Greetings everyone! My name is Hannah and I am the new Schoolyard Gardens Assistant here at KCCG. So far my time here has been full of visiting different schools and planting lots of lettuce, kale, broccoli, collards, and radishes and I’ve loved every minute of it!

My passion for gardening and working with kids comes from my own experience of learning how to garden by trial and error as a child. My sister’s and I got our dad to build us a few raised beds and we started planting seeds and hoping for the best! As a result, I am convinced that anyone can grow their own food (pro tip: start with kale!).

As time went on I continued to be interested in gardening as a way to connect people to food. I studied at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO focusing on sociology and religion courses as well as non-profit leadership. While earning my Master’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA I learned a lot from the year round growing season in the south, the many urban farms & gardens and the endless farmer’s markets around the city. I even lived for a bit on a farm in rural Georgia where I fell in love with chickens, goats, blueberries and every kind of green.

Most recently my spouse and I lived in Denver, CO where we enjoyed countless hiking trips and appreciation for the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Meanwhile I continued to find myself drawn to community gardening and the education and empowerment that goes with it. I felt certain I needed to move back to Kansas City and get involved with gardening in my hometown.

So that brings me to today! We are here and so happy to be reconnecting with Kansas City. I’m excited to be working with so many schools throughout KC and can’t wait to watch the gardens grow!