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In the final post from the Catholic Charities team, we are sharing a message from the New Roots Program Director, Kristin Selby. It’s a personal message expressing gratitude to you and hope for the future of the program.

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Working with New Roots farmers and staff has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. When I first started nearly 7 years ago, I knew very little about agriculture or the local food system. Through the tutelage of New Roots growers, I am now the proud caretaker of a community garden and orchard in my neighborhood. I have been fed meals of fried bottle gourd and laphet thoke under the shade of squash leaves in handmade structures in farmers’ plots. I’ve risen at ungodly hours on weekend mornings to accompany farmers to markets and been handed cups of hot homemade tea (and sometimes store-bought frappuccinos and Hot Cheetos). I’ve seen shy newcomers blossom into confident business owners. I have held farm babies in my arms and seen them grow up into farm kids. In short, I have been taught, fed, and welcomed into a community.

What makes the Juniper Gardens training farm such a special community is that I am not alone in experiencing these gifts. Farmers express that they feel a sense of belonging at the farm and pride in what they have achieved and learned. Staff and farmers have built lasting relationships with each other and this year we have together mourned the end of the 17 year partnership between Catholic Charities and Cultivate KC–and celebrated what has blossomed out of this partnership.

I have so much gratitude not just to the people that labor at Juniper Gardens Training Farm, but to all of you who support New Roots farmers in one way or another. You make it possible for immigrant farmers to use their skills and gifts to benefit their families and the community.

Although this program transition is difficult and sad, there is no doubt in my mind that the work will continue. Farmers are resilient, creative, and motivated. New Roots supporters are loyal, generous, and kind. There will be changes, but I believe the farm will remain what is had always been: a place to cultivate belonging, hope, and new life.

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🌱Meet Mauridi!🌱

🌱Mauridi is a third year farmer at New Roots. His favorite vegetables to grow are onions and potatoes. Besides farming, he enjoys playing soccer on a recreational soccer team. His brothers and his mother are people who always make him smile. Mauridi is grateful for being able to make money because he understands how many opportunities it can open up for a person.

🌱Mauridi and his wife Noela have 4 children. You can support Mauridi and Noela at the Lenexa Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. @lenexafarmersmkt

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💚Meet Aung Let!💚

🌱Aung Let is in her third year as a New Roots farmer. She has four children, and they always bring a smile to her face. She likes to sing, and another one of her favorite past times is working in her farm plot. Chin baung, a Burmese sour leaf, is her favorite thing to grow. She cooks it in soups and salads and also fries it. Aung Let is proud that she was able to create her farm business all by herself.

🌱You can support Aung Let’s business by visiting her at the Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market on Saturdays between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. @downtownlsfarmersmarket

#kclocal #kansascity #leessummit #kcmo #kck #kcfood #kceats #localkc #kclocalbusiness #kansas #missouri

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Meet Rubingo (and our summer intern)!

For the first half of the summer, New Roots was lucky enough to have an intern from Catholic Summer Internship Kansas City! The second photo shows our intern Anne supporting Rubingo at his first farmers market. One of Anne’s many projects was to sit down with each farmer-in-training for a quick, fun interview which would be used for a social media post. Read below for more!

Rubingo is a first year farmer at New Roots, and his favorite thing to grow is anything he’s never gown before. For fun, Rubingo likes to look at other farmers’ plots with them, and he also enjoys singing and listening to music. The people who always make him smile are his 5 sons and his wife of 29 years. Upon hearing our intern was getting married soon, Rubingo offered this advice, “Everything in marriage—you need to persevere.”

Go meet Rubingo and buy his produce at the “Market on Main” in downtown Blue Springs on Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
@marketonmainbs

@cultivatekc #kansascity #eatlocalkc #kck #kcmo #kcfood #bluespringsmo

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💐Does someone in your life need a mid-summer pick-me-up? Or maybe that someone is you? Treat yourself or your loved one to a New Roots Flower Share!

💐For six weeks, you’ll pick up a beautiful market-style bouquet grown and arranged by New Roots farmers. The first week of flowers will start next week.

💐Spots are limited, and this Sunday, July 27, is the last day to sign up!

💐Go to the link in our bio, and click “Buy a Flower Share!” to add a little joy to your life!

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Call for Volunteers!

This is Rubingo and the next (swipe>>) is Asende, both all-around amazing humans and first year farmers here at New Roots.

Both farmers need our support driving to markets and selling their produce on Saturday mornings.

Our volunteers typically love this role! You’ll wake up early, pick up our truck, and head to the farm. There, you’ll meet the farmer and they’ll load their supplies. Then, you will drive them to market to set up. After that, all the hard work is done! You’ll simply help with customers and communication or problems that may arise (there will be staff on call if needed!). Take some breaks to walk around the market, do some shopping, and enjoy time getting to know Asende or Rubingo!

Not available on Saturdays? You can also volunteer on the farm! Get your Vitamin D and your workout in while you help a farmer with one of the most difficult tasks to keep up with— weeding! They are always so grateful! We’ve weeded Asende’s corn bed, Aung Let’s beets, and Mauridi’s turnips. Last week, Ling asked us for help laying leaves in his paths, and we worked with his whole family! Come be a part of our farm community!

If you can help, email Elizabeth at [email protected] or click the link in our Instagram bio!

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Last Fall, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas was awarded a very generous grant from the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund to purchase food for the Kansas City Metro area. The best part for us was that Catholic Charities allocated a large portion of the funds to supply their pantries with local, nutrient-dense vegetables grown by New Roots farmers!

Sales Coordinator Craig Howard met with farmers and worked on a plan for months to prepare for these weekly orders which would be the largest consistent wholesale orders New Roots has ever received. We were all a little nervous – could we do it? Could the farmers grow enough? Could we pack it fast enough? Could we get it delivered on time? Was there even enough room in our coolers???

The answer is yes! With Craig’s leadership, we’re happy to announce we’ve successfully ordered and delivered between 600-1000 pounds of produce per week for the past four weeks. Together, the farmers have made over $16,000 to support their businesses and their families. That amounts to 3,388 pounds of fresh, healthy food distributed in our community so far! And we aren’t done – we still have many more weeks of the summer left.

We wouldn’t be able to do this without the dedication of the Catholic Charities grants team, the distribution center team, and, of course, the generosity of the McGowan family. We are amazed and so grateful that so many people have come together for the good of Kansas City!

#kansascity #kcmo #kck #kcfood #urbanfarming
@catholiccharitiesks
@cultivatekc

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Thank you for your support of the New Roots program, farmers, and newcomers in Kansas City.

Please follow the blog link in our bio for a full update on these program changes.

@cultivatekc @catholiccharitiesks