KCCUA's Mission & Visions

OUR MISSION

The Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture is a non-profit organization established to promote community-based, small-scale, entrepreneurial farming in urban Kansas City. We do this through providing education and technical assistance to people interested in urban farming, through research and policy development aimed at making urban farming an integral part of a lively and viable cityscape, and through working with communities to embrace and support urban farms. The Center also operates the Kansas City Community Farm, a working organic vegetable farm that serves as a demonstration project for urban agriculture in Kansas City.

VISIONS FOR THE KANSAS CITY CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE

Physical

We see a place that will beautify and diversify the cityscape; a physical space where people gather to work, learn and exchange.

Biological

We envision a place abundant with life; life in the soil and in the field; a place of great diversity of plant and animal life; a home for creatures such as field mice, rabbits, birds, honeybees, and other insects; an example of nature and humans collaborating to create a complex and supportive eco-system.

Cultural

We see a place where diversity is valued as a source of strength in human culture much as it is in organic agriculture; a place rich in diversity of species as well as cultures, beliefs, practices and traditions. We see people from all sorts of paths, places and backgrounds working together to build and sustain an abundant plant & animal habitat.

Spiritual

We see a place where people learn about life cycles, trust, and cooperation, through close engagement with the natural processes of agriculture and food production.

Intellectual

We envision a place for on-farm research on topics from pest control and low-technology season extension to crop development; a place designed to encourage creativity and new thinking about how to make small-scale organic agriculture work; a place where farmers and consumers develop a deeper understanding of the history and present of food production.

Practical

We see a place that serves as a practical example of “farming in the city” for those who grew up on small farms in rural America or abroad and who wish to keep their agricultural heritage alive and to make agriculture a viable part of their lives in Kansas City; as well as a place that offers practical strategies and information to people who didn’t grow up with farming.

Global

We envision a place where we connect with the world community through lectures, exhibits, and exchanges; a place where we learn about the world's farmers, their challenges, triumphs, beliefs and hopes.

Inspirational

We envision a place where we learn not to say "it can't be done!" because we know that somewhere, in some corner of this world, somebody is probably doing it.