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Community Gardens

Community Gardens give space, water, and tools to grow food for yourself and your family (and probably your friends, too!). Great for folks who don’t have space at home, need a fence, or want to make new friends. Also great for those new to gardening! They are places to feel connected to your community, just by taking part.

“My father passed away suddenly in august. The moment I found out, I headed straight to my garden. I cried. I sat in stillness. My garden provided me a safe space to start the grieving process. It embraced my wounded soul and provided some solace at a time I needed it most. I will never forget it.”

- Lydia Faller, Community Gardener

Farm to School

A hands-on, dig in the dirt and eat carrots educational program in Missoula Elementary schools and on our neighborhood farms. Farm to School runs lessons in and manages 8 school gardens, teaches in every single Missoula County Public School second grade classroom, and buses about 2,400 students to the PEAS Farm for field trips as they eat their way across the farm.

“I think there is some sort of magical force field over the garden, because kids will try anything in there. My favorite, really, is the kale. We'll circle around the bed and talk about the curly kale and the dinosaur kale --Dinosaur kale is the coolest thing to an 8-year-old! Kale has its own consistency and taste, but I've never had a kid that didn't like it. They think it's the best thing to be able to pop off their own little stem of kale and munch on it.”

- Frances Bonne’t, Franklin Elementary School, second grade teacher

Neighborhood Farms

We grow beautiful produce for all in our community: from customers at the Missoula Food Bank to CSA farm share members. These urban farms grow food with the community, for the community.

“Truly fulfilling food on so many levels - nutrition, family connection, community, environment.”

- Annie Florin, River Road CSA farm share member

Youth Development

One of our neighborhood farms is dedicated to youth development. The Youth Farm. Run in partnership with Youth Homes, we employ youth who live in youth homes group homes at the farm. It is often a first time job. It is a place to learn, a place to grow.

"We really think our North Star is having fun out there. Kids oftentimes have a preconceived notion that it's going to be the worst thing they'll ever endure, but as the season goes on, and relationships establish and grow and the beginnings of a community emerge, the farm becomes a site of camaraderie, acceptance, and joy. Farming is a challenging pursuit, but the spirit we bring to the work is one of fun."

- Shane O’Leary, Youth Farm Director

Events
Workshop: Cultivating Healthy Soil & Compost
Apr 2
Workshop: Cultivating Healthy Soil & Compost

Don’t treat your soil like dirt! This workshop is a double hitter covering both soil AND compost! Learn the basics and beyond of compost management and soil health from our River Road Farm Director (and passionate educator), Greg Price. Healthy soil is a must for an organic garden, and this workshop is not to be missed!

Grand Opening: East Missoula Community Garden
May 3
Grand Opening: East Missoula Community Garden

We are thrilled to announce that the newest community garden in East Missoula is opening this spring! Please join us to celebrate and see the beautiful space.

The Great Day of Gardening
May 31
The Great Day of Gardening

Join us at The Great Day of Gardening! In addition to offering free resources to gardeners (seeds, starts, local growing experts), each community garden will have its own spring work project. Learn more…

The Real Dirt - the latest

Featured
Friendship Through a 15’x15’ Square of Dirt
Friendship Through a 15’x15’ Square of Dirt

This is a tale of moving to a new place, a(nother) story of a pandemic’s effects on us, and an account of discovering a new hobby. But mostly, it’s an evolution of a friendship that was made possible through a 15’x15’ square of dirt.

This is the work: agriculture and community
This is the work: agriculture and community

Listen: Liam breaks down why farming for Garden City Harvest is different — hint: it’s the people.

Celebrating the Four Sisters Garden
Celebrating the Four Sisters Garden

Happy Indigenous People’s Day!! We’re celebrating today by highlighting a special project between Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, UM Environmental Studies Program, All Nations Health Center, and the People’s Food Sovereignty Program, that has grown at the PEAS Farm for the last three seasons: the Four Sisters Garden

Composting in Place to Winterize Your Garden
Composting in Place to Winterize Your Garden

At the end of the season, a garden can produce a lot of "waste." Learn how to add all that good organic material back into your soil by composting in place!

Winter Squash ID and Guide
Winter Squash ID and Guide

There are SO MANY winter squash in the world, and so few recipes that call for anything but butternut or acorn!

A Dementia Friendly Garden
A Dementia Friendly Garden

Missoula Aging Services partners with Garden City Harvest to create a garden space intended for adults with dementia and their caregivers.

Dried Flowers
Dried Flowers

Who doesn’t love flowers? There’s nothing I love more than wandering around one of our neighborhood farms or gardens mid-summer and admiring the pops of color and intricate details of the different flower varieties. But those days seem far away when fall and winter roll around. Luckily, there’s a way to have gorgeous flowers year-round - and it doesn’t involve shipping them across the world!

Veggies For Breakfast
Veggies For Breakfast

Are you looking to fit an extra serving of veggies into your day? Try breakfast! Here are a variety of breakfast recipes loaded with vegetables and fiber.

Farm Party Recipe: it's a Mystery!
Farm Party Recipe: it's a Mystery!

Paige Pitzer of Riversong Gourmet has a deep-rooted connection to food. Growing up on a farm, she nurtured a palate for fresh ingredients, and experienced how food nourishes people, connection, and community. We couldn’t resist asking Paige about her highly anticipated Blueberry BBQ sauce that she’s making for the Farm Party. With a touch of mystery, here’s what she had to say:

Conversation with a Youth Farmer
Conversation with a Youth Farmer

Do you remember your first job? For many, working on a farm building your job skills while also growing thousands of pounds of vegetables for your local community is an uncommon answer!