Cultivate Kansas City www.cultivatekc.org hosted their “Homegrown and Happy Hour” event on Wednesday evening at Juniper Gardens. I thought this would be the perfect time to also do a farm visit since I was already there and it was a beautiful evening with good food and company.  Juniper Gardens is a training farm and the location for the New Roots for Refugees program. New Roots for Refugees   http://newrootsforrefugees.blogspot.com help resettled refugees start their own small farm business growing and selling vegetables. These families come to the United States with significant agricultural experience and this program gives them the help they need to get started and provide them with five years of training. The facility currently sits on 8 acres which is divided up among Kansas City, KS resident farmers; each farmer gets a ¼ acre plot. The facility is equipped with a large cooler which is divided up among each farmer. They also have a wonderful wash area where all the vegetables can be washed before bringing them to the Market. 

 Since 2014 we have been working with three families from Juniper Gardens who have since become contracted Saturday and Sunday vendors, Mee Nge and Swa Dit, Ha Li Mar and Sa Je Dar. This year Neng Khen Khup will start selling produce at the Sunday Farmers Market. The New Roots for Refugee vendors bring beautiful produce to the Market and have been a wonderful addition to our market family.

 Next week Sarah and I will be heading on an all day road trip to Springfield, Cole Camp, Sedalia and Osceola, Missouri. It should be a fun day; I am hoping it is not raining or windy.