The Growing Community Project

Education

Education is a big part of the Growing Community Project, and we want to make sure that everyone can garden.

Community Gardens

Community gardens are open to anyone who would like to participate. It's okay if you've never gardened before. We are working on creating a mentoring program, and there is probably someone in the community garden who can help out and answer questions. Is there a community garden in your neighborhood?

Volunteer for Veggies

There are Volunteer for Veggie (VFV) beds located at the Food Share Garden, the Plymouth Garden, and Exploration Garden. Anyone can come to the garden, help weed, water, and harvest, and in return you can take home as many veggies as you need. The rest of the produce is donated to Food Share. There are scheduled hours for volunteers to stop by. Please check the Upcoming Events for days and times.

Community Classes

Every year we host a series of free start-to-finish gardening courses. Last year these included building raised beds, starting a garden, transplanting, composting, canning and preserving, and putting gardens to bed. Please check upcoming events to find out when the next classes are.

Tool Library

Each garden site has a tool shed with communal tools. Tools are expensive, especially if you only use certain ones once or twice a year. This way you can "check out" the tools you need for free.

To rent a plot at any of the gardens please call (406)495-0497.

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Helena Food Share Garden

The Food Share Community Garden is just steps away from Food Share (1616 Lewis St.). Volunteer Joyce Brown began organizing and working with the Growing Community Project and Food Share to build a community garden in 2008. Nearly all of the materials for the garden were generously donated.

Half of the garden is Volunteer for Veggies beds. These beds are open for community members to come and volunteer a little time weeding, watering, and harvesting veggies, and in exchange can take home as many veggies as they need. The rest of the vegetables are donated directly to Food Share.

Thank you so much to everyone who volunteers at the Food Share Garden.  Special thanks to Helena Sand and Gravel, Gold Country Mushroom, Rock Hand Hardware, Mark’s Lumber and all the businesses who donated.

In 2010, the Food Security Council of the Montana Food Bank Network recognized and awarded the Food Share garden as an innovative solution to hunger in Montana!

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Plymouth Garden

This community garden is located on property owned by Plymouth Congregational Church (400 S. Oakes). There are community beds for rent, as well as beds tended specifically for the Helena Food Share.

The garden has been a success because of all the volunteer labor and donated/discounted materials by several local businesses. Special thanks to: Power Townsend, Mark's Lumber, Marks-Miller Post and Pole, Bobcat of Helena, Rock Hand Hardware, ProBuild, Real Food Store and Deli, Valley Farms, Lakshmi Building, Gruber Excavating, Montana Conservation Corps, Habitat for Humanity, Herrin Water Systems, Blackfoot River Brewery, You Got Served youth group and all the volunteers!

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Cooney Home Garden

This garden, located at 2555 E. Broadway, was built in the fall of 2010 with a grant from The Home Depot, as well as volunteer labor from The Home Depot staff GCP supporters, and Cooney Home staff. This garden is in a wonderful location, providing residents of Cooney Home a place to grow some of their own food and a beautiful spot to relax, as well as bringing community members to Cooney Home, building a stronger relationship within the neighborhood.

Thank you to the staff at Cooney Home, The Home Depot, Helena Sand and Gravel, and all the wonderful, enthusiastic volunteers who built this garden so quickly!

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Exploration Garden

Community Works developed the Exploration Garden in the summer of 2005 in cooperation with the Helena Rotary Club and the YMCA. It is an outdoor classroom and exhibit of ExplorationWorks, an interactive children's museum. The garden provides hands-on learning opportunities in the study of plants and botany, health and nutrition, cooking, and environmental sciences.

In 2007 the Growing Community Project began working with ExplorationWorks to expand Exploration Garden to include community beds. Exploration Garden is located right next to the YMCA off of Last Chance Gulch.

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Cruse Overlook Community Garden

The Cruse Overlook Garden is located between St. Paul's United Methodist Church and Sunset Apartments, overlooking Cruse Avenue.

This is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by GCP steering committee member, Les Clark. The garden was designed by Jake Mangum as an Eagle Scout Project, and features eight wheel-chair accessible beds to benefit the residents of Sunset Apartments, as well as the Helena community. St. Paul's United Methodist has offered use of their water and tool shed, and several experienced farmers and gardeners have started a mentoring program for beginning gardeners.

Many thanks to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Sunset Apartments, Jake and Bardel Mangum, Boy Scout Troop 216, Rock Hand Hardware, Helena Sand and Gravel, Valley Excavating, The Mormon Church, Participant businesses in the 2009 Good Eats for Local Feats Fundraiser (Benny's, No Sweat Cafe, The Dive Bakery), and Les Clark.

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Selma Held Garden

Before her recent passing, Selma Held (right) organized her community to develop Beltview Park. Selma worked with the Helena Citizens Council (HCC) and the Helena Parks and Recreation Department to work out a system for developing all the undeveloped parkland in Helena.

The Helena City Commission approved changing the name of Beltview Park to Selma Held Park to honor the amazing work that Selma did moving forward the development of this and other city parks. The Selma Held Community Garden is currently under construction and is a partnership between the Growing Community Project, Friends of Selma Held, and the City of Helena Parks Department. The garden is located on the corner of Beltview and Saddle Drive.

Thank you to Gruber Excavating, AmeriCorps, EnergyCorps, and the Governor’s Office of Community Service, Power Townsend, A-1 Rentals, Home Depot, and the fantastic volunteers!

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Janet Street Garden

This garden is located on Janet Street next to Aspen Village Apartments, an assisted living facility.  Many of the residents helped plan and design the garden and are excited to get their hands in the dirt and grow veggies in 2011.  The garden features wheel-chair accessible beds as well as large ground beds.  The Janet Street Community Garden is currently under construction and is a partnership between the Growing Community Project and the City of Helena Parks Department.

Special thanks to the Montana Conservation Corps for partnering with the Growing Community Project to help build all of our gardens!

There are many ways to get involved in the Growing Community Project:

• Start a community garden in your neighborhood
• Make a donation-

Make checks to: Growing Community Project Mailing address: 32 S. Ewing Suite 109, Helena, MT 59601 or donate through Network For Good

DONATE

Donate an item from our wishlist:

• Scanner
• wheel barrels
  
• Rototillers
• Spare lumber
• Garden tools (shovels, rakes, etc.)
• Video camera

1. Rent a plot in a community garden
2. Come out to help at a work party
3. Take a community class
4. Teach a class on gardening, cooking, or whatever you're skilled in!
5. Be a mentor to a new gardener
6. Volunteer for Veggies
7. Write an editorial supporting the GCP
8. Help plan and participate in events
9. Help organize a fundraiser
10. Become a fan of GCP on Facebook
11. Glean produce for Food Share
12. Get involved in the Helena Citizens Council and your local neighborhood association

Please see upcoming events for more ways to get involved!