Cultivate KC

03/09/2025

Action Wednesday snuck up on us this week because of the long weekend. We're echoing a message from New Roots that went out to their customers this week.

We hope you were able to get some rest today in honor of Labor Day. Our Cultivate KC and New Roots staff are lucky enough to have had Monday off work, but days off are few and far between if you're a farmer. The food on our plates got there because of a farmer that, most likely, worked through a holiday. Take action by showing local farmers some extra love this week by visiting them at one of the farmers markets around town or ordering through their online shops!

https://www.cultivatekc.org/localfoodresources/
https://catholiccharitiesks.org/new-roots/shop-online/

02/09/2025

Howdy, partners- less than two weeks away!

JOIN US for a celebration of urban farming and the diversity of the food in the soil and the folks who grow and eat it! Midtown Hoedown is a family friendly, farm-centered folk dance + so much more! This event is perfect for farming and food enthusiasts of ALL ages. The evening begins with kid-frien...

28/08/2025

Yee haw, partners - The Midtown Hoedown raffle prizes are up on our website! Only 150 tickets ($10 each) will be available for these amazing prizes - we like your chances! You must be 21 and over to enter and you must be present at 6:30pm at Midtown Hoedown to win. CHECK THEM OUT:

Yee haw, partners! Only 150 tickets ($10 each) will be available for these amazing Midtown Hoedown raffle prizes, so your chances at winning are darn-tootin’ good. Raffle winners will be drawn promptly at 6:30 pm; you must be 21 and over to enter and you must be present to win. Three winners will ...

27/08/2025

It’s 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 and we ask you to take one minute to reach out to your Members of Congress to oppose United States Department of Agriculture’s proposed reorganization.

While we are always excited to see a spotlight on Kansas City, in this case, we are concerned that the relocation of USDA staff from DC to regional hubs across the country (including Kansas City), will have negative impacts on the essential functions of the USDA.
This reorganization plan was developed without the input of Congress or relevant stakeholders – and, combined with recent staffing cuts and funding freezes at USDA, will have a long-lasting, negative impact on the agency’s ability to fulfill its mission nationwide, resulting in massive consequences for farmers and families.

We rely on the United States Department of Agriculture for resources, technical assistance, and critical research and safety efforts in the interest of farmers and communities in Missouri and Kansas. Dedicated USDA staff both at the agency’s Washington DC headquarters and at local offices are essential to fulfilling the agency’s functions for the public.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗨𝗦𝗗𝗔 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀.
Farmers use this form: https://secure.everyaction.com/0cd5tVzu9E2JdXu4BVmKOg2
General public use this one: https://secure.everyaction.com/3jtKtk1BUki8Om0mdu-w9w2

25/08/2025

Last Wednesday we hosted a Local Farmers Feed Communities Roundtable discussion at Boys Grow with staff members from the offices Emanuel Cleaver II, Mark Alford, and Senator Josh Hawley, to share priorities for the next farm bill and concerns about USDA staffing and funding.

Thanks to our farmers and partners from Green Gate Family Farm, The Kansas City Food Hub, Kansas City Young Farmers Coalition, Harvesters - The Community Food Network, and of course, Boys Grow for the insightful conversations on how our members of Congress, as well as elected officials at the state and local level, can support our local farmers and a thriving local food system in Kansas City.

21/08/2025

Whoops- we almost missed 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆! Here are two bipartisan bills you can ask your US Senators and Representative to support. More details can be found here:

In 2022, the USDA created two new programs – the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for School Programs – to give states funding to purchase nutritious and fresh foods from local farmers for food banks and schools. We’ve seen firsthand the positive economic and social benefits of th...

20/08/2025

Friends, we REALLY need some more volunteers for our Midtown Hoedown event on September 13th. It will be FUN, you will get a free t-shirt, and you can have free admission to the rest of the party! Please consider signing up for a shift.

Midtown Hoedown is the BEST farm dance party in town, but it takes a lot of help to ensure the event runs smoothly. If you’re interested in volunteering that day, please visit the link below. There’s a job for everyone!   MIDTOWN HOEDOWN SIGNUP GENIUS

15/08/2025

It's 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, friends! Today, I'm just sharing a little gallery of photos of some fun things that have happened over the last few weeks. Hopefully, at least one will bring you some joy!

p.s. Today was newsletter day, and if you'd like to hear more about what we keep busy with, you can sign up at the bottom of our home webpage: cultivatekc.org

13/08/2025

This 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, we’re amplifying a call from Missouri Workers Center, Missouri Jobs with Justice, and others to oppose politically motivated redistricting in Missouri.

🚨ACTION ALERT🚨from Missouri Workers Center:
In an unprecedented authoritarian move, the current U.S. administration is working with MO lawmakers to redraw our districts, break up our communities, and silence our voices. Join us in Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, St. Charles, and St. Louis to get organized to fight back!

Gov. Kehoe, Speaker Patterson, and Pro Tem O' Laughlin are conspiring to end American democracy as we know it. That’s why we’re coming together with , , and allies statewide to win fair districting that keeps our communities whole!

Join the mass meeting next week:
Kansas City –

08/08/2025

Happy 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 to those who are feeling it today!

National Farmers Market week is wrapping up, and here is a celebratory post by Eli O'Sullivan Kurtz, Cultivate KC's Farmers Market Specialist. Hope to see you out at the market this weekend; they are absolutely packed with delicious, local summer goodness right now!

For the past 26 years, farmers markets across the country have participated in National Farmers Market Week to celebrate local agriculture’s vital place in our food system. All this week and weekend, you’ll see special events at markets all across the KC metro area.  Here’s a sampling of even...

06/08/2025

This week for 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 it is time to contact your US Representative to support local food procurement in our community.

Your Representative has a chance to invest in America’s farmers and families, all at once!

The 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁 would resource states, tribal nations, and territories to provide the freshest local foods to food access organizations.

Tell your Representative how the Local Farms Feeding Our Communities Act would benefit your community and ask them to co-sponsor the bill.

Don't have your representative on speed dial yet? Look here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative