2023 - Kalamazoo Roots: Free Container Gardening Class

OVERVIEW:

Kalamazoo Roots is continuing in 2023!. The City of Kalamazoo is once again partnering with the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Food Innovation Center, Eastside, Oakwood, Edison, and Vine neighborhoods while expanding to include residents from the Northside neighborhood. The program will support 60 returning participants from the 2021-22 programs and 150 new participants.

2023 REGISTRATION

We are not accepting online registrations at this time. Please email the program coordinator at bkeith7162@kvcc.edu for questions or instructions on being added to the wait-list.

WHAT IS THE KALAMAZOO ROOTS PROGRAM AND WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?

Kalamazoo Roots is a FREE Container gardening course offering in-person and virtual teaching events. It is a course that is meant to be engaging and interactive and build community partnerships. Kalamazoo Valley Community College staff will provide events in partnership with Oakwood, Edison, Vine, Eastside, and Northside Neighborhoods

EXPECTIONS:

You are expected to…

Attend virtual or in-person teaching sessions
Pick-up your supplies, containers, seeds, etc. in a timely manner
Return your kit if you do not wish to continue with the project

WHAT IS THE GENERAL COURSE SCHEDULE?

The course starts in mid-April and ends in October. Dates for events are still being finalized and will be updated. This spring you’ll be using the 7-gallon pot (see example picture) you receive to start some early season plants from seed. In the coming weeks you’ll get information on when to pick up live summer vegetable plants you’ll be planting in the rectangular Earth Box (for returning) or City-Picker container (for newcomers).

TIMELINE:

April - October

BACKGROUND:

In 2021 the City of Kalamazoo partnered with the Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s (KVCC) Food Innovation Center and the Eastside, Oakwood, and Vine neighborhood associations with support from the Foundation for Excellence to offer a FREE 5-month self-paced container gardening course to 100 residents in the Eastside, Oakwood, and Vine neighborhoods. In 2022, the program returned and expanded into the Edison Neighborhood and again was praised by participants. In 2023, the program will expand to the Northside and all previous neighborhoods have returned as partners.

Many neighborhood plans have goals focused on increasing access to healthy food. As part of the Kalamazoo Community Sustainability Plan (CSP) and implementation of neighborhood plans.

Kalamazoo Roots 2021 Participant Outcomes

Kalamazoo Roots 2022 Participant Outcomes

CONSISTENT WITH PLANS:

Sustainability Strategy, Master Plan, Strategic Vision

Vine Neighborhood Plan

Environment, Parks & Food Access Goal: “Increase Access to Healthy Food Options”

Oakwood Neighborhood Plan

Community Goal: “Increase Access to Fresh, Affordable, and Healthy Food”

Eastside Neighborhood Plan

Food Access Goal: “Develop Partnerships to that Increase Healthy Eating and Cooking Knowledge and Access (KVCC, PFC, etc.)”, “Increase Amount of Edible Planting (trees, gardens, etc.) and Support Existing Community Gardens”

Edison Neighborhood Plan

Access to Healthy Food: “Work with partners to explore different programs such as commercial scale urban farm, providing fresh options in corner stores, or other programs”

STRATEGIC VISION GOALS:

Environmental Responsibility, Complete Neighborhoods

PARTNERS AND CONTACT INFORMATION:

Kalamazoo Valley Community College - Valley Hub

224 East Crosstown Parkway

Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269-548-3300