Westport Plaza Market ~ every Wednesday ~ 4:30-7:30pm ~ @ Westport Rd. & Wyoming St. (KCMO)

Come Experience the Westport Plaza Market

           

Wednesdays 4:30-7:30pm
@ Westport Rd. & Wyoming St. (KCMO)




Wednesday, Sep 21, 2011

Taste the KC (agri)Culture



Milling around in the rain with thousands of sightseers this weekend past the new performing arts semispheres, and 18broadway sustainability education site, taking in the street art of the crossroads and the good company of family, I remembered how wonderful KC can be.  This city has been and continues to be home to innovators in the arts, unique traditions and a spectacular agriculture.  Your time to celebrate this seasons fruits of the latter is dwindling as the daylight hours wane.  Come out this week to appreciate the environs we call home.
We'll have...       
Greens of all Kinds
Pumpkins
Tomatoes
Eggplants
Potatoes 
Radishes
Sweet Potatoes
Hot Peppers
Sweet Peppers
Green Beans
Yellow and Pattypan Squash
Okra
Bread from Local Wheat
Basil
Cucumbers
Edamame Soybeans
Shallots
Flower Bouquets
Grass Fed Beef
Free Range Eggs
Sweet  and Savory Home Made Pies
Freshly Roasted Fair Trade Organic Coffee
Kids Crafts
Good Music

 See you this Wednesday, September 21st from 4:30 until 7:30 pm at the intersection of Westport Road and Wyoming Street in KC, MO.      

www.farmersmarketkc.org

Like us on Facebook HERE!

Find out more about a great program providing free food for low income people shopping at farmers' markets...

http://beansandgreens.org/

WESTPORT PLAZA FARMERS' MARKET

IN FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/118365048203386/

LATE RE-POST - Cantaloupe Listeria ALERT - from AgriMo

http://health.mo.gov/safety/foodrecalls/pdf/2011/cantaloupe91411.pdf

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Advisory Alert

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received the following news release regarding the recall of cantaloupe due to the risk of Listeria.

Jensen Farms Recalls Cantaloupe Due to Possible Health Risk

Contact:

Consumer

800-267-4561

recall@rfordcantaloupe.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

September 14, 2011 - Jensen Farms, of Holly, CO is voluntarily recalling their shipments of Rocky Ford whole cantaloupe because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria. The company is working with the State of Colorado and the FDA to inform consumers of this recall. L. monocytogenes is a bacterium that can contaminate foods and cause a mild non-invasive illness (called listerial gastroenteritis) or a severe, sometimes life-threatening, illness (called invasive listeriosis). Persons who have the greatest risk of experiencing listeriosis after consuming foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes are fetuses and neonates who are infected after the mother is exposed to L. monocytogenes during pregnancy, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.

The whole cantaloupes in question were shipped between July 29th, 2011 and September 10th 2011, and distributed to the following states: IL, WY, TN, UT, TX, CO, MN, KS, NM, NC, MO, NE, OK, AZ, NJ, NY, PA. The whole cantaloupes have a green and white sticker that reads: Product of USA- Frontera Produce-Colorado Fresh-Rocky Ford-Cantaloupe or a gray, yellow, and green sticker that reads: Jensen Farms-Sweet Rocky Fords. If the whole cantaloupe is unlabeled, please contact your retail store for sourcing information. Jensen Farms is requesting any consumer that many have one of these cantaloupes to please destroy the products.

The recall involves only whole cantaloupe shipped by Jensen Farms, and no other commodities are involved. Jensen Farms feels it is prudent to participate in the recall as the State of Colorado has stated (in their September 12th, 2011 press release) that people at a high risk for infection should not eat whole cantaloupe from the Rocky Ford growing region.

“Jensen Farms continues to stay committed to the highest levels of food safety and maintains many third party safety audits, as we have for many years. We continually look for ways to enhance our protocol,” said Ryan Jensen, partner at Jensen Farms. Jensen Farms is a 3rd generation family farm of the Holly, Colorado community.

Consumers with questions may contact Jensen Farms via email at

recall@rfordcantaloupe.com or

phone 1-800-267-4561 between the hours of 9am and 4pm MST

Troostwood Market - Fridays & Saturdays - 52nd & Paseo

KC’s Beans and Greens program $Doubles$Dollars$ for folks with food stamps, and many of our featured organic markets are accepting debit cards, too, with EBT machines - Troostwood Market now provides 
Beans & Greens services.

Friday Market

5pm-8pm

Saturday Market

8am - 2pm

Troostwood Youth Garden
5142 Paseo
Kansas City, Missouri 64110

View Large Map

816-444-5788

eMail: Managers (@) TroostwoodYouthGarden.info

Neighborhood youth are providing fresh and healthy vegetables from A to Z. All foods grown on-site using organic methods. We are members of JJ FArms. Please call if you have questions.

www.TroostwoodYouthGarden.info

~

Join Troostwood Market on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=79989349469

ZERO-WASTE... that's the goal, America.

from: http://www.desotoexplorer.com/posts/home/2011/sep/13/team-travels-across-country-picking-up-r/
Posted by Laura Herring September 13, 2011 at 8:45 a.m.

For FULL EVENT DETAILS, scroll down...

Team travels across country picking up, recycling trash

...So far, they’ve collected more than 125,000 pounds of trash. But, the group’s mission isn’t just about picking up the country’s litter. Chen said they want to spread a message of zero waste.

As they move across the country, the team has discovered that much of what they collect can’t be recycle because the nearby communities don’t have the facilities to accept the different kinds of plastics.

“I would say that 20 percent of the things that are picked up are actually recyclable. When you get to a bigger city, you are able to recycle a lot more. You try to do what you can. But the system isn’t working in our favor,” Chen said.

Chen and his group are still looking for volunteers for the Midwest Litter Fest, a Sept. 24 event which will have teams helping pick up trash on a 45-mile route from Johnson County to Lawrence. It’s one event that Chen hopes will inspire others to keep their roadways clean and reduce their consumption.

“We want to get people out there to see trash with us, to see what is on the side of the road. Once they see it, maybe they will get hooked and maybe make a commitment to reducing the plastic in their life,” Chen said.

Details of events:

Pick Up America along with the Blue River Watershed Association and Cans for the Community is hosting the Midwest Litter Fest on Sept. 24. The event will tackle a 45-mile stretch of road from Roeland Park to Lawrence.

The organizers are looking for 20 to 25 teams of between four and 10 people to help collect litter along a two-mile section of the proposed route. Volunteers will meet a 8 a.m. at Shelter No. 12 in Shawnee Mission Park for breakfast and a safety briefing. Teams will help pick-up litter from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and return back to the shelter for a victory photo.

All participants can receive a T-shirt. To register or find out more information go to http://brwa.net

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: 
http://www.desotoexplorer.com/posts/home/2011/sep/13/team-travels-across-country-picking-up-r/
Posted by Laura Herring September 13, 2011 at 8:45 a.m.


SEE ALSO: 
https://www.facebook.com/pickupamerica
and
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177349588997272

MIDWEST LITTER FEST 2011

Time	Saturday, September 24 · 8:00am - 1:00pm
Location	7900 Renner Rd., Shawnee, KS
Created By	Pick Up America
More Info	Grab a team of friends and save the date! Midwest Litter Fest: A 45 Mile Trash-Grabbing Event from Johnson County to Lawrence. On September 24 we will come together: -To celebrate the arrival of Pick Up America - the nation's first coast-to-coast roadside litter cleanup - in Kansas City and start off their 450 mile clean-up across Kansas. They will clean their 1,500 mile of road here along their way to encourage a transition toward zero waste. http://pickupamerica.org/ -To make waves with 350.org's Moving Planet day of action - a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis. With this clean-up we aim to walk our talk and show that community stewardship and zero-waste as essential components of solving climate change. http://www.moving-planet.org/ -To raise money for non-profits walking the walk everyday to pick-up litter, encourage zero-waste and make Kansas a better place to live. The benefactors are: Pick Up America - http://pickupamerica.org/ Blue River Watershed Association - http://www.brwa.net/ Cans for the Community - http://www.cansforthecommunity.org/ Who Should Participate: This is a family-friendly event. Children over 11 are welcome, although one parent or guardian needs to be present for every three volunteers aged 11-15. We are looking for teams of 4-10 to sign up to clean 2-3 mile sections of our 45 miles route. Teams may consist of a few friends, a soccer team, a sorority, a family, a non-profit group, etc How to Participate: Sign-Up Here: http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Reg.pdf and send a form with the full team to Leslie or Lily: lalford@brwa.net, lily@pickupamerica.org Fundraising form: http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Fundraising.pdf The Proposed 45 mile Route http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Route.pdf An Advertising flier: http://www.brwa.net/images/PUA_Flier.pdf Schedule: 8-9 a.m.: Kickoff event and registration at Shelter #12 in Shawnee Mission Park 9-11 a.m.: Teams pick up litter across the route 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Lunch and victory photo at Shelter #12 in Shawnee Mission Park. There will be musical performances by Davey Rogne, Alexander Kapin, and Jeff Chen of Pick Up America along with other musical acts TBA.  It is free to participate, but teams are encouraged to use the walk as an opportunity to fund raise for these great environmental non-profits. We will be giving out free t-shirts and lunch to teams that fundraise and participate. Any individual who raises more than $25 will also recieve a free Stainless steel Pick Up America water bottle.

KCMO receives $20,000 grant to advance urban agriculture

News from City Hall

City Communications Office

City of Kansas City, Mo.

www.kcmo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 13, 2011

City receives $20,000 grant to advance urban agriculture

The Urban Sustainability Directors Network has chosen the City of Kansas City, Mo., in partnership with the cities of Columbia, Mo., and St. Louis, Mo., to receive its Innovation Opportunity Fund Grant. This $20,000 grant will fund the research of effective policies and practices that advance urban agriculture across the country. Results from this research will demonstrate how Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and other U.S. cities can better support healthy local food production for residents, including those living in urban food deserts.

“Promoting local food production in our community is one way that the City Council and I intend to increase the availability of healthy food for all our residents and simultaneously enhance the social, economic and environmental vitality of Kansas City,” said Mayor Sly James.

The City will work with the University of Missouri Extension’s Food Circles Networking Project, a group that connects residents with farmers, to compile a report of best practices, policies and ordinances to promote urban agriculture. The report will focus on urban food systems planning; consumer communications and education; urban food systems infrastructure; production and processing; and distribution, retailing and waste.

“We’re very pleased that Kansas City’s efforts to promote urban agriculture were recognized by the Urban Sustainability Directors Network with the awarding of this innovation grant,” said Sixth District Councilman John Sharp.“It will provide an opportunity to share our positive experiences with other cities and create a guidebook of best practices and policies.”

This project will be led by Dr. Mary Hendrickson, director of the Food Circles Networking Project and a professor at the University of Missouri Extension. Grant funding for the “Guide for Local Governments & Urban Agricultural Practitioners” will run through May 31, 2012.

For more information or media inquiries, 

please contact Dennis Murphey, 

chief environmental officer, at 816-513-3459.

HIGH-TUNNEL RAISING, Barn-Raising Style... all day MONDAY, SEP 19, 2011

Hello all,

Have you ever wanted to up a high tunnel?  OR are you thinking you might want one in the future?  OR maybe you are energetic and have some free time to lend a hand to a fellow producer?And are you free on Monday, September 19th?


If YES is the answer to one or all of the above questions, please join us in constructing Paula Swayne's 30' X 72'  High tunnel in Independence.

Norman Kilmer from Morgan County Seed will be there all day to direct construction.

Paula has also offered to provide lunch for anyone who wishes to help.

DETAILS
When:  Monday September 19th from 8am-5pm
Where:  2121 South Sterling Ave. Independence, Missouri
What to bring:  Power drill (accessories like drivers), gloves, and any other tools you think would be helpful.

There is no cost associated with this event.
CONTACT Myself (details below) OR Paula at 816-458-6880 ASAP to let us know you are coming to help!

Thanks,

Katie Nixon
Small Farm Specialist
Innovative Small Farmers' Outreach Program
Lincoln University Cooperative Extension
Kansas City, MO
816-809-5074

WORKSHOPS @ BADSEED MARKET (Downtown KCMO) - FALL HARVEST* - Sunday, OCT 9, 2011

Up-Coming Canning & Preserving Workshop - 

Fall Harvest

*(water bath canning, freezing, dehydrating, fermenting and root cellaring)

Sunday, Oct. 9th, 1-5 PM

When the Fall harvest comes, be ready to can, freeze and squirrel away the final bounty of the season!!  You will learn it all in this homesteading tour de force. We will water bath can a savory relish or other seasonal dish. We’ll show you how to let nature ferment your cabbage into a wonderful sauerkraut, conveniently in a one quart jar!

Blanching & freezing techniques will be discussed and demonstrated so you can save the late harvest of greens, broccoli and other nutritious veggies. Examples of food dehydrating methods will be shown along with several types of equipment. 

Finally, we will discuss how to store the many vegetables that don’t need freezing or canning, but just a good place to rest over the winter like potatoes, beets, carrots, squash, onions and garlic.

Cost of Class: $50.00

To Sign-Up please mail in a Course Registration no later than Monday, October 3rd!!

110914 - Waldo Farmers' Market - WEDNESDAYS at Waldo Habitat Restore (KCMO)

Waldo Market Season Ends Sept 28th! 

Fall Has Come to the Waldo Market! Pumpkins, Apple Butter, Gourds, Apples, Pears & In Season Veggies!

BY DIANE HERSHBERGER, ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2011

FALL PRODUCE IS READY FOR YOU THIS WEEK….SEPT 14th

Fresher Than Fresh Snow Cones & Good You Organic Mobile Eatery Will be @ the Market this Week!

 Stony Crest Urban Farm
  New this week – Jonathan Apples, Gourds, Pie Pumpkins, Ornamental White & Orange “Boo” Pumpkins, LARGE Cockscomb Flowers.  Plus…Arugula, Radishes,  Cucumbers, Squash: “Sunburst” Patty Pan, Yellow, Zucchini, Butternut  & Acorn Squash, Eggplant, Sweet Candy Onions, Sweet Italian, Bell, Banana, Chili (Anaheim) Peppers. Jalapeno Peppers are specially priced again this week.  And of course — tomatoes — slicers & sweet cherry & grape tomato “Snack Baskets”.  

For that special pooch in your life, we are introducing “In Season Dog Treats” freshly baked with organic vegetables & ingrediants with no preservative chemicals. The featured flavor this week is “Butternut Bow Wow.”   Rodger & Diane.

And @ the Stony Crest Tent, In Response to Customer Requests….
Seckel “Sugar” Pears from Gordon’s Orchard, Osceola, MO (no spray)
Encore Yellow Peaches from Gordon’s Orchard, Osceola, MO (non-organic)

Bear Creek Farms
  Lonnie & Jeanna will be bringing Garlic, Chard, Kale, Winter Squash, Cow Peas, Potatoes, Onions, Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Peppers, Fresh Basil, Tons of Eggplant, Zucchini & Cucumbers & more.

NUTRESSANT

We’re excited for another glorious Waldo Market day!  We have some new soap and a lower price on the toothpaste.  Also have a new batch of Body Butter in a 6 ounce container…….both Lemongrass essential oil and Lavender essential oil.   If you have any problems with any product, we need you to bring it back so we can make it better.   We really love and appreciate your imput.  Hope to see you at the market.     Sandy and John

Schenker Family Farms  
Lamb & Pork from grass-fed, free-range animals.  Theo brings a good selection, but no beef this week. If what you want is not available at the market, place an order for delivery next week. Check out the Mr. Doggity’s BBQ Sauce they carry. It’s made by mid-town resident, “Mr. Doggity”.

Farm To Market Bread
 FTM has specialty breads you can only purchase at the Waldo Market … Rustic Roasted Garlic, Rustic Tomato,  Trail Mix, Raisin/Walnut, Six Grain Hearth, Four Seed Baguette, Semolina, Rolls: Multi-Grain, Pretzel, Sub & Asiago, Buns: Egg, Brioche &  Focaccia. Ann or Ben can help you select a bread for any occasion!

K. Kringle & Company Baked Goods 
Kevin Edwards will be at the market for the remainder of the season. They make their products with as many local and organic products as are available to them.   Be on the lookout for applebutter made from MO Jonathan Apples, Blueberry Key Lime Jam (MO blueberries & organic key limes) & Wine Jellies made with fruit nectar and Barefoot Wines like Champagne Blush Jelly (Barefoot’s Brut Cuvée & fresh squeezed juice from MO strawberries.. aaaahhhhh). Also check out the Poppy Seed & Strawberry Breads and cookies – to die for!

One More Cup 
OMC will not be at the market this week. They are getting ready for KC’s 1st Caffeine Crawl this Saturday. The Crawl is designed to give individuals an opportunity to learn, share and experience what the passionate baristas, tea soms, specialty coffee roasters and other local artisan producers bring to the table. Stop by OMC on Saturday!

Waldo Market Season Ends Sept 28th! 

Waldo Market Season Ends Sept 28th! 

Many thanks for the feedback & all the ideas shared through the “How Are We Doing?” Survey that 115 people responded to! The first action we are taking in response to the feedback is to extend the market season from the end of August to the end of September. Other improvements are in the works… some you may still see this season and other changes that make sense to start next season. The vendors did a survey of what they think the best aspect of the market is and unanimously we agree that YOU – our customers, neighbors & friends are the best!  Thanks for your support of the market!!

Waldo Farmers' Market Wednesdays

May 4 - Sep 28, 2011

3pm – 7pm @ Waldo ReStore

303 W 79th St.

1 block east of Wornall & 79th (KCMO)

Especially convenient for residents of Waldo, Brookside, Southtown neighborhoods and Prairie Village, the new Waldo Market is a mid-week, after-work opportunity to purchase organically and sustainably grown fresh, local produce along with other specialties such as bread, coffee, and soaps.

Our season will run through Sep 28th, 2011.

More information is available online at http://wholesomewaldowednesdays.com where weekly information will be added as the season progresses. We look forward to seeing you each Wednesday!

Westport Plaza Market ~ every Wednesday ~ 4:30-7:30pm ~ @ Westport Rd. & Wyoming St. (KCMO)

Come Experience the Westport Plaza Market

           

Wednesdays 4:30-7:30pm
@ Westport Rd. & Wyoming St. (KCMO)




Wednesday, Sep 14, 2011

   

From the Farm to Your Table Food is growing right now with Sunlight, soil, and water and little else.  It is picked by loving hands and brought with care to your neighborhood.  It is there to provide you with the energy you need to do the wonderful things you do every day.  Yeah, the farmers ask you to put some money down so they can afford to bring it here and plant some more, but that is worth every cent.  We all have to eat, and while you can, make it the best food possible...       Eggplants  {Try One of these Recipes} Tomatoes Sweet Peppers Hot Peppers Green Beans Watermelon Yellow and Pattypan Squash Okra Gluten Free Bread Basil Arugula Various Greens Edamame Soybeans Shallots Flower Bouquets Cucumbers Potatoes   Free Range Eggs Quiche Pies Papua New Guinea Coffee Kids Crafts Live Rock'N'Roll Music from Eric Houser Good Times  See you this Wednesday,  from 4:30 until 7:30 pm at the intersection of Westport Road and Wyoming Street in KC, MO.       www.farmersmarketkc.org Like us on Facebook HERE! Find out more about a great program providing free food for low income people shopping at farmers' markets... http://beansandgreens.org/ WESTPORT PLAZA FARMERS' MARKET IN FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/118365048203386/

Forward to a friend Copyright (C) 2011 Westport Plaza Farmers' Market All rights reserved.

WEBINARS from MO Beginning Farmers Program (starts MONDAY, Sep 12, 2011)

The Missouri Beginning Farmers Program will continue its monthly webinars in September with a presentation by Debi Kelly, MU SARE State Coordinator, with an overview of the SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant. The webinar will be Monday, September 12th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm with a PowerPoint presentation. There will be two additional opportunities to learn about the SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant from past Missouri farmer recipients. On September 19th hear from Linda Hezel and on September 26th Greg and Nancy Rasmussen will talk about their grant.

Meeting Name: Overview of the Farmer/Rancher Grant - Debi Kelly, MO State SARE Coordinator
When: Monday September 12th, 7-8:30 pm
To join the meeting: http://univmissouri.adobeconnect.com/r1k1mmdfelf/ and sign in as a guest

Meeting Name: SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant Webinar with Linda Hezel - a 2008 Grant Recipient of Comparison of Coverings over Permanent Raised Beds to Extend the Growing Season for Year Round Food Production
When: Monday September 19th, 7-8:30 pm
To join the meeting: http://univmissouri.adobeconnect.com/r5lqdewpa9d/ and sign in as a guest

Meeting Name: SARE Farmer/Rancher Grant Webinar with Greg and Nancy Rasmussen - a 2010 Grant Recipient of Rainwater Capture and Re-use: Using Gravity and Solar Power
When: Monday September 26th, 7-8:30 pm
To join the meeting: http://univmissouri.adobeconnect.com/r8qgclfjeik/ and sign in as a guest

Thanks!

Is your farm growing?  Ask me about the Grow Your Farm course.

Missouri Beginning Farmer Links:  

Program Website  *   Blog   *   

Facebook Group

Debi Kelly, Extension Associate

University of Missouri

234 Ag Eng Bldg          Columbia MO 65211-5200
573-882-1905      or    800-433-3704 (MO only)

kellyd (a) missouri . edu      Missouri Alternatives Center Website

"not every family needs a lawyer, not every family needs an accountant, but every family needs a farmer…do you know yours?"  (Kathleen Merrigan, USDA Deputy Secretary)

IT'S RAINING CHEMICALS

by Steph Larson

FOUND at: 
http://www.grist.org/food/2011-09-09-its-raining-chemicals

"It starts with a distant, unmistakable whine, like a fly in another room you've been too lazy to swat. As the sound grows, I make sure the dog is inside, then grab the camera and head to the pasture.

Planes spraying fungicides have interrupted several quiet weekends on our small farm this summer. They're hard to ignore -- the buzz of their loud propellers is deafening, especially when they fly above our house to turn around. Over the corn fields they soar, sometimes only a few feet about the tips of the tassels, with white mist trailing nefariously behind. Depending on the direction of the breeze, I can often smell the chemicals from inside the house.

I hate every minute of it."

~~~~~

Read the full article at:
 http://www.grist.org/food/2011-09-09-its-raining-chemicals

~~~~~

Steph Larsen is currently the Assistant Director of Organizing for the Center for Rural Affairs. She lives in rural northeastern Nebraska where she aspires to grow food for her household and community. Previously she spent three years in Washington, D.C. advocating on food security and nutrition issues. Steph holds a master's degree in geography from her home state of Wisconsin and serves on the board of the Women, Food and Agriculture Network.

~~~~~