This summer and into the fall season, the Travois team was thrilled to participate in the New Roots for Refugees CSA program, organized by Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas in partnership with Cultivate KC.
What is a CSA, you ask? CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture. While CSAs are always beneficial to everyone involved, we were excited that this particular program also supports refugees in the Kansas City area.
Our farmer, Lee Meh (pictured below), came from Burma in 2009. Lee and her husband, Say Reh, have four sons and one daughter, all of whom are involved in their family’s farm plot.
The New Roots for Refugees program helps refugees start their own small farm businesses growing and selling vegetables. Since many of them were farmers in their home country, it is a familiar way to help them in reaching self-determination and self-sufficiency in their new lives in Kansas City.
Lee and her son delivered our delicious fresh veggies to the Travois office in the Crossroads Arts District every Thursday afternoon from May through September. Each week, the New Roots representative at Catholic Charities would send a newsletter informing us of what was in season, along with some delicious recipes for that week’s harvest.
Travois’ involvement in the New Roots for Refugees program was a rewarding way to support local farmers in the Kansas City area, while also offering support and encouragement to those who have come to the United States to make a better life for their families.
We enjoyed our weekly visits with Lee Meh and look forward to pairing up with her again next season!
Read more about the New Roots for Refugees program here.
Find a CSA directory here.