Soils and Greenhouse Workshops

We're getting to the end of our winter workshop series. Every Wednesday morning, we gather farmers, program staff and interpreters together and focus on a certain topic related to agriculture. Last week, we talked about the soil health as the foundatition for everything that we do.

Daniel and John led the workshop.

We talked about and felt the different components to soil.

We've also been working in the greenhouse. Two weeks ago, Cathy facilitated the

greenhouse workshop for new farmers. We started onions, cabbages, broccoli and scallions. Greenhouse work is new to most of the New Roots farmers, who are accoustomed to

warmer climates with longer growing seasons.

Lay Htoo's baby chinese cabbage.

2011 CSA Sign-up Time!

Surrounded by the icy streets and enormous mounds of snow that have recently engulfed Kansas City, it may be hard to believe that the farmers at New Roots for Refugees are already well into planning their 2011 growing season. What better way to bring a little summer sunshine into your frigid day than by signing up for your New Roots CSA share?!

We are excited to welcome four new refugee farmers to our program this year: Amina Durow from Somalia, Shyam and Durga Khanal from Bhutan, Soe and San Dar Myint from Burma, and Maria John and Zo Wah Ni also from Burma.

This brings our total number of farmers in the program to seventeen! To accommodate this fantastic growth, increase economic opportunities for the farmers, and improve eater convenience, we will be expanding to new market locations this year – with a total of eight pick-up options throughout the Kansas City region. Please check out the map below for more details.

As a CSA member you will be building a partnership with one farmer, and pick up vegetables from the same farmer every week. This gives you an opportunity to know who is cultivating your food, and the refugee a chance to interact more long-term with English speaking Americans. You are also welcome and encouraged to visit the farm and spend time working alongside your farmer!

The cost of a share is $300 for a twenty week growing season, with $150 deposit due at sign-up. A weekly food share will include 4-6 different veggies. Our farmers will strive to bring you the freshest, healthiest, most delicious produce available this season. All produce is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and other chemical inputs. Although not certified organic, we abide by organic principles, emphasizing soil fertility through microorganism health.

Buying a share of vegetables from one of New Roots farmers goes well beyond a simple monetary transaction for goods. When you support a farmer through our CSA, you are providing her with money upfront, at the beginning of the season when she needs it most. You are supporting a project that grows more than just vegetables. Our training farm is unique in that it empowers refugee women to provide income and food for their families while increasing their integration in our greater community.

When you have decided on a pick-up location, or if you have any questions, please e-mail Emily at elecuyer(a)catholiccharitiesks.org or give her a call at 913.620.2080.

View New Roots 2011 CSA Pick-up Locations in a larger map