Educational & Charitable Gardens: Sow the Seeds
Once upon a time, not so very long ago (ask any adult over 60), children grew up knowing that a potato came from the ground and that cucumbers turned into pickles if you soaked them in salt or vinegar. And, no matter how bad the economy was, a family could generally find a bit of land and knew how to put in a few vegetables, staving off hunger with home grown cabbage, a pot of greens, and tomatoes picked straight from the vine.
Now, it is widely accepted that “children hate vegetables” and that getting a child to eat beans or spinach is a battle better not picked. And, for too many of us, if a vegetable isn’t already cut, sealed into a plastic bag, and ready to microwave, we don’t know how to cook them.
We’re paying the price for that ignorance with escalating rates of childhood and adult diabetes. We’re paying the price for it with high numbers of people suffering from malnutrition at the same time they are overweight and obese. And, as food prices rise, we are paying the price for it literally, and too many of us no longer have the skills to supplement our food budget with home grown vegetables and fruit.
As a nation, we are slowly coming back to our senses on the topic of food because of these issues. Leading the way are educators and gardeners working at the ground level, teaching others how to grow and eat real, fresh, good food. Schools are beginning to include gardening in their curriculum, using vegetable growing as a way to teach healthy eating and living to young people, as well as lessons in math, science, and culture. In Kansas City, there are now some 46 “edible schoolyards” and more starting in every season. Food pantries and organizations that serve the poor and hungry are beginning to offer a bag of food, including fresh vegetables, to ward off hunger with one hand, and with the other hand, offering seeds, transplants, and gardening information to help provide longer term.
Kansas City’s efforts in this arena have been led and shaped by many individuals and organizations, and some of the best and some of the newest examples of charitable and educational gardens are on this tour. They are truly “sowing the seeds” for a healthier future for Kansas Citians.
(25) Benjamin Banneker Charter Academy
6401 Rockhill Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64131
(816) 977-8017
tjdickerson_bbcat AT yahoo.com
The scholars’ class of 7th & 8th graders at Benjamin Banneker do everything in their garden, beginning with making their own light boxes to start the seeds, turning the soil, planting, and then harvesting the produce to give to Harvesters. Isaiah Maxi, 8th grade lead gardener, says it is “run by kids who truly care and take the garden seriously.” Teacher Tony Dickerson says that the garden teaches the students patience, problem solving, critical-thinking, creativity, selflessness, and empowerment.
Music: Kansas City Ukesters, 1-2PM
Storyteller: Joyce Slater, 2PM on
Directions:
From 71 highway, take the 63rd Exit
Go west to Troost.
Go one block to 64th Street (aka Meyer Blvd.)
The school is on the southeast corner of 64th & Rockhill.
Rockhill is one block west of Troost.
Parking is in a lot south of the school.
(10) Cross-Lines Community Outreach Garden
736 Shawnee Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66105
(913) 281-3388
Nestled between their food pantry, the thrift store, and the free meals kitchen, the Cross-Lines Garden grows healthy, fresh produce that feeds the hungry. Nearly a quarter-acre in size, the garden annually produces thousands of pounds of vegetables, grown by the hands of agency staff, volunteers, and clients. “So many of the people who come here have never cooked or eaten fresh vegetables before,” says Carey Sterrett, garden manager. “It is so rewarding though to give a bag of green beans to a mother, show her how to cook them, and then have her come back and tell us that she and her son loved the way they tasted and can they have more?”
Music: John Williams, Acoustic, 2:30-3:30
Storyteller: Anne Haehl (English & Spanish) 1-2:30, 3:30 on
Directions:
Get on Rainbow (same as 7th Street Trafficway).
Shawnee Ave. is between Osage Avenue & Kansas Avenue.
The Garden is in front of the big brick building.
Park in lot east of garden or on street.
(9) Fairview Church Garden
1800 NE 65th
Gladstone, MO 64118
(816) 415-9022
wsubbfan AT yahoo.com
Jeff Hunter and Stacey Schulz started this garden several years ago to help raise funds for the church youth group and to feed their local community. As their skills and knowledge have grown, so have the yields and their ambition. Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, greens, beans and more grow on this church-owned land, and are sold at an on-site farmers market. There will be lots of fun and educational activities at this site, so be sure to plan it into your day.
Directions:
From 169N take the Englewood Rd./Gladstone exit
Go .2 mi. Turn east on NW Englewood Rd, go .7 mi.
Turn north on N. Oak St/N. Oak Tfwy, go 1.0 mi.
Turn east on NE Shady Ln. Dr., go .6 mi.
Continue on NE 64th St., go .3 mi.
Turn north on N. Highland Ave, go .1 mi.
Turn east on NE 65th and go to 1800.
Go in east driveway of church and park in lot east of church.
(30) Harvesters’ Garden
3801 Topping Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64129
(816) 929-3084
kanderson AT harvesters.org
“I most want people to know that healthy, nutritious food is available regardless of financial means”, says Andrew Johnson, followed closely by words from a colleague, Kara Anderson, “Urban gardening is a self-sufficient way to lead a healthy lifestyle, no matter the amount of money someone has”. Both Kara and Andrew work with the educational garden project that Harvesters uses to help people with limited financial resources learn ways to grow healthy food. The garden is a beautiful example of small and affordable gardening options.
Children’s Activities
Directions:
From I-70 take exit #6/Van Brunt Blvd.
Go south on Van Brunt – go .1 mi.
Continue on S. Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. (same as Van Brunt).
Turn east on Leeds Tfwy. – go. .3 mi.
Turn south on Topping Ave. – park in Harvesters Parking Lot.
(22) KC Urban Youth Center Youth Garden
2732 Troost
Kansas City, MO 64109
(816) 221-1002
Nicole AT kcurbanyouthcenter.org
www.kcurbanyouthcenter.org
Youth gardener and budding philosopher Felix Glover says, “You turn your back on the garden, the garden will turn its back on you”. He also says “Gardening gives a community food, and hope that might inspire change.” This garden began when a group of young people at the Center began looking at their neighborhood to see what was needed. They saw a real need for healthy food, and started growing and selling their own in 2008. Their enthusiasm and sense of ownership is contagious, these are young people out to change their world.
Music: Karaoke & the Women of Emancipation Station
Directions:
From Linwood (32nd St.) and Troost, go north to Urban Youth Center on west side of street.
Parking is on north side of building in lot
Garden is on south side of building along 28th Street.
(21) Niles Garden, Niles Home for Children
1911 E. 23rd St.
Kansas City, MO 64127
(816) 241-3448
martyk AT allspecies.org
www.nhc-kc.org
“I want to see 200,000,000 Americans who know how to feed themselves,” says Marty Kraft, garden coordinator. He’s in the right line of work to make that happen – working with youth to grow gardens, from seed to table. Niles is a prep school and home for children and is a caring atmosphere. Marty and the youth experiment with nature-centered growing. The garden is peaceful and beautifully designed, featuring raised beds, a solar-powered water garden and fountain, and a gazebo. The hope for this garden is that it will inspire the young people and all who visit it to live more fully and deeply.
Music: Andrea Davenport, Music With Heart 12-2PM
Directions:
Off I-70, take Exit 3 to Brooklyn Avenue, go south.
Take Brooklyn to 23rd street and go right
The school is on your left.
Park in Lincoln High School across street on north.
(4) Quindaro Elementary School
KCK Community Gardens Project
2800 Farrow
Kansas City, KS 66104
(816) 217-2485
readinginkansas AT aol.com
www.kcurbanacademy.net
There are 33 raised vegetable beds growing vegetables at this school that are tended by the first and fourth grade classes. The students raise a spring crop, a summer crop, and a fall crop; in the summer you’ll see sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, a butterfly bed, a “See Smell Touch Bed”, strawberries and more! As part of their studies, the students French fry the sweet potatoes they planted and grew, then they compare them to McDonald’s fries, and learn about the differences in how the potatoes were grown and where they went between field and plate. This is a wonderful school garden!
Music: James Crump, Guitar, 12-3PM
Directions:
From 635, take exit 7, Leavenworth Rd./38th Street.
Go north on 38th, at the intersection of Leavenworth Road & 38th
Continue straight through, then take second right onto Farrow.
Follow Farrow .4 miles.
The school is on your left. The garden is behind the school.
(16) Rosedale Middle School
KCK Community Gardens Project
3600 Springfield
Kansas City, KS 66103
(816) 217-2485
readinginkansas AT aol.com
www.kcurbanacademy.net
This innovative school garden- built by 250 7th grade students- integrates the 6th grade science curriculum with growing vegetables and flowering plants. They study plant biology, insects (ask to see a classroom worm bin!), pollination, and they get an introduction to the culinary arts through the Plant Parts Arts class. You’ll find all kinds of vegetables growing there, along with a hummingbird garden and a native plant bed. “Gardens are an incredible metaphor for everything” says coordinator Mark Manning, and you’ll believe it when you hear him talk about his work with the students.
Storyteller: Gary Kuntz, afternoon
Directions:
From 39th & Rainbow, go west to Booth St.
Turn north onto Booth St.
Turn west onto W. 38th St.
Turn north onto Springfield St. to school on left – park in lot
(18) Salvation Army Men’s Rehabilitation Center Garden
1351 E. 10th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 421-5434, ext. 111
David_Hudgens AT usc.salvationarmy.org
Therapy, not provision, is the reason for this 3-year old garden. It is lovely with a purposeful design; offering the men in the drug rehab program the therapeutic benefits of planting, tending and harvesting vegetables. Gardening gives the gardeners a way to feel pride in themselves and for their family members to feel pride in them. The growing process happens in small steps, a metaphor for the 12 step program, and is an integral part of the recovery process. Captain Hudgens. garden manager, says the garden is all about “get a dream, talk to folks with some experience and start small.”
Directions:
Off Paseo Boulevard, just north of I70, go east on 10th street about 1 ½ blocks.
The garden will be on the north side of the street.
Park in the lot on the south side of the street.
(19) Scuola Vita Nuova
544 Wabash
Kansas City, MO 64124
(816) 231-5788
nking66 AT gmail.com
The students in this school garden are intense and focused on their growing activities. They are growing their own food, they know it is healthy for them and that it saves the school money when it is cooked for their lunches. They also know that worms are important, gardening is funner than grocery shopping and digging in the dirt is a really cool thing to do at school. The teachers, Anne Hooper and Janell Williams, know that gardening is a learning tool that teaches important lessons in growth, change, and giving. This school design with its rain garden and rain barrel collections system is well worth the stop.
Music:
Scuola Vita Nuova band 1-2PM
Directions:
Off I-70, take the Independence Avenue/US-24 Exit.
Go east on Independence .8 miles, turn left on Wabash (one way going north).
The garden is on the west side of the school building, one block west of Wabash.
Park in the lot on the west side of the building or on the street.
(7) TSCOG Salt of the Earth Youth Market Garden
N. 1st Street & Richmond Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 963-2095
Greenemission AT aol.com
Growing, cooking, eating, selling, the young people involved with the Salt of the Earth Garden are learning it all. Led by gardener Angela Greene and a group of adult volunteers, this garden is a place where growth happens in all kinds of ways. Small lessons in history happen as foundation stones are pulled from the soil. Pests are identified, new vegetables and recipes are tasted, and skills in sticking-with-it are developed. Customer relations, pricing, and sales techniques are part of the season, too.
Entertainment:
Cooking Demonstration
Ask a Nutritionist
Directions:
From I-70, take exit 423, look for signs for 3rd Street.
Follow 3rd Street north .9 miles to Richmond Avenue
Turn right and look for the farm on your left.
Look for the tour signs for parking instructions.