Diana Eisman Greenhouse Groundbreaking at Stowe Farm

On September 6^th, staff from Cultivate KC and Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas welcomed guests to the future site of the Diana Eisman Community Greenhouse. The greenhouse, which will be nearly 6,000 sqft when complete, is being built to support the growing demand from urban farmers in the Kansas City, Kansas area who need space to start transplants in the spring and fall. Farmers and graduates of the jointly operated New Roots program will receive priority to rent bench space inside the house, but the vast size will allow many other professional and hobbyist farmers to utilize the space.

The groundbreaking was a celebration of reaching the fundraising goals necessary to complete the project as well as clearing the first hurdle – obtaining a building permit. This was also a time to thank our project donors, C2FO, Resurrection United Methodist Church, William Jewel College, K Jett Services, American Farmland Trust, H & R Block Foundation, Catholic Charities USA, and the USDA, and to learn more about Diana Eisman, for whom the greenhouse is named. We were joined at the event by family members and former colleagues of Diana Eisman from C2FO who shared their remembrances of Diana and why she would have been delighted by the community greenhouse.

In addition to the greenhouse, construction on the site will include cold storage space and a covered produce washing and packing station that will support the expanding New Roots program. Construction is currently underway and is anticipated to be completed by January of 2024.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS HERE