KC Community Gardens celebrates harvest

Kansas City Community Gardens invites the public to its annual Fall Family Festival and Harvest Celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6917 Kensington in Swope Park.

For a $2 admission fee, families can enjoy demonstrations and games with prizes in the Beanstalk Children’s Garden. Lunch items are available for an additional charge. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance.

Ben Sharda, Kansas City Community Gardens executive director, said the festival is one of the most entertaining area events celebrating the harvest season.

“There are lots of festivals this time of year but this one is unique,” he said. “Here, families will see a large variety of food plants in a small space. They will be able to see vegetables, fruits and grains and even taste those that are in season.”

Children will have the opportunity to learn about plants, insects, nutrition and plant science. They can paint gourds and take them home. They can win a free book in a bean-bag toss sponsored by the Kansas City Public Library.

The day also includes scavenger hunts, face painting, cotton spinning and weaving demonstrations, and a pumpkin toss. A butterfly release is scheduled for 2:45 p.m., and readings of “Jack and the Beanstalk” will be at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Visitors can see peanuts being harvested and join in the making of fresh peanut butter. They can enter drawings for baskets of garden vegetables. The local chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international organization of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality, will give continuous demonstrations on “How to Grill Vegetables and Fruit Perfectly.”

The garden paths are paved and fully wheelchair accessible. Rain date is Sept. 26.

Kansas City Community Gardens is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of low-income households and other members of the community by helping them grow their own nutritious fruits and vegetables.

The Vegetable Garden is filled with many varieties of vegetables from all around the world; the Fruit Garden is packed with common and unusual berry bushes and fruit trees; the Herb Garden features different types of herbs for cooking, fragrance and medicinal uses; the Seed and Grain Garden contains items like corn, wheat, oats, soybeans, peanuts and popcorn; the Curiosity Garden is filled with strange and unusual plants; and the Water Garden features plants such as water lilies and floating water hyacinths.

For information, call 931-3877 or visit www.kccg.org.

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