Glendive, MT

The extension service is encouraging farmers to try varieties of beans, onions and other vegetables to take the place of sugar beets that they are no longer growing. The Lower Yellowstone valley, from Hardin to Sidney has the most growing degree days in the state and is capable of providing produce for a sustainable local food system. Food travels an average of 1500 miles to get to our table in Montana. In the 1950s Montanans produced 70% of what we ate. It’s now down to 10%. Montana ag producers ship their commodities out by the semi-load or boxcar. We would like to ad value to that instate and make Montana food available locally. On a small scale, Western Trails Food is a model for doing just that.

The prison is modeling these garden techniques and using the food raised for their consumption. It is a privilege to work outside and since the prisons have nothing but time, there is not a weed to be found. The governor endorses this project.

The John Paul Bakers donated land for a community garden by Albertsons. Bruce Smith designed the plots and tilled the garden. A well was dug but had some problems. A deer fence will keep out the critters. About 20 took advantage of garden plots with more taking advantage next year when the garden and water will be ready in the spring. In March 2009 a high hoop tunnel will be erected so vegetables can be started early. Members of the Mormon Church took several plots so they could give fresh produce to the needy.

Your donation can help create a legacy in Dawson. The Greater Glendive Community Foundation was started to make our community sustainable and to have a plan for giving instead of crisis fundraising for needy community projects. $70 million dollars is going to transfer from the older generation in the next 10 years in Dawson County. Our long term goal is to capture 5% of the transfer of wealth in order to help with community projects.

Because of generous donors, GGCF has been able to help refurbish the Community Concert grand piano at DCHS, given to the Brett Fitch Skate Park, beautification, Parent Resource Center, Kool Kids’ playground equipment, Special Olympics equestrian program, and added “Home of the Miss MT Scholarship Program” to two Glendive billboards, to name a few projects. Thanks to the Lees, we also sponsored a wonderful reception at the Charley Montana B&B to recognize the organizations who received Greater Glendive Community Foundation funds to jumpstart projects to improve Glendive. We also helped coordinate Marsha Goetting’s Estate Planning Seminar in October. This past 13 months, the Greater Glendive Community Foundation provided a total of $5375 in grants to support nine organizations. Tax deductible donations can be made to GGCF, Box 1122, Glendive, MT 59330.

We’ve come a long way since the dream of a sustainable local food system for Montanans, Glendive’s farm-to-table project, was hatched or sprouted as a way to reduce poverty in 2005. It has blossomed into the Western Trails Food hulless barley and bean food production and packaging business www.westerntrailsfood.com, a Saturday’s farmers market in Glendive, the purchase of a 14,000 square foot building and a community garden, to name a few.

As of December 2008 interested folks can now pony up $500 to buy a share of the Farm-to-Table Cooperative. WWW.FARMTOTABLECOOP.COMThose not in production can buy preferred shares. The ag marketing co-op will get ag products in a 150 mile radius into area restaurants and stores. The commercial kitchen is getting set up in the EPEC, The architectural plans are drawn for the local, seasonable food restaurant and microbrewery that will overlook the Yellowstone River. The consultant feasibility study shows this is financially sound even before we add a culinary arts training program with internships. The prison has started a garden and high hoop tunnels to lengthen the growing season. Culinary training for prisoners may be a viable skillset. Farm to Table won a Great Strides grant from the NWAF to continue their efforts. The money has helped spread the local food passion statewide.

” alt=”Brenda builds people gate” />On a beautiful Sunday afternoon as September slipped into October, Shane and Brenda Mischel and Peggy Iba added narrow access gates to the fences and gates that were keeping the cows in, four-wheelers and walkers out. Now there is permanent access for the walkers on the Jaycee West Park Dike loop. As part of a Paddlefish Grant the walking path afficionados purchased the materials and followed plans from the extension service, with the approval of West Glendive Public Works.

Everyone is encouraged to go out and enjoy the 2 mile walk. You can access the dike from Jaycee West Park or you can start from the back parking lot of MaddHatters. Walking paths were one of the community projects that came out of the Horizons leadership program funded by the Northwest Area Foundation in 2005.