Blue Door Farm
Though located in the bustling heart of Kansas City, Kansas, you can hear the birds singing and the wind rustling through the leaves that shelter Blue Door Farm. A long gravel road winds off of 55th Street to a quintessential country home, framed by shed and barn. The homemade greenhouse that is Blue Door Farm lies beyond this picturesque landscape in a clearing highlighted by sun. It is in this oasis, hidden away from the noises of traffic and urban life, that Laura Christensen takes less than an acre of land and upon it, harvests rows upon rows of fresh produce. For Christensen, this is what urban farming is all about, “It’s looking around, seeing green space, and thinking, I could do something with that.”
Christensen first began learning how to farm through the Growing Growers Apprenticeship Program and then as an apprentice at the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture. Much of her inspiration to farm was fostered at KCCUA, where Christensen says, “the way they did things seemed doable to me.” While apprenticing, Christensen was given the chance to lease farming land in the city and begin her own farm-an opportunity that she has since turned into a huge success. Bok choy, mustard greens, and spinach grow amongst Swiss chard, lettuce, and baby beets. Herbs carpet the entrance of the greenhouse while transplants, seedlings that Christensen sells to others to grow, sit in little black pots.
a bountiful crop waiting to be harvested
Blue Door Farm currently sells its crops at Brookside Farmers Market as well as helps supply a small CSA, or community supported agriculture. Members of the CSA pay upfront at the beginning of the season and receive a share or half share of food every week. A full share is enough for a family to have vegetables every night and members even get to hear about what’s happening at the farm, get recipe suggestions, and visit the farm. Many enjoy being more connected to their food and learning about how it is grown. Others appreciate the fact that the produce they are purchasing is grown using organic methods.
Furthermore, CSAs benefit the farmer, as well. As Christensen explains, “Farming is risky. The weather changes, everything changes, you try your best, you plan within an inch of your life and it’s all chaos after that. CSA members help share some of that risk.” The relationship is one of true mutual gratitude and understanding. Those who participate in a CSA realize that they are not only helping support local, organic agriculture, but also the livelihood of a member of their community.
Laura Christensen and her dog, Ishamael at the end of a long day
Blue Door Farm proudly uses organic growing techniques and seeds and is on its way to becoming organically certified. Fostering mutual understanding between farmer and consumer, certification establishes clear growing standards for the farmer while promising the consumer that the crops are in fact completely organic. Much of the desire to farm organically stems from Christensen’s basic beliefs about farming. “I think everybody who farms is pretty conscious of how they manage the land and is proud of how they manage the land. So I don’t think anybody’s going to farm and do something wrong or unhealthy for the environment or the people. Basically all farmers view themselves as land stewards in a way.”
The passion and dedication Christensen has for her land and for the act of farming is evident in the tenderness she demonstrates for her crops. She kneels down gently to tend to some weeds that are beginning to threaten newborn spinach leaves. Spring is the most stressful time of year for Christensen, but she is quick to emphasize her love for farming despite its difficulties. “Even when it stresses me out and tires me, I like the physical labor aspect of it. It keeps me mentally healthy and I like engaging the world this way. It’s fun and it’s worth it.”
Janie Chen
[...] visiting Blue Door Farm, farmer Laura Christensen picked a piece of mustard green for me to try. I hesitated, accustomed to [...]