City Harvest

I have seen the book, Growing a Garden City by Jeremy N. Smith.  Smith is a local author, and a talented one.  He tells the story of how Missoula has grown a thriving local food economy - one where everyone has the option to eat locally.  Through this book, Missoula has become a national model for food systems.  One of the best parts is the 80+ beautiful photographs by local photographers Sepp Johnson and Chad Harder.  The Booklist review was glowing, and Jane Goodalls' too.  Introduction by Bill McKibben.

But don't take my word for it, as Kristen posted, pick up your own copy next week at the book release party and signing at the Roxy, 7 pm, Thurs, October 7th. 

I work at Garden City Harvest, and we have a gleening program that offers to go clean up apples and other fruits from the yard.  We just started this year's efforts so haven't gotten a huge number of responses thus far.  We donate our cider and quality fruit to local agencies and offer it at our Fall Harvest Festival on October 16th. There certainly are a lot of apples in the area, and many people who want to clean up their yard!  Give us a call at the office if you want to brainstorm options.                                                 

Garden City Harvest hosts this type of thing in two different ways: one at a price (slightly more affordable...) of $100 where we host a chef at one of our farms, our local vineyard, 10 Spoon, offers wine, and guests eat out in the fields.  It is a magical event, and made with local lamb, veggies, and talent, plus it's organized by a local group. 

We also host a farm party at the same farm, for a more affordable price of $15 that includes a farm fresh meal and a local band.  It ends up being a much larger affair...Another idea we have come up with is hosting a farm meal in the mid to late winter, where we cook with all local food - which seems an impossiblity to many - it's the middle of a Montana winter, where nothing is growing.  Our chef, who is also one of our farmers, cooks up food he has put up for the winter into a simple, family style meal.  We're doing it at a local hall this March 21st, and only charging $15.