About Us

Over 90% of the produce we eat in Montana is shipped in from out of state. Yet in the early part of this century, Missoula earned the title "The Garden City" by producing fruits and vegetables for much of the surrounding region.

The partners in the Garden City Harvest project believe that we need to revive our regional tradition of producing our own food for our community, including the 20% of Missoulians who live in poverty.

Since receiving a USDA Community Food Project grant in 1996, Garden City Harvest has been planting the seeds for a diverse and fruitful community effort. Staff and volunteers have developed a four-acre Community Supported Agriculture teaching Farm and a network of Neighborhood community gardens.

In our first season we produced over 57,000 pounds of fresh vegetables, and distributed most of the food through local emergency food agencies. In our second season, we grew and gleaned over 60,000 pounds of food. In our third season, we grew and gleaned over 74,000 pounds of food. Each season we have been able to increase the number of feeding agencies we contribute food to.

Garden City Harvest's Mission Statement

1. Provide high quality food to low-income people.
2. Offer education and training in ecologically conscious food production.
3. Use our sites for the personal restoration of troubled youth and adults.

The Garden City Harvest Project was established in 1996. We have three programs to meet our Mission Statement.

1. We have a 6-½ acre farm at 3010 Duncan Drive; it is run in partnership with the U of M Environmental Studies Program. Last summer the students from this class raised 23,000 pounds of food that went to feeding agencies in Missoula. The Farm and UM were the 2004 winners of the prestigious Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award. You will find more information on it under the PEAS Farm section of this web site.
2. We have five community gardens where people can rent a plot and grow their own vegetables or "Volunteer for Veggies" where for each shift they work they receive vegetables. We work with the courts so people that must do Community Service have a place to work. Last summer they grew over 20,000 pounds of food to feed hungry families.
3. We work with the Youth Court referrals to provide a nurturing environment and therapy for troubled youth.

Garden City Harvest Staff

• Tim Ballard, Youth Harvest Director
• Tim Hall, Community Garden Director
• Joellen Shannon, Development Director
• Josh Slotnick, GCH/ EVST PEAS Farm Director
• Matt Anderson, Garden Organizer at Northside
• Sarah Bortis, Garden Organizer at Orchard Gardens
• Betsy Defries , Garden Organizer at Meadow Hill
• Jason Mandala, Community Education Program Coordinator
• Greg Price, Garden Organizer at River Road
• Staci Short, Garden Organizer at ASUM
• Linda Sliter, Garden Assistant
• Ethan Smith, PEAS Farm Assistant
• Laurie Strand, Youth Harvest Assistant
• Katie Weaver, Financial and Office Coordinator

GCH Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is hardworking and they are involved in the success of Garden City Harvest.

The Board officers are:
President - Aaron Brock
Vice President - Lou Ann Crowley
Secretary - Crissie McMullan
Treasurer - Karen Neel

Members of the Board are:
Jodi Allison-Bunnell, Caroline Byrd, Jeff Crouch, Heidi DeArment, Amy Zekos Dolan, Alex Gallego, Josh Klaus, Martha Newell, and Mark Phares.