AERO 2023 Jane Kile Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Helena Community Gardens
“Housing has gotten so expensive that some people have had to move out of their homes, where they had their garden, and into an apartment,” described Helena Community Gardens Executive Director Sheri Steckler. Across the country, the cost of living is skyrocketing, forcing many people to downsize accommodation. In the city of Helena, Montana’s state capitol, this trend holds true. Unfortunately, it’s one of the many reasons community members seek plot space in one of ten gardens across the city managed by Helena Community Gardens.
Each year, Helena Community Gardens (HCG) provides over 200 individuals with garden space, tools, and educational resources, towards the goal of increasing access to healthy and affordable food. Many plots have handicap-accessible spaces, and each garden provides unique opportunities for the neighborhood it’s in. Gardeners can keep anything they grow, and often have an abundance to share with friends and family, neighbors, or donate to the local Helena Food Share. On average, the gardens collectively donate over 7,000 lbs of produce annually to Helena Food Share.
The gardens also have benefits beyond food. They provide gardeners with a sense of community, and a little bit of outdoor therapy. “Gardeners come for a variety of reasons, some want to dig in the dirt with their kids and instill a sense of connection to the land and healthy food at an early age; many come simply for stress relief; while others garden with the focus on maximizing production to share the produce with others,” noted HCG volunteer board member and garden manager, Jake Mohrmann. “HCG provided the tools and soil to connect people to gardening, and we strongly believe that through gardening we build a stronger community.”
“Gardeners come for a variety of reasons, some want to dig in the dirt with their kids and instill a sense of connection to the land and healthy food at an early age; many come simply for stress relief; while others garden with the focus on maximizing production to share the produce with others”
Jake mOHRMANN, hcg bOARD mEMBER AND gaRDEN mANAGER
HCG is the 2023 recipient of the AERO Jane Kile Memorial Scholarship. Funding through the scholarship is awarded for projects that seek to be part of the solution for a more sustainable Montana, supported by an endowment made in honor of early-AERO member Jane Kile, a conservationist and pioneer in Montana’s organic and community-supported agriculture movements. HCG plans to use their $600 grant to purchase wheelbarrows for shared use amongst their gardeners. “Having equipment available for gardeners to use is one of the most fundamental pieces of what makes community gardening successful,” comments Jake. “Backyard gardeners each need their own individual shovel, rake, wheelbarrow, etc., while community gardens can pool resources for a common good.”
As part of their efforts to build a stronger community, HCG aims to have a garden within a mile walking distance from every household. “I can see with the cost of living on the rise, that more and more people might be seeking out garden plots in the future,” observes Sheri. While anyone can apply for a garden plot, many gardens are already at capacity, or sport a waitlist. Priority is given to returning gardeners, leaving any available plots to be claimed by new applicants in the spring, on a first-come-first-serve basis.
However, applicants who aren’t able to secure a plot still have many opportunities to get involved. Volunteers are readily welcomed, and activities could range from working in garden plots or teaching a class, to distributing food or helping with fundraising. In order to provide garden plot scholarships and keep the gardens and equipment maintained, HCG must raise half its budget through donations and grants, such as the Jane Kile Memorial Scholarship.
AERO is delighted to partner with HCG towards food access and community development, and looks forward to seeing the gardens expand across the city. You can learn more about Helena Community Gardens, their goals, and how to get involved at helenagardens.org
AERO’s Jane Kile Memorial Scholarship is available annually to residents who are active stewards of Montana lands, a farm or agricultural operation, or their local community food system. Learn more and submit an application for the 2024 Jane Kile Memorial Scholarship at: aeromt.org/jane-kile.
Photos courtesy of Helena Community Gardens.
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