Links
This page contains links to various organizations working on sustainable food and farming issues. Click on the organization's name to reach their web-site or contact information.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO)
AERO is a Montana based non-profit grassroots membership organization dedicated to sustainable resource use and community vitality. We promote sustainable agriculture, “smart growth” planning and transportation alternatives, renewable energy and conservation, environmental quality, and community self-reliance.
Clark Fork Coalition
The Clark Fork Coalition is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Clark Fork River basin, which stretches from Butte, Montana to Sandpoint, Idaho. As a member-supported group of citizens, scientists, recreationists, and business leaders, the Coalition focuses on a simple vision: protect the clean water and river life that is here; restore what should be here and is not. The Clark Fork River Market, western Montana’s newest farmers’market situated in downtown Missoula, opened its inaugural season in June of 2005. Created through the cooperation of Missoula’s long-standing famers’ market on North Higgins Ave., the Missoula Downtown Association, the City of Missoula, and the Clark Fork Coalition, the market was an instant success. It is located next to the river in Caras Park and is a lively and scenic setting for buying locally-produced meat products, fresh and local foods, flowers, baked goods, and other wares from area artisans.
Five Valleys Land Trust
Five Valleys Land Trust encourages and accepts conservation easements on property with important natural values. Once obtaining a conservation easement, FVLT provides long term stewardship of the protected land so the natural values are preserved in accordance with landowner wishes. The Land Trust also helps provide focus for grass-roots conservation initiatives which seek to protect open space and natural areas at the community level.
Grow Montana
Grow Montana is a broad-based coalition whose common purpose is to enable Montana's food producers to meet more of our state's food needs. We promote economic development policies that support sustainable Montana-owned food production, processing, and distribution, and that improve all of our citizens' access to Montana foods.
Missoula Office of Planning and Grants
The Missoula Office of Planning and Grants provides planning, program development and implementation services to the citizens and elected officials of the City and County of Missoula. The Office of Planning and Grants engages in natural resources and land-use planning, community development activities, and grant programs that effectively improve the health, safety, and welfare of Missoula County residents.
Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation (MIST)
The vision of MIST is: Communities around the world with active walking and cycling cultures. Excellent transit systems that run on clean energy. Bicycle station and car share options. Safe and fluid vehicle movement. Networks of greenway corridors that connect people and open space. A global awareness of transportation issues and impacts.
Missoula County Extension Office
The MSU Extension Service is an educational resource dedicated to improving the quality of people’s lives by providing research-based knowledge to strengthen the social, economic, and environmental well-being of families, communities, and agricultural enterprises. The Missoula Extension office operates the Master Gardener and Weed District Programs. The Extension office also offers advice on food safety, canning, household financing, and cleaning.
Montana Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.
North-Missoula Community Development Corporation (NMCDC)
NMCDC's vision is to build a healthy neighborhood with opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to live, work and play. The mission is to build from community strengthens to form partnerships for neighborhood revitalization.
Sustainable Business Council
A Non-profit Network of Individuals, Businesses, and Organizations
working towards a sustainable economy in Western Montana, by promoting the economic benefits of a clean and healthful environment; educating individuals, organizations, and businesses about efficient resource use; and facilitating the adoption of economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable business practices.
University of Montana, School of Social Work
The challenging terrain of social work practice calls for a particular kind of practitioner- one who is prepared to address issues of poverty, oppression, and social injustice confronting many residents of the region; one who engages individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in the process of strengthening personal capacities, social programs, and public policies; and one who recognizes the inseparability of private troubles and public issues. The University of Montana’s MSW program and its concentration in advanced integrated practice is a logical and appropriate response to these special needs and challenges.
LOCAL FOOD/FARMS/COOPERATIVES
Garden City Harvest CSA
The Farm CSA grows 80 organic shares at its 6.5 acre Rattlesnake farm. PEAS and Youth Harvest students help to grow these vegetables and flowers throughout the summer. CSA is a food distribution model where you receive a portion of the farm’s harvest each week during the summer. The weekly allotment of produce is called a share. Different vegetables become available as the garden grows and crops are ready to be harvested. A share will feed a typical family of four each week.
Montana Sustainable Grower's Union
The Montana Sustainable Growers' Union brings local growers and customers together to improve the sustainability of their farms and communities. We are a group of local farmers who all farm within a 75 mile radius of Missoula and market in the state.
Western Montana Growers Cooperative
The Western Montana Growers Cooperative (WMGC) is a coalition of growers in the Flathead, Jocko, Mission and Bitterroot Valleys, as well as Belt, MT, whose goal is to provide the wholesale market in the Western region of Montana with fresh, quality products from their farms. To reach that goal, the cooperative provides a wholesale marketing and delivery service for its members.
Missoula Community Market
The Missoula Community Market, formerly known as the Missoula Food Co-op, is founded on the principles of cooperation, local sustainability, and economic justice. They are dedicated to affordable access to quality food and supporting our Montana producers. The Market's "working membership" will keep prices fair while encouraging member participation in daily operations.
FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Missoula Food Bank
The Missoula Food Bank distributes emergency food supplies to individuals and families and strives to reduce the incidence of hunger through a community of volunteers and resources.
WIC Program -- Public Health Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
Food, nutrition counseling, and access to health services are provided to low-income women, infants, and children under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Poverello Center
The Poverello Center Inc. is a non-profit organization whose intention is to understand and meet the needs of homeless clients as well as to understand the larger causes of poverty and homelessness in the community.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRICULTURE
Clark Fork Organics
Clark Fork Organics is a certified organic farm that provides produce for the farmers’ market, groceries and restaurants in the Missoula area. Clark Fork Organics also hosts summer interns and provides educational opportunities involving sustainable agriculture.
Garden City Harvest (GCH)
GCH is a collaborative effort working to provide high quality produce to Missoulians in need while educating the Missoula community and University of Montana students about sustainable food systems and agriculture. this is accomplished through these vital programs: Community Gardens, GCH/EVST PEAS Farm, and Youth Harvest.
University of Montana, Environmental Studies Program
Sustainable Food and Farming emphasis: Students have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary studies of our food system and participate in community-based action research projects. In addition, through the Program in Ecological Agriculture and Society (PEAS Farm) students gain hands-on experience growing organic food for low-income people at an urban, community farm.
CITIZEN HEALTH
Missoula City-County Environmental Health Division
A comprehensive resource providing both links and up to date news regarding personal and environmental health in Missoula county.
The Health Promotion Division is one of four divisions of the Missoula City/County Health Department. They focus on four areas: infectious diseases, chronic disease and injury prevention, community health assessment and emergency planning.
MOVE Program: Nutrition and Physical Activity Project
MOVE coordinates three networks targeting families with children from birth to age eighteen, focused on nutrition, physical activity and intervention. The organization sponsors several programs in Missoula that are centered around obesity prevention.
NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS
Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC)
The Community Food Security Coalition is a non-profit 501(c)(3), North American organization dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. We seek to develop self-reliance among all communities in obtaining their food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability.
State and Local Food Policy Project
Through a partnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency and the National Agricultural Law Center, The State and Local Food Policy Project provides resources and support for the development of food policy councils. This site is a clearinghouse of information on the development of food policy councils and features education and outreach materials, reports, and publications. Drake University Agricultural Law Center in collaboration with non-profit organizations and state and local governments throughout the U.S. has developed an extensive initiative on food and agriculture policy.
The Coalition on Human Needs
The Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations working together to promote public policies that address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable people.
