Welcome
Celebrating Over 30 years of self-help gardening!
The Kansas City Community Gardens, located at 6917 Kensington, 816-931-3877, is a not-for-profit organization that provides self-help and educational assistance to low-income people, children and community groups in the metropolitan area to grow their own food from garden plots located in backyards, vacant lots, schoolyards and at community sites. Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.
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Gardeners and Friends of KCCG:-
A major part of Kansas City Community Gardens’ funding has been threatened to be cut and we need your help to secure it again!
Background Information:
· KCCG has been receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds every year (except 2010) for the past 28 years.
· KCCG has received $32,000-$39,000 for the past 12 years.
· This year, city staff recommended KCCG for ZERO FUNDING for the upcoming funding year.
· CDBG funding for KCCG provides garden support for low-income families and community groups. Funds are used for garden tilling, garden improvements, water, insurance and staff support.
· The number of food gardens has increased dramatically over the last four years. KCCG is currently assisting over 990 low-income families, 178 community groups and 105 schools to produce food from gardens. The majority of these gardens are in KCMO.
· KCMO’s City Council recently adopted Resolution 120046 that supports improved access to healthy foods for KCMO residents. This resolution recognizes the value of efforts of citizens to produce food from community gardens and home gardens.
Here’s how you can help:
1) Join us forone or both of the following meetings to show support for KCCG:
· City Council Public Budget Hearing: Saturday, February 18 at 10:00am-12:00pm
Robert J. Mohart Center, 3200 Wayne Ave. Kansas City, MO 64109
· CDBG Hearing: Wednesday, February 29 at 1:30pm.
City Hall, 414 East 12th Street Kansas City, MO 64106
(City Council Chambers, 26th floor)
· City Council Public Budget Hearing: Wednesday, February 29 at 7-9:00pm Hillcrest Community Center, 10401 Hillcrest Road Kansas City, MO 64134
If you are able to attend one of these meetings, please contact Earlene Franks at 816-931-3877 or earlene@kccg.org to let her know you are going to attend. Although both events are critical, we are hoping to have an especially large showing at the CDBG hearing. Transportation from KCCG to the CDBG hearing is available. We will leave KCCG offices (6917 Kensington KCMO 64132) at 12:30pm, February 29.
2) E-mail, call or write your city council representatives and tell them in your own words that food gardens are very important to our city and that you think that KCCG should receive full funding. You can use the information listed above, but we also encourage you to share your own story of how KCCG has helped you and/or your community.
If you are not a KCMO resident, please e-mail, call or write the mayors office. On the back of this letter you will find names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses and phone numbers for city council representatives and the mayor.
Thank you for your continued support. Please call Earlene at 816-931-3877 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
KCCG Staff
City Council Representatives
1st District: Scott Wagner – at large (513-6503)
kimberly.randolph@kcmo.org
Dick Davis (513-6505) jackie.burton@kcmo.org
2nd District: Ed Ford – at large (513-6507) lisa.minardi@kcmo.org
Russ Johnson (513-6509) meg.conger@kcmo.org
3rd District:Melba Curls – at large (513-6511)
Jermaine Reed (513-6513) petrina.gooden@kcmo.org
4th District: Jim Glover – at large (513-6515)
Jan Marcason (513-6517) jan.marcason@kcmo.org
5th District: Cindy Circo – at large (513-6519)
Michael Brooks (513-6521)
6th District: Scott Taylor – at large (513-6523)
John A. Sharp (816-513-6525)
Mailing Address for All City Council Representatives:
The City Council Office
City Hall, 22nd Floor
414 East 12th St.
Kansas City, MO 64106
The Mayor
The Mayor’s Office
City Call, 29th Floor
414 East 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
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2012 FRUIT TREE AND BERRY PLANTS ORDER FORM IS AVAILABLE NOW!
Click on link: sites/default/files/file/2012%20Fruit%20Plant%20List.pdf to down load the form. Mail order form to our offices at 6917 Kensington, Kansas City, MO, 64132 with accompanying check by order dates. If you have any questions contact Earlene at 816-931-3877 or email at earlenefranks@sbcglobal.net.
Click on link: sites/default/files/file/2012%20Fruit%20Plant%20List.pdf to down load the form. Mail order form to our offices at 6917 Kensington, Kansas City, MO, 64132 with accompanying check by order dates. If you have any questions contact Earlene at 816-931-3877 or email at earlenefranks@sbcglobal.net.
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Organic “Chicken Manure” Fertilizer
KCCG is now selling organic fertilizer in the form of pelletized chicken manure. This product is “Omri listed” for organic production. 5–3-2.5 guaranteed analysis. All quantities are self-service.
Small quantities can be picked up starting in mid-March during regular office hours. No advance notice or purchase necessary.
· 10 lb bag=$2.00: We will have plastic bags available, but you are welcome to bring your own container.
· 32 lbs (5 gallon bucket)=$4.00: bring your own 5-gallon buckets or borrow KCCG’s with a $5.00 bucket deposit.
Large quantities can be picked up in mid-March and must be pre-ordered and pre-paid.
· ½ ton = $97.50
· 1 ton = $195.00
The fertilizer will be available at KCCG office in Swope Park- 6917 Kensington Kansas City, MO 64132. Call or email for more information: Andrea Mathew (816) 931-3877 andreamathew@sbcglobal.net
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2012 Spring Workshop Schedule click on the Events/Workshop tab above.
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MINI-GRANTS AVAILABLE THROUGH GET GROWING KC!
Get Growing Kansas City is a two year collaborate campaign (involving KCCG, Cultivate KC and Lincoln University Extension) that aims to help get good food growing in every neighborhood.
Thanks to the generosity of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, The Get Growing Kansas City campaign will be awarding mini-grants of up to $3,000 to urban farmers and community gardens to help get new farms and community gardens started and to help existing farms and gardens expand their capacity to produce food for Kansas City area residents, particularly residents with limited access to fresh, locally grown food.
Funds will be available to growers who sell their produce and to growers based in 501c3 organizations who will produce food for consumption with or without a commercial transaction (i.e. community gardens, charitable gardens, educational gardens, or similar). There are geographic restrictions as to who can apply, please see the attached grant description.
This is a two year program; there will be a total of five grant rounds in the next 18 months. It is a one-time award only, so before you apply, please consider your plans for expansion and growth over the next 2 years before you apply! To get the application process going click on the C:\Users\earlene\Documents\Get Growing Kansas City- Mini-Grant Description December, 2011[1].pdf for a description of the program; and complete the following C:\Users\earlene\Documents\Get Growing KC Mini-Grant Application.docx and the C:\Users\earlene\Documents\Get Growing KC Application Budget Form.xls. Our Get Growing team members are available to help you develop your project and your grant application, please email info@getgrowingkc.org to get the process rolling.
The Get Growing Kansas City team
816-226-7979
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KCCG FEATURED ON FOX 4 NEWS
http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-community-gardens-32509,0,6659225.story
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ATTENTION GARDENERS!
RESERVE YOUR TILLERS. Group or individual gardens (anywhere in the metro area) are eligible for tiller loan. The half-day fee is $8 for green-card members and $15 for yellow-card members. A refundable deposit is required to reserve the tiller. Call Earlene at 816.931.3877 for more information.
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If you or your organization is interested in starting a group garden, please call 816.931.3877 and ask for Ben. Fall is a good time to plan for next year.
A Special Thanks to Nicholson Kovac, Inc. for Providing Integrated Marketing Solutions in Support of Kansas City Community Gardens.
