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.

Garden City Harvest believes 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.

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 agencies we contribute food to.

Garden City Harvest's Mission Statement

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

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

1. PEAS Farm: We have a 9-½ 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 Missoula households. 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. Community Gardens: We have seven 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 Community Gardens grew over 20,000 pounds of food to feed hungry families.
3. Youth Harvest: We work with Youth Court referrals to provide a nurturing environment and therapy for troubled youth. The program operates the Mobile Market and partners with Youth Homes to run the Roots Youth Farm.
4. Community Education: We educate Missoula youth and adults about Sustainable Agriculture and how food comes from the field to our tables in our Community Education Program.

We are proud to share our Animal Policy with you upon request. Please email us at gardencityharvest@gmail.com for a copy.

Garden City Harvest Staff

• Kristina Swanson, Executive Director
• Jason Mandala, Community Education Director
• Josh Slotnick, GCH/ EVST PEAS Farm Director
• Laurie Strand, Youth Harvest Director
• Genevieve Jessop Marsh, Community Outreach Director
• Sarah Bortis, Orchard Gardens Manager
• Estee Fleming, Financial and Office Manager
• Cori Ash, Youth Farm Manager
• Greg Price, River Road Garden Manager
• Ethan Smith, Facilities Manager
• Linda Sliter , Garden Coordinator at Meadow Hill, Northside, Eaton and 2nd Street gardens
• Abrei Cloud, Youth Harvest Assistant
• Dave Victor, River Road Farm Assistant
• Paul Leisy, Orchard Gardens Assistant
• Beth Gibson, AmeriCorps Member, Community Gardens & Neigbhborhood Farms Assistant
• Ky Nayfield, AmeriCorps Member & North Avenue Youth Farm Assistant
• Jeff Turman, AmeriCorps Member & Community Education Program Assistant

GCH Board of Directors

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

The Board officers are:
Co-Presidents - Martha Newell and Mark Phares
Secretary - Jodi Allison-Bunnell
Treasurer - Karen Neel

Members of the Board are:
Caroline Byrd, Jeff Crouch, Amy Zekos Dolan, Alex Gallego, Paul Hubbard, Josh Klaus, Mike Kustudia, Melanie Puckett, Ginny Tribe, Rick Wishcamper and Ben Yonce.