Excerpted from Post on December 7, 2023 by Alicia Alferman
Cultivate KC established Westport Commons Farm on the site of an old ball field at the former Westport Middle School, now known as Plexpod Westport Commons. As a hub for farmer resources and food education, this demonstration farm hosts over 600 visitors each year for volunteer opportunities and tours. It includes a large high tunnel and washstand, an outdoor classroom, composting area, an urban agriculture tool lending library, and a small flock of chickens. During the growing season, we sell the food we grow at a weekly farmstand, and the remainder of the produce is donated to nearby food pantries. We donated almost 800 lbs. of produce last year alone.
In 2023, the property owners began plans to develop the site into an apartment complex, and Cultivate KC was asked to relocate the farm. We are making plans to relocate the farm to a suitable location nearby, however this development highlights one of the challenges urban farmers most often experience: land stability is proving more difficult than ever to come by.
Regardless of recent obstacles, Cultivate KC is excited for the possibilities, progress and expansion that will come with the new year. Yes, we’re disappointed about leaving Westport Commons Farm location, but we’ve relished our time on this plot of land and all the learning opportunities that have come along with it. We loved hosting numerous farm happy hours, Earth Day celebrations, and our first ever Midtown Hoedown there. Nothing makes us happier when our farms are bursting with ripening produce and lots of visitors
The following are a few of the Q&A from this interview:
Other than land access, what significant challenges do you face as a farm?
Much like other farms in our region, we are learning quickly how to adapt to growing in a changing climate. Hotter, much drier summers see us irrigating more than ever and employing clever ways of keeping direct sun and hot temperatures off our more delicate crops. The warmer winters are a bonus for extending the harvest period of cool season crops, but it also means that insect pests are less likely to die off in the winter and we have seen increased pest pressure on the rise.
What is your most recent accomplishment that you’re proud of?
In the 2023 season, we logged over 1,700 hours of volunteer time at our Westport Commons Farm. This included help from schools (with visitors ranging from elementary to college-aged), workplaces looking for a way to give back to their community, church groups, and community members who often volunteered more than once.
What are your plans for the future of the farm?
Once we have identified our relocation site for the Westport Commons Farm, we will begin work on adding a community greenhouse, cold storage, and bringing our tool lending library out of the dark garage and into a much more user-friendly environment.
What is the most important service you think the farm provides to the public? To area farmers?
I would like to believe that we are an example of what is possible when a community decides to invest in the food system and recognize the environmental benefits of urban farming; our farm is a demonstration, but we will need many more similar sized sites operated by a diversity of farmers to make the biggest impact on our local food economy.
If you had to choose one thing for the general public to know about farming, what would it be?
Urban farming is a profession that requires years of experience to perfect, but even beginning farmers can contribute to our food system and ALL farmers need our support.
Read the entire interview HERE.
No matter what soil we farm, we will continue to model sustainable agricultural practices, support our fellow farmers, and promote the programs and initiatives that are imperative to their success. You can rest assured we’ll keep on growing fresh, healthy produce right in the heart of our city- and finding all the ways we can to ensure access to that food for everyone in our community.
