URBAN AG ADVOCACY needs your support.

(Kansas City, MO - April, 2010)

Good friends, you may have heard about the work that is going on about updating Kansas City, MO city codes concerning urban food production. The current codes have some restrictions in them that work against the great benefits that urban food production has to offer, and so a group of community residents, farmers and gardeners have been working with the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture, the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition, the City Planning Department and Councilman John Sharp (6th District to create proposed changes to the current codes.

On Thursday, April 8, Councilman Sharp introduced the resulting ordinance to City Council. Council members Bill Skaggs, Beth Gottstein, and Melba Curls and Mayor Mark Funkhouser are co-sponsors. You can find the full text of the ordinance at: http://cityclerk.kcmo.org/ (Legislation # 100299)


It will now go to the City Planning Commission, the Planning and Zoning Committee, and, sometime in late April, to the full council for a final vote.


I am asking for your support in getting this ordinance passed! There are several ways you can help:

1. Write a letter to your City Council Representatives and the Mayor to urge them to vote yes. I have attached a sample letter which you are welcome to use or revise as you wish.

Deb Hermann, 1st District At-Large, Deb_Hermann@KCMO.org

Bill Skaggs, 1st District, Bill_Skaggs@KCMO.org (express our gratitude for his co-sponsorship of the bill!)

Ed Ford, 2nd District At-Large, Ed_Ford@KCMO.org

Russ Johnson, 2nd District, Russ_Johnson@KCMO.org

Melba Curls, 3rd District At-Large, Melba_Curls@KCMO.org (express our gratitude for her co-sponsorship!)

Sharon Sanders-Brooks, 3rd District, Sharon_Brooks@KCMO.org

Beth Gottstein, 4th District, At-Large, Beth_Gottstein@KCMO.org(express our gratitude for her co-sponsorship!)

Jan Marcason, 4th District, Jan_Marcason@KCMO.org

Cindy Circo, 5th District At-Large, Cindy_Circo@KCMO.org

Terry Riley, 5th District, Terry_Riley@KCMO.org

Cathy Jolly, 6th District At-Large, Cathy_Jolly@KCMO.org

John Sharp, 6th District, John_Sharp@KCMO.org (THANK HIM FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS!)

Mayor Mark Funkhouser, mayor@KCMO.org (express our gratitude for his co-sponsorship and vision on this)

2. Send this information to anyone you know within KC city limits who you believe will support these revisions. Feel free to forward this email, or create your own with these attachments.

3. Get local groups of which you are a part (churches, neighborhoods, clubs, etc.) to speak to our council representatives in support of the revisions. Both our individual support as well as group support will be helpful tools in influencing our representatives. I or someone else from the planning group would be happy to come share with your group, or equip you to do so.

4. Attend the upcoming public hearings as a supporter:

  • City Council Business Session: Thursday, April 15, 2010, 1:30 p.m., 10th floor, City Hall
  • City Plan Commission: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, Exact time to be announced, but will be around 9:30 a.m, 26th floor, City Hall (Council Chambers)
  • Planning & Zoning Committee of the City Council: date to be announced (late April or early May)

I have attached a (linked) fact sheet on the proposed changes for your information, and, if you have any questions about this process or information, please let me know.


We appreciate your support in helping make Kansas City, MO a national leader in urban food production!


~~


content mirrored at:

http://www.KCFoodCircle.org/urban-ag-advocacy

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SPRING PLANT & PRODUCE SALE at the KC Center for Urban Agriculture - Saturday, Apr 10th, 9am-3-pm


Visit the Farm Saturday
Organic Transplant Sale
Luscious Organic Produce
Saturday, April 10th 9am-3pm
map link ~ 4223 Gibbs Road ~ map link
Happy People, Happy Plants. Yum!

~

Spring and GOOD FOOD are here! We’ve got freshly harvested VEGETABLES and beautiful TRANSPLANTS for your own garden at KCCUA's farm.

Saturday 9-2pm 4223 Gibbs Rd, Kansas City, KS 66106

Tasty, fresh, alive SPINACH, SALAD MIX, ARUGULA, crispy white TURNIPS, SCALLIONS, WATERCRESS, oh so unbelievably yummy CARROTS, KALE, sp...icy BLACK RADISHES, quart jars of beautiful, golden HONEY and more!

And, we want to help you get YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN get growing for the year! We’ve got the cool season vegetables- broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants, lettuce, swiss chard, kale, TOMATO TRANSPLANTS (both HEIRLOOM and hybrids) and so much more. This is going to be a great year for growing good food!

~




To subscribe to URBAN GROWN, please
send an email to info (a) kccua. org

For editorial comments please contact
Urban Grown editor, Daniel Dermitzel
daniel (a) kccua. org

The Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture is
a 501c3 not-for-profit organization.
(913) 831-2444
(c) KCCUA 2010


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WAKE UP to a GREENER EARTH - Prairie Village Earth Fair 9 - April 17th

Get Ready for Earth Fair 9:

Wake Up to a Greener Earth

Prairie Village, KS: The City of Prairie Village is very happy to announce that after having taken a year off, Earth Fair is back and will be held in the newly remolded Shawnee Mission East High School. This will be the 9th Earth Fair and it is shaping up to be one of the best. In addition to the over 40 ecologically focused vendors and exhibitors, there will also be live entertainment as well. Weather permitting, half of the festivities will be outside, including music by Checkered Past (bluegrass), Alternative fuel vehicles, solar cooking demos, the boy scouts will be back doing gas cap testing, and there will be a framers’ market where you can get the first garden goodies of the season and vegetable starts for your garden.


Inside the Fair you can learn about ways to make you house more efficient inside and out, the environmental organizations in the community protecting our environment, and much more.

  • There will be an area for kids to discover the fun they can have making art out of recycled materials.
  • Tired of your wardrobe? Then come and see recycled fashion show organized by the Environmental Club of Shawnee Mission East.
  • We are also very happy to announce that the Stone Lion Puppet Show featuring life size puppets will be performing at the Fair.
  • If you work up an appetite participating in all these earth friendly activities, you can satisfy your stomach and your taste buds with an organic lunch from the Bread of Life Bakery.


What better way to celebrate the planet we live on then being a part of your community and participating in this eco-friendly event.


DETAILS: Earth Fair 9: Wake up to a Greener Earth!


WHEN: April 17th, 2010 ~ 10am-3pm


WHERE: Shawnee Mission East High School (75th and Mission Rd.)


COST: Free Admission


Schedule:

  • Stone Lion Puppets, 10:45 and 1:45
  • Briarwood Elementary School Singers, 11:30
  • Checkered Past, all day (with breaks throughout the day)

CONTACT: Katie Nixon

pvearthfair (a) gmail.com or

816.809.5074


We depend on you to spread the word about Earth Fair so PLEASE email your listservs and contacts to let them know about the fair. Friends, Groups and Organizations often help us distribute the attached (LINKED) poster and B&W flyers.


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Our EAT LOCAL! Expos exceeded previous attendance records once again in 2010 ... one blogger's review of our 12th Annual Exhibition of Farmers

The weather cooperated (for the most part) and our

12th Annual Exhibition of Farmers
the KC Food Circle’s
2010 EAT LOCAL! Expos
(in Shawnee, KS *and* Independence, MO)
were well attended this year.

See our EXPO ARCHIVE page for
info, new photos, etc...

We offer
HUGE THANKS
to all who made it possible.

===

From: http://semicolonstories.com/

:


Posts Tagged Kansas City Food Circle

My Five Favorites

… from this past weekend’s Eat Local food expo. Thanks to the Kansas City Food Circle for putting this on!

1. All of the people!
Mike and I both were amazed at how many people, and different types of people, were at the food expo. It was awesome to feel like we were part of a larger community who valued the same thing – local, quality food. It was awesome!

2. Cranberry bushes!
We had no idea that you can grow cranberry bushes in the area. As we walked around, we learned all kinds of new things about what can be grown locally. While we don’t have our backyard ready to go for it yet, it gave us great ideas for the future! (and opened our eyes to how much fun this can be…)

3. Familiar faces … sort of.
We learned about the expo thanks to our pals at Fresh Connect. Not only did we see them there, but we also saw some of the people who work at Wells Family Farm and Schenker Family Farm, the two places where most of our meat comes from these days. So fun to put faces to the name, or package of hamburger in our case.

4. Breakfast… yummmmmmm.
We arrived hungry, and I was praying that there would be something we could eat for breakfast. Thanks to the Bread of Life’s table, we were in luck. We shared some awesome vegan zucchini bread and then drooled over all of their other selections. So good.

5. New Date Night Ideas!
If you know Mike & I very well, you know we try to have a weekly date night. Walking through the expo gave us some great new ideas, with our favorite being the New Earth Gardens in Bates City, MO. When you visit, they have a “U-Pick it” program where you go through the farm and pick what you want. They are growing so much stuff right now, it’s crazy cool. We can’t wait to try it out!

Add comment April 5, 2010


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URGENT VOLUNTEER NEED IN APRIL! - Bridging The Gap in Kansas City


BTG_logo

Bridging The Gap
Volunteer Update
April 2010



Greetings, Bridging The Gap Volunteers!

Spring is finally here, and not a moment too soon! As I write this, it’s one of those warm, sunny spring days we’ve all been craving these past few months. Have we finally reached that part of the season where we can trust it’s going to stay this way? Please let it be so!

Just as the Earth reawakens from its winter dormancy at this time of year, all of us who care about our planet find ourselves eager to get back outdoors and enjoy spring’s beauty. Luckily, Bridging The Gap offers numerous volunteer opportunities over the next few months that will let you enjoy nature and give her some tender loving care!

This is Bridging The Gap’s April Volunteer Update. As always, we offer many ways to get involved, so just skim the headings and read the items that interest you.

More information about these and other volunteer opportunities may be viewed by clicking HERE

Volunteer Opportunities February - April-June 2010

KCMO Tree Site Identification Volunteer Training
URGENT VOLUNTEER NEED IN APRIL!
Be part of the solution to climate change! The City of Kansas City, Missouri is undertaking a Climate Protection Plan that includes the goal of planting 120,000 additional trees over the next 10 years. This first requires identification of appropriate planting sites. We have an urgent need for volunteers to help with this during April!
READ MORE

litter indexLitter Index

Keep Kansas City Beautiful is conducting its 10th Annual Litter Index. The Litter Index is an opportunity for Kansas City residents to view their community through new lenses as they help show the impact litter has on our beloved city.Due to a snow cancellation in March, we have an urgent need for Litter Index volunteers this month to help us catch up!
READ MORE

Summer Internships – Coming Soon!
We will be posting several summer internships on the Get Involved page of our website in early April. These offer a great way to learn more about environmental and non-profit work.
READ MORE

The Great American Cleanup™ – March-May
The Great American Cleanup™, the nation's largest community improvement program, takes place annually from March 1 through May 31. Keep Kansas City Beautiful supports numerous events that take place throughout Kansas City. READ MORE

walking school busWalking School Bus “Drivers” – April - May
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, retired or just someone who cares about strengthening our community, BTG’s Walking School Bus program can use your help! READ MORE

EarthWalk 2010 – Sunday, April 11, Theis Park
This popular spring event is a fundraiser for BTG’s environmental sustainability programs and a great way to have fun while raising money for a good cause! This year we return to Theis Park, also known as Volker Park, just south of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
READ MORE

rain gardenBrush Creek Community Rain Garden Workday at EarthWalk 2010
April 11, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Theis Park
A two-fold event! Our Keep Kansas City Beautiful volunteer team will participate in BTG’s EarthWalk, then we’ll head to the rain garden at Theis Park for spring maintenance.
READ MORE

Sustainability Speakers Needed - Next Training April 15
Do you have a desire to educate others about steps they can take to live more sustainably? Bridging The Gap is looking for volunteers with significant public speaking experience or who are very comfortable with public speaking to schedule and give short presentations to community groups about solutions to our planet's environmental challenges.
READ MORE

Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration (Kansas City, Missouri) – Saturday, April 24, 9:00 AM to Noon
Help us celebrate Arbor Day in Kansas City, Missouri by planting trees in Essex Park. Essex is a new five-acre park in Kansas City North that has a playground but no trees.
READ MORE

Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration (Wyandotte County) – Friday, April 30, 1:00-3:00 PM
BTG’s Heartland Tree Alliance affiliate will provide the tools, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County will provide the trees, and you’ll provide the muscle to help expand our urban forest!
READ MORE

Kansas City WildLands Ecological Restoration Workday – May 8, 9:00 AM - Noon
Plant the prairie! Come help us plant wildflower seedlings grown from locally harvested seeds on three of Kansas City's beautiful remnant natural communities.
READ MORE

Outdoor Classroom For Operation Breakthrough - June 5
Last year, Keep Kansas City Beautiful partnered with Operation Breakthrough and Midland Loan Services to plant two rain gardens in Operation Breakthrough’s outdoor classroom for early childhood education. This year, KKCB will help complete landscaping in the classroom. Help us complete the creation of a children’s nature oasis in the center of the urban core!
READ MORE

Community Recycling Centers
The Community Recycling Centers need you to help reduce the amount of trash going to the landfill! Volunteer shifts Great for busy students with service requirements!
READ MORE

Sowers of Sustainability Volunteer Training – Dates TBA
KKCB will work with partners to teach citizens how to organize their own communities around beautification projects that align with their own priorities to create a healthy place to live. Citizens will learn skills to plan, design, install and maintain gardens.
READ MORE

For information about other BTG volunteer opportunities, click HERE.

Many of our opportunities are perfect for both individuals and groups. And if you have a group looking for a project on a day not listed here, please give us a call! We’re always willing to see if we can offer a project on a date that’s not included here.

Thanks for all you do to help create a more environmentally sustainable community!

Sincerely,
Laura O’Brien
Volunteer Services Manager

---

http://www.bridgingthegap.org/

BTG's Mission Statement

Bridging The Gap works to make the Kansas City region sustainable by connecting environment, economy and community.

Bridging The Gap seeks to educate citizens, businesses and government on the impact of decisions and behavior on our present and future community and world. The cornerstone for our success in raising awareness and changing behaviors is finding common ground we all share.

Today, BTG has evolved to include individuals, businesses and governments on both sides of the state line. Working with approximately 2,600 volunteers each year, we take action to make our world, region and community green, healthy and sustainable.

Click here for a Bridging The Gap Brochure


BTG_logo



Bridging The Gap ®
435 Westport Rd., #23
Kansas City, MO 64111
Local: (816) 561-1087
Toll free: 1-888-895-3605






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