Welcome, Emily!

Emily Lecuyer is new to the New Roots team! She will be coordinating the CSA program for 2011. You can reach her at elecuyer(at)catholiccharitiesks.org or at 913.620.2080.

Although a native of Missouri, Emily Lecuyer has only recently begun to set down roots of her own in the region. After growing up in a small town just outside of St. Louis, she studied Sociology and Anthropology at Truman State University in Kirksville as well as Arabic and Islamic studies at Al-Akhawayan University in Morocco. Shortly after graduating she moved to California to be with her new husband, himself a native of Kansas City.

Within weeks of moving to San Diego, Emily joined her first CSA and her life has never been the same! She immediately fell in love with the region’s strong local food movement. It was during this time that she began working with the International Rescue Committee on food security projects and sustainable agricultural policy.

Emily and her husband left California to pursue their dream of joining the Peace Corps together. They served almost three years on the island of Palawan in The Philippines where Emily worked with subsistence fishermen and farmers to improve food security and increase income for their families.

Emily and her husband returned to the Midwest in the winter of 2010, when Kansas City, Missouri was at a critical juncture for urban farmers. Witnessing this movement, they decided it was the right time to stay and put their energy towards improving their own home. Knowing she wanted more hands-on sustainable agricultural experience, Emily apprenticed at Fair Share Farm in Kearney, Missouri through the Growing Growers program.

Emily serves on the Kansas City CSA Coalition Core Group and is slowly developing her urban homesteading skills. She is super excited to be establishing roots in Kansas City and looks forward to working with a diverse group of farmers and hungry eaters.

Welcome, Emily! We're excited to have you!

High Tunnel Workshop

Today's workshop was on high tunnel production. Now that the Juniper high tunnel is up and will soon be ready for planting, we wanted to see some high tunnel action first hand. We loaded up the bus and went to KCCUA, where their farm manager, Alicia walked us through their winter and spring production. The farmers were stoked!

Alicia showed the group how she sets up her beds.

The winter spinach was so sweet!

Eh Da Ler Htoo loves spinach!

Group shot! Thanks, Alicia for the great tour! We can't wait to start using our own tunnel!

Marketing Workshop

Today's marketing workshop was the first one of 2011. Before we know it, we'll be planting, then harvesting, then marketing! It's all coming quickly again this year. For the workshop, we purchased bulk veggies from the city market and practiced setting up vegetabes on the tables.

Durga, first year farmer from Bhutan, did a great job for her first time!

Fourth year farmer, Khadijo, pretended to be a customer.

Soe Myint and San Dar are first year farmers too.

Second year farmer, Lay Htoo, pretended to be a customer for them.

We also talked about things not to do at the market. :)

Third year farmer, Nyakang, did a GREAT job of being a TERRIBLE marketer.

She crossed her arms, and set her table up all crazy.

Beh Paw also set up one of the "bad" examples. She is talking on the phone, ignoring customers and her table is in total chaos. Check out the table cloth.

Lay Htoo and Bay Htoo's table looked great.

Many of our farmers, staff and translators.

Can't wait to sell you our tasty veggies soon!