As winter settles over Missoula and fields across the valley rest for the season, it is a fitting moment to reflect on a year of meaningful growth for Garden City Harvest. For nearly three decades, the organization has connected Missoulians through food, land, and shared learning. In 2025, that work reached new milestones, deepening food access, expanding community spaces, and strengthening local connections.
A New Community Hub in East Missoula
One of the most significant developments of the year was the opening of the East Missoula Community Garden at Lions Park in May. The new site filled a long-standing gap in fresh food access for the neighborhood and quickly became a shared gathering space. Raised beds, communal berry patches, and a native pollinator garden transformed previously unused land into a productive and welcoming place. By late summer, gardeners who began the season with bare soil were harvesting tomatoes, squash, and greens.
With this addition, Garden City Harvest now stewards nearly 20 community gardens across Missoula, reinforcing its goal of making growing space accessible within walking distance of as many residents as possible.
More Than Garden Plots
While community gardens are the most visible part of Garden City Harvest’s work, the organization operates a broader ecosystem of programs that support food access, education, and workforce development.
The Youth Farm, run in partnership with Youth Homes, provides paid and therapeutic employment for teens navigating major life transitions. In 2025, youth crews managed a two acre farm while building job skills and confidence, with much of the food they grew distributed through mobile markets and donation programs.
Through Farm to School, thousands of Missoula County Public Schools students visited the PEAS Farm, using the 10 acre site as a living classroom to learn about soil, ecosystems, and where food comes from. At the same time, Neighborhood Farms across the city produced thousands of pounds of food for CSA shares and local food access partners, helping keep fresh produce circulating within the community.
Community Gatherings and Creative Fundraisers
The 2025 season also marked a strong return to in person events that blend celebration with community support. Farm Party 20 at the PEAS Farm brought neighbors together in August for food, music, and fundraising in support of youth programs, neighborhood farms, and community gardens.
Throughout the fall, Garden City Harvest partnered with local venues and businesses to raise funds and awareness. A fundraiser at the Top Hat and a Community Hand Up Night at The Dram Shop offered low barrier ways for residents to give back while enjoying local gathering spaces. Seasonal events like the Pumpkin Party and Sip and Shop pop up market highlighted the creative and joyful side of local food systems, inviting all ages to connect with farms, artists, and growers.
Learning and Looking Ahead to 2026
Although the growing season has ended, Garden City Harvest continues to engage the community year round. The organization’s on demand workshops and The Real Dirt blog offer winter friendly resources, from planning seed orders to cooking with storage crops like garlic and onions.
Looking ahead, the 2026 winter and spring workshop series is expected to launch in February, covering topics such as starting seeds indoors and gardening in Missoula’s short growing season. Registration for community garden plots will open in the spring, with sites often filling quickly as interest continues to grow.
Getting Involved
Garden City Harvest’s impact depends on community participation. Sliding scale CSA shares, volunteer work parties, donations, and event attendance all help keep farms and gardens accessible to a wide range of Missoulians. As the organization prepares for another growing season, its work continues to demonstrate how local food systems can strengthen resilience by bringing people together around shared land, shared harvests, and a shared commitment to community well being.
For more information on gardens, workshops, or upcoming events, visit gardencityharvest.org.
