By Deep Roots Team
Kay’s journey into the world of native plants and pollinator advocacy started, quite simply, in the dirt, gardening alongside her Nana as a child. Although her early career took her in a different direction (stuck at a desk), she felt the pull back to the outdoors in 2020 when she enrolled in a Sustainable Agriculture class at Johnson County Community College.
“Working with my body, being out in the sun, and getting to see a tangible product of all my effort really put me in a better headspace,” Kay shared.
That single class quickly grew into something more. Kay continued her studies and gained hands-on experience as an intern with farm manager Rick Mareske at Open Petal. Along the way, she developed a deep appreciation not just for growing plants, but for the learning process itself.
“I really believe farm curriculum in schools is so important,” Kay says. “It gives you a safe space to fail, and so much of farming and gardening is learning how to come back from failure.”
Her path eventually led her to Kansas City Community Gardens (KCCG), where she worked as an orchardist. There, Kay cared for fruit trees, discovered a love for resilient perennials (especially pears), and began to understand the essential role pollinators play in food production.
That realization sparked a new passion. Kay became increasingly curious about how to better support pollinators. This of course led her to native plants and “all the different ways native plants support the environment around us.”
Today, Kay brings her curiosity and enthusiasm to Deep Roots as our Outdoor Education and Outreach Program Coordinator. Since joining the team in July 2025, she has been helping connect people with native plants through workshops, plant sales, and community engagement.
Whether she’s sharing pollinator-friendly planting tips, helping you choose the right native species, or offering a fun plant fact, Kay’s goal is simple: to make native gardening approachable, impactful, and fun.
Check out Kay’s presentation on pairing native plants with vegetable gardens in the latest episode of Curious by Nature! You’ll also find Kay at every Deep Roots native plant sale this season, ready to help you support pollinators right from your own backyard.
Be sure to check our Events page to stay up to date on upcoming Native Plant Sales and other opportunities to learn, plant, and grow with us.
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