits to call on our state legislators in Missouri and Kansas to step up to support the organizations that are growing and distributing food in communities that are food insecure.

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸? Here's a sample script:

Hi, my name is _________ and I’m a resident of ________ district in (MO/KS). I am reaching out because I have concerns about the negative impact of the illegal federal funding freeze and grant terminations on local food systems, farmers, and food security in our region. I am asking you to advocate on behalf of food systems organizations to help make sure our communities are fed. This is important to me because ______. Will the State help fill this funding gap? Thank you for your consideration!

If leaving a message, be sure to state your full name and address so your message is recorded. And if you need help finding your State Representative and Senators, look here: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/

02/18/2025

Applications for the Growing Growers Kansas City apprenticeship position at Juniper Gardens are due MARCH 3RD! It's an amazing place full of knowledgeable staff and farmers to learn with. ❤️🌱

Farmer(s) : Ben Carpenter (Program Manager), Haley Drake (Farmer Trainer), Molly Baurain (Graduate Support Specialist) Location: 100 Richmond Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101 Contact...

02/15/2025

Today’s the day! Eat some tacos and support Cultivate KC!

If you’re ordering online don’t forget the code: CULTIVATE KC

02/14/2025

Cultivate KC is currently seeking 10+ acres of farmland for sale in Wyandotte County to help expand our New Roots incubator program. To learn more about what we're looking for, please visit here: www.cultivatekc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CKC-Land-Search-1.pdf

02/13/2025

We'll be there getting ready for spring! Will you?