Mission:

The mission of Kansas City Community Gardens is to assist low-income households and community groups in the Kansas City metropolitan area to produce vegetables and fruit from garden plots located in backyards, vacant lots, and at community sites. KCCG supports Kansas City’s gardeners as they work to transform the food system, along with their nutritional habits, in backyard and community garden spaces throughout the metropolitan area.

History:

For over thirty years, KCCG staff have assisted community and backyard gardeners throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area to improve nutrition, reduce food costs, combat obesity, increase physical activity, encourage neighborhood leadership, and promote locally grown and sustainable food.  KCCG began in 1979 as the Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry’s “Community Garden Project,” an initiative started to help low-income families save money on grocery bills. In 1985, the organization became incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

In 2003 KCCG moved from its original location at the former Old Ballpark Community Garden located at 22^nd and Brooklyn to their current location in Swope Park.   The Swope Park location allowed for larger administrative offices and the building of our Beanstalk Children’s Garden.

Program Overview:

KCCG provides free gardening workshops, technical assistance, garden supplies, and other resources to individuals, families, neighborhood organizations, nonprofit agencies, and other groups throughout the metropolitan Kansas City area through the Self-Help Gardening and Community Partner Gardens programs. In addition, KCCG’s Schoolyard Gardens program staff help schools to create and grow gardens to improve students’ knowledge about nutrition and the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables to a healthy diet. KCCG’s Beanstalk Children’s Garden complements the efforts of Schoolyard Gardens staff by allowing school and community groups, families, and other visitors to learn about plant science, food production, nutrition, and insects during summer tours of this unique garden. The Beanstalk includes fruit, vegetable, and herb gardens; a seed and grain garden; the Curiosity Garden, filled with strange and unusual plants; and water garden featuring water lilies and floating hyacinths, fish, and frogs.