Newsletter

Urban Food Systems Initiative Summer 2024 Newsletter

 

 

The Start of Summer

The summer season has arrived and although regular classes may not be in session, folks in the UFSI are keeping busy. Hopefully we have seen some of you at our farm tours, webinars, symposium or Food for Thought events — if not, keep reading to learn about more opportunities to engage!

 

Student Highlight: Professional Track

To start off this season's newsletter, we'd love to highlight one of our current professional track students: Vanessa Wahlen.

Vanessa Whalen completed her first semester as a professional track student in May 2024. She entered the program after a career as a clinical social worker in Wichita, Kansas, where she worked with children and adults from diverse backgrounds, both in private practice and nonprofit settings. Following the closure of her practice, Vanessa trained to become an Extension Master Gardener, as growing had always been a strong interest for her. A desire to continue investing in people and community and to learn more about horticulture led her to pursue studies in the UFS program.

Last semester, Vanessa submitted a grant proposal through SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension). Vanessa's background drove her to learn more about the mental health challenges growers face and the significant uptick in growers' deaths by suicide. Through personal and professional interactions, Vanessa discovered a gap in understanding between growers and mental health professionals (as well as other community supports). Her grant proposal looks to close that gap by learning from growers themselves about needs, stresses and preferences. Based upon that information, Vanessa will develop and present training to mental health professionals and other supports so they may better meet growers where they are. In addition, Vanessa will offer workshops and other resources for growers. If you’re curious about this research, you can connect with Vanessa via vlwhalen@ksu.edu.

Vanessa lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with her husband. They have two grown sons and are open to the idea of a rescue pup.

 

 

Welcoming More Graduate Research Assistants

This summer semester we welcome two new Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) working with Tricia Jenkins, Ph.D., on the GRIP project. Keep reading to learn more about Kara and Dustin.

Kara Walker

Kara Walker grew up in the Missouri Ozarks, where she developed an interest in the natural world. She found her way to food systems studies by working in local restaurants and plant nurseries. She is passionate about ensuring equitable access to both food and nature for all.

Kara received an associate degree in horticulture from Johnson County Community College and a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is involved in grassroots community organizing to reduce hunger and food waste by diverting produce from the waste stream. Kara is currently a graduate research assistant working with Tricia Jenkins, Ph.D. and Eleni Pliakoni, Ph.D. Her research focuses on contributions to resilience by urban agriculture sites as measured through indicators including public interactions; collaboration and social ties; civic and political engagement; and government support. Outside of academia, Kara is interested in native plants and sustainability.

Dustin Kohn

Dustin Kohn grew up on his family farm in Cherokee, Iowa. Growing up he loved working in the garden with his grandma who inspired his passion for horticulture. Dustin received his bachelor's degree in horticulture and agriculture leadership from South Dakota State University. His passion has always been education and outreach focusing on helping people grow their own food.

Dustin is currently a graduate research assistant working with Tricia Jenkins, Ph.D., and Rebekkah Stuteville, Ph.D., His project is applying the Community and Agriculture Resilience Audit Tool (also known as CARAT) to analyze the communities of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. There are three main goals of using CARAT in this study. First, they will look at how the two cities are utilizing the assets of their local food systems to achieve community resilience. Second, they will find and identify areas of key similarities and differences between these two food systems and how they relate to community food resilience. Lastly, the hope is to identify steps that are able to increase community resiliency and present the results to the city, county and community.

Dustin is excited to be a part of this project and the future impact it will have on evaluating and understanding food resiliency in communities.

 

GRA Position Openings

Both Ravneet Sandhu, Ph.D., and Teng Yang, Ph.D., are seeking GRAs to start this fall. Sandhu's research focuses on fruit production and integrated pest management, whereas Yang's research will focus on controlled environment agriculture. Interested candidates should send their CVs and transcripts to semra@ksu.edu and indicate which faculty they are interested in working with.

 

Farm Happenings at the Olathe Horticultural Research and Education Center

You may have have heard the term OHREC — pronounced "oh-reck" — thrown around a time or two, and perhaps you may be wondering what in the world we're referring to. OHREC stands for the Olathe Horticultural Research and Education Center. As the name implies, this farm site is home to much of the horticultural production research that happens within the UFSI. It's also home to a pretty impressive Master Gardener garden site! Cary Rivard, Ph.D., serves as the director, and he's excited to welcome Ravneet Sandhu, Ph.D., to his team of faculty at the site.

Sandhu's research and teaching will focus on fruit crop production and integrated pest management.

A new solar array has been added at the farm to assess the viability of Agrivoltaics within horticultural production. This research is being led by GRA Alexander Thill, and supervised by Rivard.

Every year in August, we open up the research farm to the public to showcase all of the amazing research that is happening on site. This year's event is from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12, at OHREC (35230 W. 135th St., Olathe, KS 66061). This public event also serves as a time to celebrate our annual cohort of Growing Growers apprentices. The cost to attend is $15 and includes a barbecue dinner and beverages.

 

Growing Growers Celebration

Since 2004, Growing Growers has worked to train new farmers and strengthen Kansas City's grower network, having graduated more than 220 farm apprentices. Many of these graduates continue to work in food and farming, with some even hosting their own apprentices. Don't miss out on this special evening as we commemorate our 20 year journey, toast to this community and look forward to the future. The event is 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center. It will kick off with drinks and music, followed by dinner with special guest speakers and will end with a raffle to support the growth of the program.

 

Food for Thought

Our Food for Thought Summer Reading Series in partnership with Flagship Books and KC Black Urban Growers continues with Chhaya Kolavalli, author of Well-Intentioned Whiteness: Green Urban Development and Black Resistance in Kansas City. In her work, Kolavalli examines the narratives and histories that mostly white local food advocates are guided by and offers an alternative urban history of Kansas City — one that centers the contributions of Black and brown residents to urban prosperity. Join us at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, at Flagship Books (510 N 6th St, Kansas City, Kansas, 66101) to hear from Chhaya, get your book signed and take part in this important community conversation. This is a free event but registration is required.

 

 

Kansas Local Food Summit

Kansas Leadership Center, Wichita, Kansas | Aug. 27-28, 2024

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to CONNECT with people from across the state, ENGAGE with new ideas about local food systems and GROW food access opportunities in your community!

The summit will begin with a networking reception on Tuesday evening, followed by a full day of speakers, interactive learning sessions and more opportunities to connect with people from across the state.

 

OSU Extension Backyard Poultry Certificate Course

This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and resources you will need to get your backyard flock off to a great start.