New Roots for Refugees
Address:
(near) 1979 N. 2nd
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Contact Information:
Rachel Bonar
Phone: 913-909-1027
E-mail: NewRootsforRefugees@ccsks.org
Website: www.newrootsforrefugees.blogspot.com
CSA Distribution Info:
- Community Market at Brookside, 63rd & Wornall, KCMO (Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
- Overland Park Farmers’ Market, 79th & Marty, OP, KS (Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; Wednesdays 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Share Structure:
- FULL SHARE……….$300
A $150 deposit is due at sign-up, with the remaining $150 due at the first distribution.
What can shareholders expect in their share? The weekly food share will include 4 – 6 different organically grown vegetables. The bag may be enough for a family of four, but if you really love your veggies, you may need to supplement the share from other sources — try the farmers’ market near you! You will receive two New Roots for Refugees tote bags, which will be rotated each week when you pick up your share. Every week the share of produce will be different depending on the season. Here are examples of what a share might contain:
- Spring: green peas (sugarsnap or snow), baby beets w/ greens, green onions, carrots w/ tops, lettuce, radishes, chives
- Summer: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or okra, melons, cucumbers, onions, green beans, squash/zucchini, basil, corn
- Fall: lettuce, broccoli or cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash, swiss chard, carrots, potatoes, garlic, dill
Along with these traditional American veggies, New Roots farmers have the option of growing a variety of ethnic crops which will also be a part of the CSA bag. Some of these may include: A Burmese sorrel called Chin Baung (in the states we call it Roselle);. yummy sour leaf; lemongrass; Thai basil; African sweet potatoes; Napa cabbage; baby eggplants; Pac Choi; Komatsuna (an Asian green); and Blue Thai pumpkin. If you have questions about what to do with any veggies in your CSA bag, recipes are provided, and you can ask your farmer!
NO. OF SHARES OFFERED FOR 2009 SEASON: 40
Length of season: about 20 weeks (June – October)
photo by Danielle Larson
WHAT MAKES OUR FARM UNIQUE: This is the third year for the New Roots for Refugees CSA, and these farmers have been growing in Kansas for up to five years now. All of the New Roots farmers are refugees; some are from Somalia, others are from Burma, Burundi, or Sudan. Most of the farmers from Somalia arrived in the United States in 2004; those from Burma began arriving in 2007. The New Roots project provides an opportunity for refugee women to build on their strengths and experience while learning English, growing vegetables, and making money. All of the farmers are women because this program grew out of Refugee Women’s Programming. Most refugee men take full-time positions in factories, hotels, or other places depending on their employment history. Farming income is supplemental to the family income.
As a CSA member, you will be building a partnership with one farmer. You will pick up vegetables from the same farmer each week. This gives you an opportunity to know who is cultivating your food, and the refugee farmer a chance to interact more long-term with English-speaking Americans. CSA members are also welcome and encouraged to visit the farm and spend time working alongside their farmers!