In the heart of Kansas City, a nonprofit organization named The Giving Grove has been making a profound difference in the lives of underserved communities by promoting local food production and agricultural education, particularly among immigrant communities. The organization’s main aim is to empower these communities by teaching them how to cultivate their own food, thereby addressing critical issues such as food deserts, environmental sustainability, and social isolation. By fostering self-reliance, The Giving Grove hopes to improve the overall quality of life for many marginalized people who often face significant barriers to accessing fresh, nutritious food.
One individual who embodies the mission of The Giving Grove is Dr. Barbara Johnson, a 79-year-old dedicated volunteer. Johnson, who now gardens at the Asylum Orchard in Kansas City’s Blue Hills neighborhood, draws her motivation from her upbringing in Tennessee during the Jim Crow era. As the daughter of a Black farmer, she learned the importance of land and self-sufficiency in a time when grocery stores were often too far away and predominantly located in white areas. This early experience instilled in her a deep sense of the need for accessible food sources within marginalized communities, ensuring that fresh fruits, berries, and nuts are readily available without requiring transportation to distant commercial stores.
When Johnson moved to Kansas City in 1961, she noticed a stark difference in the reliance on grocery stores among people of color compared to her upbringing where growing your own food was a necessity. To promote self-reliance, Johnson began her work with The Giving Grove in 2013, the same year the organization was founded. Since then, she has been involved in planting various fruit-producing trees and developing “food forests”—layered ecosystems that provide a diverse array of food sources, from towering fruit trees to low-lying berry bushes. Her efforts have been instrumental in creating more sustainable and self-sufficient communities.
Addressing Environmental and Social Issues
The Giving Grove was established to address three major problems: environmental degradation, limited access to food in disadvantaged areas, and social isolation. These issues are particularly pressing in Kansas City, where minority communities have long struggled to maintain grocery stores. The organization operates a network of orchards and food forests in areas affected by disinvestment and inequities, providing free organic produce to residents. Many of these areas are home to non-English-speaking immigrants and refugees who face additional challenges, such as language barriers when it comes to utilizing these resources.
Co-director Erica Kratofil emphasizes the disproportionate impact that immigrant and refugee communities face regarding access to healthy food. Because many of these residents are unaware of The Giving Grove’s resources due to language barriers, they cannot benefit from the fresh produce provided. To address this issue, The Giving Grove recently secured a $1.3 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This grant aims to expand their orchards and translate educational materials into 12 different languages. Marketing director Sarah Sikich notes that this effort will begin in 2025 and highlights the importance of creating accessible resources that do not require an on-site translator.
Overcoming Language Barriers
The importance of these translated materials is clear to community members like Michael Carmona, a Latino community relations specialist with the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a trustee for The Giving Grove. Raised in a predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood on Kansas City’s Westside, Carmona experienced a severe lack of access to fresh produce, relying on corner stores with limited fruit and vegetable options. Even today, living in a food desert where The Giving Grove operates, he notices that many of his neighbors do not take advantage of the nearby resources because of language barriers and a lack of cultural awareness.
Statistics from Westside Choice, a neighborhood initiative sponsored by the Housing Authority of Kansas City, support Carmona’s observations. Nearly a quarter of Westside residents report the absence of high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables in their area, while a significant number are unsure if such resources are available. These findings underscore Carmona’s belief that improving food access requires more than just language translation—it calls for broader cultural understanding and respectful interaction with diverse communities. He envisions more orchard directors who are culturally aware and share the backgrounds of the communities they work in, which could foster greater trust and utilization of these valuable resources.
Successful Models and Future Plans
In Kansas City, The Giving Grove, a nonprofit, significantly impacts underserved communities by promoting local food production and agricultural education, particularly for immigrant groups. The organization’s primary goal is to empower these communities by teaching them how to grow their own food. This addresses critical issues such as food deserts, environmental sustainability, and social isolation. By fostering self-reliance, The Giving Grove aims to enhance the overall quality of life for marginalized people who face barriers to accessing fresh, nutritious food.
One dedicated volunteer, Dr. Barbara Johnson, embodies The Giving Grove’s mission. At 79, she gardens at the Asylum Orchard in Kansas City’s Blue Hills neighborhood, inspired by her upbringing in Tennessee during the Jim Crow era. As a Black farmer’s daughter, she learned the crucial need for land and self-sufficiency, knowing that grocery stores were often too far and located in primarily white areas. This experience instilled an understanding of accessible food sources’ importance in marginalized communities, ensuring fresh fruits, berries, and nuts are available without long-distance transportation.
Moving to Kansas City in 1961, Johnson saw a reliance on grocery stores among people of color unlike her upbringing. Joining The Giving Grove in 2013, she has planted fruit trees and developed food forests, layered ecosystems offering diverse food sources. Her work has been vital in fostering self-sufficient, sustainable communities.