Urban Grown Stories: Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future of Local Food

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Alicia Alferman

The highway hums in the background as songbirds chirp to each other overhead. An occasional car horn competes with the gentle clucks from the chickens. Footsteps tread softly between the plots, and farmers and growers in Kansas City settle in to share their stories.  

You can hear all of this, and more, in the 14 episodes featured in the first installment of Urban Grown Stories. This companion podcast was released just ahead of the June 7th Urban Grown Farms and Gardens Tour. Attendees at the June 6th Happy Hour and Policy Tour were among the first to hear featured clips while partaking in libations in the northwest corner of the River Market. Although each episode features a unique tour site, each story weaves a thread through the past, present, and future of local food in Kansas City.  

I joined Cultivate KC this spring and summer as a Local Food Fellow through K-State Research and Extension. The timing coincided with the return of the Urban Grown Tour. After a long hiatus, the Cultivate KC staff was dreaming big despite the scaled-down size of the tour. In addition to widespread promotion and enlisting support from volunteers, a podcast project was in the works!  

 
After stumbling upon the fellowship opportunity on the Cultivate KC job board, I promptly submitted my application. Although I’ve worked as a registered dietitian for over a decade, I had some past experience with podcasting and a familiarity with Cultivate KC. Thankfully, the onboarding process was simple and efficient. Soon, I was hitting the road to travel to the 14 tour sites to conduct interviews.  

“Interviews” sounds a bit formal; really, we just sat down and had some insightful conversations. Armed with nothing more than a mini microphone and my burning curiosity about growing food at all scales, I was able to capture the oral histories and future hopes of these tour sites.  

One thing that consistently struck me was how transparent and generous these growers were with their time and experiences. Whether they were sharing about their start-up struggles or the daily challenges of growing food, they didn’t sugarcoat the reality of what it takes to farm in urban environments. At the same time, there was an undercurrent of optimism, resilience, and creativity to do whatever it takes to keep doing what they love. And when that happens, the entire KC community benefits. A robust, resilient local food system can fill the gaps to ensure every neighborhood has access to nourishing produce throughout the growing season. 

Our goal with this podcast was to showcase the growers’ voices, not mine. Although interviews were conducted by Jessica Garcia (Public Education Specialist) and myself, you’ll rarely hear us streaming through your speakers. Instead, you’ll be immersed in the world of urban growers of diverse backgrounds, production scales, and locations on both sides of the state line. I learned new things with each conversation, and I think you will, too. And who knows, you might be inspired to venture beyond the farmers market to become a CSA member or sign up for a volunteer work day. 

As we say in each episode, these stories will leave you “inspired, informed, and hungry for change.” I hope you’ll take some time to browse the playlist, find an urban farm near you, and get involved in any way you can. Thanks for following along, and be sure to check the Cultivate KC Events Calendar for updates on the next Urban Grown Tour! 

written by Cara Harbstreet, K-State Local Food Fellow

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