New Roots for Refugees
When refugees are forced to flee their countries, they arrive in the United States with very little. They have left behind relatives and friends; their home; and their jobs. What they bring with them, however, is often a great deal of agricultural expertise.
Cultivate KC, in partnership with Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, manages the New Roots for Refugees program, which trains refugees with agricultural experience to become independent farmers. The goal for farmers in the program is to learn how to successfully grow in the Kansas City region and to acquire the marketing skills and confidence to become independent small business owners.
The four-year training program includes (but is not limited to):
- Workshops and demonstrations covering topics from pest control to marketing
- Access to a quarter-acre plot on the training farm, infrastructure (greenhouse, washstand, coolers) soil preparation, farm equipment and supplies
- Regular field walks with trained staff
- Assistance with selling their product at local farmers markets, wholesale to restaurants and through an aggregated CSA program
Farmers in the program commit to:
- Attending workshops and classes
- Saving a percentage of their sales for future farm business purchases
- Selling through three sales outlets during their time in the program, including: market(s), wholesale, and CSA
More information about the New Roots for Refugees program can be found here.