On Thursday, June 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St., The Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture presents the kick-off event for the 2009 Kansas City Urban Farms and Gardens Tour with the panel discussion, Food From the City, For the City. A 6 p.m. reception featuring local and organic food and beverages precedes the discussion.

With an increasing amount of citizens gaining interest in home gardening, evidenced by a 40 percent increase in households growing their own vegetables over last year, a panel of experienced growers, community activists, and educators will share their vision for a Kansas City that produces more of its own food. Panelists Ben Sharda, executive director of Kansas City Community Gardens, Daniel Dermitzel (farmer and associate director of the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture), Gretchen Kunkel (executive director of KC HealthyKids), Joe Jennings (farmer and educator), Katherine Kelly (farmer and executive director of the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture), and Tina Wright (regional director for Lincoln University Cooperative Extension) highlight the variety of ways that Kansas Citians are growing food to feed themselves and others.