Woodland City KC
Farmer(s): Neil Rudisill
Location: Kansas City, MO
Contact: [email protected]
Apprenticeship Opportunities: Paid and unpaid positions
Website: Facebook, Instagram
Location: Kansas City, MO
Contact: [email protected]
Apprenticeship Opportunities: Paid and unpaid positions
Website: Facebook, Instagram
Woodland City KC Overview:
Woodland City KC is a half-acre market garden that has been in production since 2018. We operate in an urban setting on the east side of Kansas City, MO. Our farm focuses on organic techniques and is managed using human scale tools. We grow using a 30” permanent bed system with battery powered equipment for bed prep and harvesting. There are 5 high tunnels and a greenhouse on the property for season extension and transplant production. We have a dedicated post-harvest wash station area with two walk in coolers that are cooled using cool bots with window AC units. Our farm was created to be profit driven but socially conscious. Our operation is profitable, and was developed debt free using federal, state and local grants. We have a replicable model for small scale urban farm design and will share our approach with apprentices. While the farm is managed to create a positive return on investment its most important impact is the exposure it provides for growers and those interested in farming in an urban setting. We host workshops and classes to demonstrate our model to community members, urban farm startups and professional growers annually. Over the years we have distributed our products at local farmers markets, restaurants, and through a weekly community supported agriculture (CSA) model. Woodland City KC is a unique small-scale urban farm to learn the basics of farming due to its efficiency and size. Apprentices of all experience levels can improve their skills on our farm. The barrier of entry is difficult for specialty crop production; however, we have found an approach to reduce some of the risks associated with becoming a small-scale grower and we want to share our expertise with you.
Woodland City KC 2024 Production and Distribution Model:
In 2024 Woodland City KC will be working with social service nonprofits located on the Linwood Area Ministry Place (LAMP) campus located on the east side of KCMO. The LAMP Campus is four blocks from our farm and it is home to ReDiscover, ReStart, Front Porch Alliance, and KC Digital Drive. Through this partnership with the LAMP Campus we will be integrating our urban farm with programming that is offered by the social service nonprofits that operate on the campus. The campus also has a community garden and a commissary kitchen which will be used as an aggregation and distribution site for the products grown at Woodland City KC. This year will be supplying produce to the food service system on the campus that provides breakfast and lunch to the clients of the nonprofits at LAMP.
This partnership will allow apprentices the unique opportunity to learn market garden production techniques on our farm while also supporting a nonprofit health care organization in the community. The LAMP Campus is home a regional provider of outpatient mental health services, addiction counseling and housing. Apprentices will have the opportunity to work directly with the clients, customers and community members that visit the campus. Our farm products will be integrated into the care plans of clients of the LAMP campus adding healthy, locally grown produce into their diets. 2024 will be our inaugural season of this type of partnership and production approach. Apprentices can be directly involved in the advancement of this new model of urban farming. This model of urban farming, which integrates locally grown produce with community development, will allow apprentices a broader understanding of the urban food system in KCMO.
Job Description:
Seasonal: March 15- September 15, 2024
Hours per week: 10-20
Paid and Unpaid apprentices accepted
Apprentices will work at Woodland City KC (market garden) and the LAMP Campus (community garden/commissary kitchen). Apprentices will assist in production planning, farm and garden management, harvesting, post-harvest preparation, aggregation of products and distribution. If interested, apprentices will have access to learn how agriculture-based community development and an integrated approach of social service agencies works. Apprentices will also learn about agricultural development grant opportunities and will have assistance in writing grants to secure funding for their current or future operations.
Woodland City KC is a half-acre market garden that has been in production since 2018. We operate in an urban setting on the east side of Kansas City, MO. Our farm focuses on organic techniques and is managed using human scale tools. We grow using a 30” permanent bed system with battery powered equipment for bed prep and harvesting. There are 5 high tunnels and a greenhouse on the property for season extension and transplant production. We have a dedicated post-harvest wash station area with two walk in coolers that are cooled using cool bots with window AC units. Our farm was created to be profit driven but socially conscious. Our operation is profitable, and was developed debt free using federal, state and local grants. We have a replicable model for small scale urban farm design and will share our approach with apprentices. While the farm is managed to create a positive return on investment its most important impact is the exposure it provides for growers and those interested in farming in an urban setting. We host workshops and classes to demonstrate our model to community members, urban farm startups and professional growers annually. Over the years we have distributed our products at local farmers markets, restaurants, and through a weekly community supported agriculture (CSA) model. Woodland City KC is a unique small-scale urban farm to learn the basics of farming due to its efficiency and size. Apprentices of all experience levels can improve their skills on our farm. The barrier of entry is difficult for specialty crop production; however, we have found an approach to reduce some of the risks associated with becoming a small-scale grower and we want to share our expertise with you.
Woodland City KC 2024 Production and Distribution Model:
In 2024 Woodland City KC will be working with social service nonprofits located on the Linwood Area Ministry Place (LAMP) campus located on the east side of KCMO. The LAMP Campus is four blocks from our farm and it is home to ReDiscover, ReStart, Front Porch Alliance, and KC Digital Drive. Through this partnership with the LAMP Campus we will be integrating our urban farm with programming that is offered by the social service nonprofits that operate on the campus. The campus also has a community garden and a commissary kitchen which will be used as an aggregation and distribution site for the products grown at Woodland City KC. This year will be supplying produce to the food service system on the campus that provides breakfast and lunch to the clients of the nonprofits at LAMP.
This partnership will allow apprentices the unique opportunity to learn market garden production techniques on our farm while also supporting a nonprofit health care organization in the community. The LAMP Campus is home a regional provider of outpatient mental health services, addiction counseling and housing. Apprentices will have the opportunity to work directly with the clients, customers and community members that visit the campus. Our farm products will be integrated into the care plans of clients of the LAMP campus adding healthy, locally grown produce into their diets. 2024 will be our inaugural season of this type of partnership and production approach. Apprentices can be directly involved in the advancement of this new model of urban farming. This model of urban farming, which integrates locally grown produce with community development, will allow apprentices a broader understanding of the urban food system in KCMO.
Job Description:
Seasonal: March 15- September 15, 2024
Hours per week: 10-20
Paid and Unpaid apprentices accepted
Apprentices will work at Woodland City KC (market garden) and the LAMP Campus (community garden/commissary kitchen). Apprentices will assist in production planning, farm and garden management, harvesting, post-harvest preparation, aggregation of products and distribution. If interested, apprentices will have access to learn how agriculture-based community development and an integrated approach of social service agencies works. Apprentices will also learn about agricultural development grant opportunities and will have assistance in writing grants to secure funding for their current or future operations.
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Photo Credits; Woodland City KC
