“Despite the many different opinions and ideas about what should and shouldn’t happen in our community, I would wager a bucket of potatoes (Purple Peruvian, Yukon Gold, Russets, and Pink Fingerlings) that we could all agree that our families need access to food,” wrote Jill Russell Max in her 2009 article “Growing Food Grows Community.”

Milltown Garden Patch Revives Community Gardens

Local food production is one of the best ways to live sustainably. Some prefer “buying local” at a grocery store or farmers’ market. For others, a garden is a great way to grow not only food, but friendships and community as well.

Thanks to the vision and determination of Billy Izard, the Milltown Garden Patch made reality the dream of reestablishing a community garden which has been missing from our area since a mill expansion occupied the beloved Community Gardens as described by local writer Jen Slayden in her article “Digging Up the Dirt in Milltown.”

Take a virtual visit to the Milltown Garden Patch

billy and c... water_shed Garden Patc... pumpkin pat... yum looking_for... milltown-ga... salad 026_f_d cheers 2 037_i_d 034_g_d

MGP - Growing

The Milltown Garden Patch promotes healthy, sustainable living and helps foster community growth in several ways. Local residents can rent garden plots to grow their own organic produce, which promotes a healthy lifestyle by increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables at the dinner table. Growing local produce can help reduce our carbon footprints by avoiding the costs and resources associated with purchasing produce at the grocery store (where it is often shipped from places as far away as Mexico!). MGP is also attempting to reduce its own carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources to power the irrigation systems.

MGP - Teaching

MGP is currently developing educational and outreach programs in conjunction with the Bonner School and the AWARE program for local youth. These programs are designed to provide local students with practical learning opportunities and a safe, healthy, and positive hobby that can benefit the entire community. Local students have been involved with several activities including 1) building and decorating a float for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, 2) working at the garden on various construction projects, and 3) working together to host a hugely successful ice-cream social to serve as a fundraiser for the garden.

MPG - Sharing

MGP is partnering with the newly formed East Missoula Food Bank to provide fresh produce to local at-need families. In the garden’s first year it donated approximately 150 pounds of fresh produce to the Missoula Food Bank. With the recent formation of this local food bank serving the residents of the Bonner/Milltown area, the garden plans to increase its production of produce for donation, thereby providing much needed assistance to many local residents. It is the goal of MGP to be able to use gardening as a tool to promote education, healthy living, and community cohesiveness.

Friends of 2 Rivers appreciates and supports the Milltown Garden Patch as an important thread in the fabric of our community. Whether you are a gardener, a supporter of local education and anti-hunger efforts, or you just really like the resourced windmill and what it symbolizes for our community, please support the Milltown Garden Patch.