Putting ‘Garden’ Back in The Garden City
by jhwygirl
If you watched the video my last post, you found out that what birthed 1,000 New Gardens, Missoula was a dinner meeting between Max Smith, a UM student and Geoff Badenoch (Missoula’s perennial board member of just about everything) where the topic of discussion was preservation of agricultural lands out in the county. A simple question “What about looking inward?” – in February of this year – turned into a collaborative effort between a number of eager and willing volunteers and 10 test plots.
Starting a garden is the hardest part. Ripping out sod, removing large rocks, preparing the soil…lots of work, and way to much for many to take on solely by themselves.
Think about it: How many good ideas have you had over dinner with friends? And how many of them actually result in something real, on the ground?
No wonder Badenoch looks so satisfied. Good hard work is especially satisfying:
1,000 New Gardens, Missoula is partnered up with two other sustainability superstars: MUD (the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project) and Home Resource. MUD is an excellent local resource for all things sustainable – their tool-lending program is gold. Pure gold.
Home Resources takes building materials and recycles them by resale. Another awesome resource – I know many friends who own their own homes who always look there first for many of their home projects.
These guys and gals are already planning gardens for next year. I bet the fall dinner party is going to be fabulous.
As I asked yesterday – if this project was able to fly with less than $150 bucks, imagine what they could do with the $10,000 prize from Advanta?
Weekends are pretty slow around here – especially when the weather is great. Surely 4&20 readers can help get this project over the top. Email a link to this post around, too. There are just two days left to vote, people – please take the time to register at Idea Blob and then vote for 1,000 New Gardens, Missoula to help them get this sustainability project the solid-footing that it deserves to keep The Garden City truly The Garden City.
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[...] And I’ll just bet it’s the same with all the kids whose parents are starting or maintaining their own gardens. Fortunately, we have a helpful new resource in the form of 1,000 New Gardens Missoula. 4 & 20 blackbirds has more on the story here. [...]