Cultivate KC’s Urban Agriculture Tool Library

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Alicia Alferman

Do you enjoy growing food and improving your garden? Are you a hardcore DIYer? Are you agonizing over whether to order that cool new tool you’ll only use once? We might be able to help! 

Thanks to generous donations from MARC Solid Waste Management District, KC Chamber of Commerce Centurions and others, Cultivate KC has been able to purchase specialty tools for vegetable gardening, home and yard improvement projects, and even beekeeping with the goal of creating a tool library for public access in Midtown.

Cultivate KC’s Urban Agriculture Tool Library wis NOW OPEN. Thanks to generous funding from Hall Family Foundation, all memberships are  currently FREE!

What is a Tool Library? 

Much like the public libraries in our area, community members can borrow from a tool library using an established lending process. Members borrow items for a limited amount of time so that everyone in the community can have equal access to this resource. Some benefits of this model include: 

  • Increasing access to specialized tools while reducing financial stress 
  • Keeping specialized tools with limited use cases out of landfills 
  • Promoting sharing and an attitude of abundance in the community 
  • Creating opportunities for skill sharing and training 
Where is it Located?

Cultivate KC’s Urban Agriculture Tool Library is currently located in the parking garage of Plexpod Westport Commons at 300 E 39th St, KCMO  64111. 

How do I Get Involved?

Contact Paul Zehr if you are interested in becoming a member. You will be directed to download the Cultivate KC app, developed by Accenture, to your mobile device and create an account. Once you are in our system, you will be able to check out and return tools through the app. Cultivate KC staff and volunteers will assist you in finding the correct tools and returning them on time. 

To provide consistent access to the library, our check-outs and check-ins will be held every week from March 2 thru October 26 at the following times: 

  • Monday from 3-5PM 
  • Thursday from 9-11AM 

If you have any questions or need help signing up, don’t hesitate to contact Paul Zehr, Westport Commons Farm Program Manager. We’re excited for you to join us!