Cultivate KC

12/20/2024

The last handful of years, we've been pleased to use the remaining funds from our Senior Market Match program to distribute Thanksgiving boxes to seniors. Read about this year's boxes below.

Thank you to The Kansas City Food Hub, Cosentino's Price Chopper, McLain's Bakery, and Tippin's Pies for your help!

Over the past several years, the Food Access team has used the remaining funds from our Senior Market Match program to distribute Thanksgiving produce boxes to senior community members in the Kansas City metro area, and this year was no exception! We are grateful to Village Presbyterian Church and T...

12/19/2024

We've shared a little bit about the RCPP award, but here's a blog post that explains more and highlights the partners. The bottom line: this is GREAT NEWS for farmers in our area!

Cultivate KC is thrilled to share that our Regional Conservation Partnership Program proposal “Expanding Climate Resilience Resources and Land Access for Urban Growers in the Kansas City Metro Area” was awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In partnership with USDA’s N...

12/17/2024

Rubi Hernandez just completed her first year in the New Roots program and is a step closer to fulfilling her dream. In collaboration with Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, Cultivate KC manages the four-year training program that supports new Americans with agricultural experience to become independent farmers.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! cultivatekc.org/donate

p.s. Wonderful photo of Rubi and her daughter is by Katie Frankenbach, and you can read a full interview of Rubi here: https://www.cultivatekc.org/farmer-interview-rubi-hernandez/

12/12/2024

Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) helps people stretch SNAP dollars for more fruits and vegetables at many farmers markets in the Kansas City area.

Eli O’Sullivan Kurtz, Cultivate KC Farmers Market Specialist, knows firsthand how helpful DUFB can be. In 2012, fresh out of college and struggling to make ends meet, Eli spent 9 months using SNAP and DUFB to continue to eat fresh, healthy produce while money was tight.

Eli is now thrilled to witness the wider impact of the program on local farmers. DUFB is a win-win for farmers in our area because the money given is used to purchase directly from local growers. Over the last three years, DUFB has provided 6,883 individuals and families with more than $421,194 to spend on local produce.

We need your help. Supporters like you are the heart and soul of Cultivate KC. You make all the work we do possible. 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱. cultivatekc.org/donate

12/11/2024

Registration for the 20th Annual Farmers & Friends Meeting on February 1st is now open. And we're thrilled to announce the keynote speaker is Tepfirah Rushdan!

Learn more about the event and watch as the details develop:

Every winter, Cultivate KC convenes local and regional farmers and food activists to connect, converse and contribute ideas regarding issues affecting our city’s urban farming community. This, our 20th anniversary event, will focus on the theme of The Past, Present, and Future of Farming in Kansas...

12/03/2024

Cultivate KC grows grow food, farms, and community in support of an equitable, sustainable and healthy local food system for all. Our programs reduce hunger in Kansas City as well as improve public health and economic and environmental sustainability.

Together we can shape our local food system for the better. DONATE today to support the work we do: cultivatekc.org/donate

11/21/2024

I'm realizing we never shared this article from our website about some good news!

Cultivate KC is thrilled to share that we have been selected as one of ten cooperative agreements to support Kansas City’s new Farm Service Agency (FSA) Urban County Committee. This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is investing nearly $9 million in funding to local...

11/20/2024

11/15/2024

Join us for this on-site field day at Where the Redfearn Grows Natural Farms on December 2nd from 2:00-4:00pm to learn more about their extensive winter farming operation!

Join Cultivate KC for a Field Day at Redfearn Farm. Dave Redfearn and his family have been growing produce in the Kansas City area well over a decade now and have cultivated an impressive winter farming operation. They utilize natural growing practices and prioritize soil health, effectively employi...

11/12/2024

Morning, growers- Don’t forget bulk seed potato and fertilizer orders are due on November 15th! Find order forms here:

Cultivate KC places cooperative orders throughout the year so farmers can receive supplies such as seed potatoes, poultry manure and strawberry plugs at bulk prices.

11/12/2024

Don’t forget that nominations for the John Kaiahua Mentorship Award are due November 15th!

Visit here for details:

In 2017, one of Kansas City’s beloved organic farmers, John Kaiahua, passed away. In recognition of his unique leadership in the local farming community, the John Kaiahua Mentorship Award was established. This award honors farmers in our region who exemplify John’s finest qualities: Mentors...

11/10/2024

Growers, have you considered applying for a Get Farming Mini Grant? Applications are now open. Learn more about this funding opportunity here: cultivatekc.org/farmers/grants

And if you'd like ideas for projects, read this article at our website about the recipients of the 2023-2024 funding cycle!

Cultivate KC is excited to announce the recipients of the Get Farming Mini Grant for the 2023-2024 award cycle!  Every year we offer mini grants of up to $3,500 to support urban farmers in the Kansas City metro area who want to expand production, grow their business, or feed their communities. Fund...

11/08/2024

What a great staff retreat we had at the gorgeous Casa Somerset Bed and Breakfast and Organic Farm. The food was amazing. Thanks for hosting us!

11/05/2024

Brien is back from a successful Grand Canyon hike! She made new friends and engaged with folks outside of our local food-centered community, and it's got her feeling inspired and energized!

A sincere thanks goes to those of you who donated towards her match goal of $5,000. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗣 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂! cultivatekc.org/donate

11/01/2024

Hello, friends! Everyone recovering from Halloween?

Look at these cuties! Cultivate KC board member Yolanda Young of Young Family Farm KC and our own Lauren Weinberg, Food Access Program Manager, had a great time at the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council Trunk or Treat. 🧡🖤

10/30/2024

Upcoming garlic workshop - see you there!

10/29/2024

Cultivate KC is thrilled to share that our Regional Conservation Partnership Program proposal “Expanding Climate Resilience Resources and Land Access for Urban Growers in the Kansas City Metro Area” was awarded by USDA last week.

In partnership with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and twelve collaborating organizations, this project will invest nearly $6.5 million over five years directly with Kansas City-area growers to implement conservation practices and secure agricultural conservation easements for long-term land protection. This is a huge win for Kansas City-area farmers and gardeners that we hope will make a transformative impact on our city for years to come. Thanks to KCTV5 News Kansas City for sharing this story!

The USDA has awarded more than $6.4 million to Cultivate KC for conservation efforts and climate-safe agriculture practices. The funding will help its urban farmers implement environmentally safe practices like building soil health with compost and row covers.