Get a behind-the-scenes look at the food journey from field to plate at 24 urban farms on the Cultivate Kansas City Urban Grown Farms & Garden Tour on Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10.
On this self-guided tour, visitors will be able to meet and talk to the farmers who grow food and raise animals on urban lots and unusual spaces throughout the metro area. The tour is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and Noon – 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $15/person or $10/person in groups of four or more at Cultivate Kansas City.
New to the tour this year, Cultivate Kansas City is hosting a Farm Crawl at each of its own sites, including the Westport Commons Farm. Ticketholders are offered a food item from a local vendor and a beverage. A ticket that includes the farm tour and crawl is $30.
The crawl takes place on Saturday during the tour, with the following food vendors:
- Howards Grocery & Café and Crane Brewing Company, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.at Food Forest, 5424 Mastin St, Merriam KS
- The Sundry and Restless Spirits Distilling, 2 – 4 p.m. at Westport Commons Farm, 300 E. 39th St., Kansas City, MO
- Betty Raes Ice Cream and S.D. Strong Distilling, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. at Juniper Gardens, 1800 Richmond Ave., Kansas City, KS
The two-day event, which occurs every other year, allows participants self-guided access to two dozen urban farms, gardens and homesteads across the Kansas City metro area.
Cultivate Kansas City will be highlighting plans for its new Westport Commons Farm, located at the old Westport Middle School that now houses Plexpod. The organization currently manages two other farm sites: The Food Forest, a self-sustaining quarter-acre plot, located in Merriam, KS; and Juniper Gardens Training Farm, which is used in partnership with Catholic Charities of Northeast KS for the New Roots for Refugees program.
The tour begins this week with these free, kick-off events:
Urban Grown Kick-Off with Tom Philpott
Wednesday, June 6: 6:30 p.m.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site, 1200 E Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS
The tour will kick off with a presentation by Tom Philpott, food and agriculture correspondent for Mother Jones Magazine, at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6 at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site, 1200 E Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS. Registration is encouraged at Cultivate KC.
CSA Chef Pop-Up
Thursday, June 7: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden parking lot, 4800 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO
Watch two local chefs in a cook-off using ingredients from the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) subscription box offered by Powell Gardens and featuring executive chef Bryan Sparks of The Jacobson, and executive chef Bryant Wigger of Tavernonna in the Hotel Phillips. The event includes cooking demos, tastings and an on-site tour of the orchards and community garden.
Urban Grown Bike Tour
Saturday, June 9
Family Bicycles, 7337 Broadway, Kansas City, MO
Hop on your bike and tour a selection of farm tour sites on a group ride organized by Family Bicycles. The morning tour includes nearby sites and will last approximately three hours. Contact Theresa Van Ackeren at [email protected] or 816-728-3834 for details.