About Us
Training and Empowering
New Roots is a four-year training program that began in 2008 as a collaboration between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Cultivate KC. Both organizations work to provide farmer training and market support at the Juniper Gardens Training Farm to help farmers develop and maintain small businesses after graduation.
For over a decade, New Roots has empowered families to start farm businesses by growing and selling produce through farmer’s markets, wholesale and the New Roots Farm Share. At the Juniper Gardens Training Farm, farmers are given a quarter-acre plot to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, beets, spinach, green onions, lettuce, eggplants and more. Farmers bring agricultural expertise from their home country and continue to learn more about growing sustainably in the Midwestern climate.
New Roots is designed to remove the initial barriers to start a small business. These include systemic challenges like economic mobility, language, networking and access to education and support. Divided between the growing season and winter classes, farmers at the New Roots program are involved year-round. Staff provide lessons in English and weekly farming workshops in the off-
season to sharpen farmers’ skills in growing in the Midwest and developing a small business.
Over four-years, farmers are assisted with crop planning, farm troubleshooting, farming equipment, business finance, record-keeping, markets applications and customer recruitment. Each year, the program passes more responsibilities to each farmer to maintain their business. By the fourth year, farmers have taken on the totality of the business expenses and gained practice in maintaining their customer base.
Since 2008, New Roots has had over 45 farmers graduate from the program, 31 of whom still operate a farm business today. You can support New Roots farmers at a local farmers market, restaurant or by subscribing to our Farm Share program.
Share in the Harvest
New Roots trains individuals with agricultural backgrounds, empowering them to build their own farm businesses using organic practices. Our farmers come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, and each brings their unique knowledge and dedicated care into their farming practice.
By purchasing produce from our farmers, you are sharing in the harvest and helping them thrive in northeast Kansas.
2023 STATISTICS
Sustainably-Grown
Everything grown at the Juniper Gardens Training Farm abides by strict organic principles. We are committed to creating a sustainable, healthy food system and never use genetically modified or treated seeds, synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides or anything else that is forbidden on certified organic farms. Apart from annual tillage, and the use of small walk-behind tillers, New Roots farmers generally cultivate the earth relying primarily on their own physical strength rather than petroleum powered machinery.
Our Growing Principles
Our farmers agree to:
Build Healthy Soil
Use farming practices such as crop rotation, cover-cropping, natural mulching and composting and manual removal of weeds.
Follow USDA Organic Guidelines
Only use inputs approved on the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) List of Accepted and Prohibited Substances
Practice Food Safety
Maintain safety and nutritional value by using potable water for crop washing, sanitizing washing and storage areas and making use of cold storage as needed.
Reduce Losses to Pests
Mitigate pest damage through crop rotation and diversity, the use of row cover, encouraging presence of beneficial insects and using USDA organic-approved pest controls.
Land Acknowledgement
New Roots acknowledges that the land on which we grow is the cultural inheritance of the Kickapoo, Kaw/Kansa and Osage tribes. As a program that supports displaced peoples, we recognize the initial forced removal of Native peoples from these lands. We honor the Native peoples who came before us and honor the excellence of the Native community today. We ask for accountability and we strive to be good stewards of this land as we foster systems of love, justice and equity.
Click here to learn more about the history of indigenous people in Kansas.
🚌We went on a field trip to Fox and Pearl!
🥗Did you know some of the New Roots farmers cultures don’t eat raw vegetables often?
🥗We teach all our farmers common recipes in American culture so they can better market their produce. Getting out of the classroom and actually seeing how wholesale customers use their produce helps farmers understand the quality and consistency needed to run a successful farm business.
🥗This is why we’ve partnered with local restaurants like Fox and Pearl to give New Roots farmers an opportunity to learn first-hand how their customers use local produce.
🥗Fox and Pearl graciously opened their restaurant to us a couple weeks ago, and farmers learned how much thought and care goes into each of Chef Vaughn Good’s dishes. Then, they got to see and taste the delicious flavors he’s created with locally grown food.
🥗It was an amazing learning experience, and we are so grateful to Chef Vaughn, Kristine, and the entire Fox and Pearl Staff!
💚🌱
@foxandpearlkc
@cultivatekc
@catholiccharitiesks
Mar 7
Don’t need a farm share, but still want to support New Roots farmers?
💚If you donate towards our farm share fund, you are directly supporting farmers while also filling the food pantry with healthy veggies.
🌱Click the link in our bio to donate today.
New Roots is partnership between @cultivatekc and @catholiccharitiesks. In our 4 year training program, we empower new-Americans as they start their own farm business.
#urbanag #kansascity #kck #kcmo #supportlocal #supportfarmers
Feb 28
A New Roots farm share is a vegetable subscription that gets you local, farm-fresh vegetables each week of the summer! Plus, each purchase provides income to New Roots farmers-in-training!
We have 6 different pickup options available with locations spread throughout Kansas City, Overland Park, and—new this year— Lenexa! Payment plans are also available.
Sign up at the link in our bio!
New Roots is a partnership between @cultivatekc and @catholiccharitiesks. We provide 4 years of farm business training and income opportunities to refugee and immigrant families.
Feb 20
➡️ Swipe ➡️ to the end to see the best summer hair accessories on the farm! 🌸 And read below for our Valentine’s Day offer! ⬇️
♥️Want a Valentine’s Day gift that is local, sustainable, and supports immigrant families? Look no further than the New Roots Flower Share!
💌 Order *before* February 13, and we’ll email you a pretty little print-out to have ready for your Valentine (see the 2 examples above). Then, your Valentine will get 6 weeks of beautiful flowers starting in July!
🔗 Link in bio (Click the “Flower Share 2025 Sign Up” button).
Feb 6
English for Farming classes started in November and end this week. One thing farmers learn is how to discuss cooking vegetables with their farmers market customers. To apply those lessons, we had a cooking class a few weeks ago where a couple farmers taught the rest of the class (and staff) how to make a Burmese noodle dish and soup. Not only did we practice English together, but we also got to share about our different cultures, find joy in our similarities and differences, and simply show gratitude and pride for everything immigrants bring to our community.
Thank you to @themerccoop for allowing us to use their kitchen space!
Jan 28
Meet Veronica Ma Ket!
Veronica is the New Roots Sales Specialist. She organizes wholesale, online, and farm share orders. During the summer, she is usually at the farm organizing orders, categorizing, packing, and loading vegetables for delivery. Veronica speaks Burmese among several other languages, so farmers often go to her with their questions, and Veronica always helps them find an answer. Her favorite part of her job is being able to give back to the community she grew up in.
Veronica finds inspiration from her mother, who is a graduate of the New Roots program. Her mom doesn’t speak English which has inspired Veronica to use her interpretation skills to help other New Roots farmers become successful like her mom.
Bok choy and water spinach are Veronica’s favorite vegetables. They are a quick, 10 minute side dish that she enjoys eating with anything. (If you’ve never tried these two veggies, plenty of farmers will have them available for you to purchase this summer!)
Since Veronica is one of the staff members who has been with New Roots the longest, she has become an important mentor and guide for new staff. She is always willing to help others and answer questions and, frankly, we aren’t sure what we’d do without her! Thank you for all you do, Veronica! 💚🌱
Jan 16
🍺Double Shift Brewing and Border Brewing collaborated with New Roots to take local farmer-grown produce from the garden to your glass!
🌍Be among the first to try “Stout of This World,” BEER on Saturday, November 30th. The breweries will generously donate $1 to New Roots for every pint of Stout of This World sold.
🎟️AND, on Small Business Saturday, November 30th, there will be a raffle at both brewery locations! Every pint you purchase will get you a raffle ticket for the possibility of winning a pretty sweet swag bag filled with goodies from both breweries and New Roots.
🍠Inspired by New Roots farmers and the multicultural flavors they bring to the table, this dark ale features classic cold-weather flavors such as pumpkin, sweet potato, and cinnamon, but with an international twist of fresh ginger, hot peppers, and subtle curry notes. The Asian pumpkins, sweet potatoes, fresh ginger, and Thai peppers used in the beer were all grown locally by New Roots farmers!
🌱New Roots, a partnership between Cultivate KC and Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, is a four-year farming and business training program for immigrants and refugees. In the first year of the program, farmers begin making an income for their families and by their fourth year, they have their own farm business.
🍻Don’t miss this opportunity to support multiple small businesses while drinking great beer! See you Saturday!
@doubleshiftbrewing
@borderbrewco
@cultivatekc
Art by Candace Riedel
Nov 27
