Missoula, MT – After years of being isolated from basic resources, East Missoula is about to see a long-awaited change with the opening of the East Missoula Community Garden on May 3. The new garden will provide residents with an opportunity to grow their own fresh food, connect with their neighbors, and combat the food scarcity that has plagued the area for years.
East Missoula, long considered a food desert, has no grocery stores within close proximity, leaving many residents reliant on gas stations for their food. The area is also home to a significant number of people who struggle with transportation, making trips to the nearest grocery store in Missoula a challenging task.
For years, residents of East Missoula have had to make do without easy access to fresh food, with some relying on overpriced, processed items found in gas station convenience stores. Richard Fifield, an East Missoula community member, noted that many of the area’s youth have grown up without ever eating anything other than gas station snacks. “The kids that I met when I moved here, who were 3 or 4 years old, are now 20, and they’ve never eaten anything but stuff they’ve got from the gas station, which is twice as expensive and full of high-fructose corn syrup,” Fifield said.
The idea of creating a community garden in East Missoula has been in the works for over a decade, with the concept first introduced by Eikra Hickey of East Missoula United. The nonprofit group had initially formed to rally against plans to build storage units in the heart of East Missoula, but the need for a community garden soon gained traction. “Whenever we would talk about the garden, everyone was really excited about it,” Hickey recalled. “It just makes sense to have another way for people to share community that’s positive out here.”
The initiative to create a garden in East Missoula gained momentum when East Missoula United partnered with Garden City Harvest and Missoula County to make the vision a reality. Garden City Harvest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing fresh food to the Missoula community, has been a key player in the project. Since its founding in 1996, Garden City Harvest has grown from a small food bank garden to an expansive network of 22 garden sites throughout Missoula, producing over 20,000 pounds of food annually.
Jean Zosel, the Executive Director of Garden City Harvest, emphasized the importance of community involvement in the new garden. “We provide all the tools, compost, water, and sometimes seeds and starts, along with additional resources to help families,” Zosel explained. The organization currently operates 12 community gardens, and the East Missoula garden will add to that total, giving locals a chance to rent plots and grow their own food.
The East Missoula Community Garden, located in Lions Park, will feature 45 plots, including raised beds designed to accommodate residents with mobility challenges. The parkland’s location and access to water were key factors in the decision to move forward with the project. Despite initial hurdles, including a windstorm that damaged newly installed fencing and the challenge of securing funding, the community rallied behind the effort.
Funding for the $100,000 project came from various sources, including grants, donations, and community fundraising efforts. Habitat for Humanity assisted by building the tool shed, while Lowe’s contributed wood for the project. Garden City Harvest applied for grants, including Missoula County’s Community Parks & Recreation Grant, to help cover the costs.
While the project faced delays, including a windstorm that destroyed fencing just after it had been installed, the team remained undeterred. “We had just spent $30,000 on fencing, and then a big windstorm came and blew down a bunch of posts and panels. It was a gut punch,” Zosel said. “But we got it fixed, and everything was fine.”
Now that the garden is completed, Zosel is excited about the potential impact it will have on the East Missoula community. “It’s about bringing people greater access to fresh food and creating a place for people to come together,” she said. “We’re really excited about what this garden can do for this neighborhood.”
For Hickey and Fifield, the garden represents more than just an opportunity to grow food—it’s a chance to foster connection and strengthen the community. “I hope we are able to reach people who live in this community and want to grow their own food or want to learn how to grow their own food,” Hickey said. “I think it can really change a lot of people’s lives.”
The grand opening of the East Missoula Community Garden will take place on May 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Garden City Harvest invites all community members to attend the celebration and become part of this new chapter for East Missoula. With the garden now ready to open, it’s a new beginning for the area, bringing not only fresh food but also a renewed sense of hope and unity.
