Garden City Harvest

What Garden City Harvest does

Garden City Harvest is a Montana-based nonprofit organization (Garden City Harvest, Inc.; Tax ID 81-0510580) founded in 1996 and headquartered at 1657 River Road, Missoula. It operates 22 farms and gardens across Missoula — four production-oriented neighborhood farms (PEAS Farm, River Road Farm, Orchard Gardens, Youth Farm) and 12+ community garden sites — providing CSA farm shares, garden plot rentals, K-12 food education, youth workforce development, and produce donations to food-security partners. The underlying "technology" is sustainable urban agriculture: organic cultivation without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, season extension via hoophouses and greenhouses, and on-farm seed saving.

The organization's business model is hybrid subscription + charitable. CSA farm shares run 18 weeks (June-October) at $405 (small) to $625 (large), with sliding-scale ($200-$625) and EBT/SNAP acceptance at Orchard Gardens; community garden plots rent for $45-$85 per season on sliding scale; special-event flower buckets sell at $45-$60 plus deposit; and the balance of operating funding comes from individual donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsors, and Farm to School programming delivered to Missoula County Public Schools. Garden City Harvest donates a meaningful portion of farm output to the Missoula Food Bank (15,000+ lbs from PEAS, 5,000 lbs from Orchard Gardens) and the Poverello Center and Soft Landing Missoula (4,000-6,000 lbs from River Road).

Customer segments include CSA members (consumers), 400+ community gardeners, 6,000+ K-12 students, at-risk teens employed at Youth Farm, food-insecure residents receiving donations, and corporate volunteer groups via Grow Team. Distribution is exclusively local and physical — farm pickup for CSA, on-site rental for plots, and direct produce handoff to nonprofit partners — with no e-commerce or shipping channel. The operating footprint is intentionally constrained to Missoula, Montana, and the model is not designed for geographic replication in a venture-style sense, but rather for deepening community penetration through new sites (East Missoula Community Garden, 2025) and new program layers (School Orchard, 2026; artist-in-residence programming, 2026).

Name

Garden City Harvest

Legal name

Garden City Harvest, Inc.

Website

https://gardencityharvest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Garden City Harvest is a Missoula, Montana-based nonprofit operating 22 urban farms and community gardens that deliver CSA farm shares, garden plot rentals, K-12 food education, youth workforce development, and produce donations to food-security partners across the city.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture and Community Farming Services

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs) (HSAIAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seasonal Color, Planting & Horticultural Services (BPABADAL), Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Seasonal Color & Flower Rotation (Spring/Fall Plantings) (HSAIAFAE)

Keywords

• Community supported agriculture
• Urban farm management
• Community garden rentals
• Farm to school education
• Youth development farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. CSA Farm Share Subscriptions: Seasonal subscription program (18 weeks, June-October) at four neighborhood farms. Members pay upfront for weekly produce pickup. Revenue supports farm operations and enables early-season purchasing of seeds and supplies.
2. Community Garden Plot Rentals: Annual rental of garden plots across 12 community garden sites. Sliding scale pricing ($45-$85 per season) plus $25 deposit. Includes access to tools, compost, water, and community resources.
3. Special Event Flower Sales: Bucket sales of flowers for weddings and special events (July-September). U-pick option at $45/bucket or we-pick at $60/bucket with $15 deposit per bucket.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Major donor program and annual giving campaigns support nonprofit operations.
5. Farm to School Program: Educational programming in Missoula County Public Schools. May be partially funded through school partnerships or grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Garden City Harvest operates 22 community farms and gardens across Missoula, Montana, providing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm shares (18-week seasonal subscriptions), community garden plot rentals on a sliding scale, hands-on Farm to School education reaching 2,400+ students annually, a Youth Farm employment program for at-risk teens, seed library access, and seasonal flower sales. The organization grows organic produce without synthetic chemicals and donates over 20,000 pounds annually to local food assistance agencies.

Product overview

Garden City Harvest operates a multi-faceted urban agriculture nonprofit centered in Missoula, Montana, offering community garden plots at 12 locations, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm shares from four neighborhood farms (Orchard Gardens, PEAS Farm, River Road Farm, and Youth Farm), Farm to School educational programming, a Youth Development employment program, and seasonal flower sales. The organization provides free seeds through the Five Valleys Seed Library and offers corporate volunteer experiences through its Grow Team program. Community Gardens and CSA Farm Shares form the core service offerings, with neighborhood farms serving as both production sites and educational hubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CSA Farm Shares Community Supported Agriculture subscription offering 18-week vegetable shares (June through October) from four neighborhood farms. Members pay upfront and pick up their weekly produce directly at the farm. Includes pick-your-own flowers and offers large shares (350+ pounds, $625), small shares (60% of large, $405), and sliding-scale pricing ($200-$625) at Orchard Gardens based on household income with EBT/SNAP acceptance.
• Community Garden Plot Rentals Annual rental of garden plots across 12+ community garden sites in Missoula, providing space, water, tools, compost, and community resources for individuals and families to grow their own food. Full plots are approximately 15'x15' and half plots approximately 10'x10'. Annual fees on sliding scale ($45-$85) plus $25 refundable deposit. Season commitment runs April through October.
• Farm to School Education Program Hands-on educational program in Missoula County Public Schools and on neighborhood farms. Manages 8 school gardens, teaches in every second grade classroom, and buses approximately 2,400 students annually to PEAS Farm for field trips. Reaches 6,000+ students in total across Farm to School programming including school gardens, classroom education, and summer camps.
• Youth Farm Employment Program Youth development program operating the Youth Farm in partnership with Youth Homes (since 2010), employing teens aging out of foster care (typically ages 16-18) from Youth Homes group homes. Provides first-job experience, life skills training, job skills, mentorship, and community connection through farm work on a 2+ acre farm with 64 summer CSA shares. Teens gain real work experience and deliver produce to community partners through the Mobile Market program.
• Special Event Flower Sales U-pick and we-pick flower bucket sales for weddings and special occasions, available July through September at neighborhood farms. Sold by five-gallon bucket at $45 U-pick or $60 we-pick with $15 refundable bucket deposit. Provides locally-grown, sustainable flowers as an alternative to conventional florist supply chains.
• Five Valleys Seed Library Community seed lending program hosted at River Road office, allowing community members to borrow seeds seasonally (up to 12 packets per household) and return saved seeds to keep varieties in circulation. Supports seed saving and local adaptation of plant varieties. Hosts seed swap events throughout the year.
• Grow Team Corporate Volunteer Program Corporate and group volunteer workdays at farms and community gardens offering team-building opportunities for businesses and organizations while supporting local food system operations. Engages 150+ individual volunteers annually through volunteer programs like Volunteer for Veggies.
• PEAS Farm Operations Ten-acre urban farm in Upper Rattlesnake partnered with University of Montana Environmental Studies program to create an outdoor classroom. Grows a minimum of 15,000 pounds of produce annually donated to Missoula Food Bank. Offers large CSA shares only and serves as the primary field trip destination for 2,400 students annually.
• River Road Farm Operations Foundational farm established in 1996 offering summer and winter CSA shares, community garden plots, and the Volunteer for Veggies program. Produces 4,000-6,000 pounds of produce annually for Soft Landing Missoula and Poverello Center. Houses the Five Valleys Seed Library and serves as the headquarters location.
• Orchard Gardens Neighborhood Farm One-acre neighborhood farm and community garden at 210 Grove Street in the Orchard Homes affordable housing development, created in 2005 in partnership with Homeword. Offers 18 CSA shares on a sliding scale with EBT/SNAP acceptance, community plots, and produces 5,000 pounds of produce annually for Missoula Food Bank. Includes a farm stand serving affordable housing residents and operates greenhouse growing starts for other Garden City Harvest farms.
• Community Education Workshops Educational workshops and programming for community gardeners and CSA members covering gardening techniques, recipes, and seasonal eating. Includes 'The Real Dirt' blog content and supplementary resources to support new and experienced gardeners throughout the growing season.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ pounds of produce donated to Missoula Food Bank annually from PEAS Farm alone
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Youth HomescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Core partnership since 2010 to operate the Youth Farm, employing teens from Youth Homes group homes. Garden City Harvest provides farm operations and employment while Youth Homes provides youth participants.
• HomewordcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Partnership created in 2005 to develop Orchard Gardens Neighborhood Farm and Community Garden at an affordable housing development in the Orchard Homes neighborhood.
• University of Montana Environmental Studies ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership creates outdoor classroom at PEAS Farm where university students learn farm ecology, soil science, sustainability, and community through hands-on work.
• Soft Landing MissoulacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2019 to support immigrant and refugee resettlement. River Road Farm produces 4,000-6,000 pounds of produce annually for Soft Landing Missoula.
• Missoula Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEAS Farm donates minimum 15,000 pounds of produce annually; Orchard Gardens supplies 5,000 pounds annually. Primary recipient of farm produce donations.
• Five Valleys Seed LibrarycoreOthersGarden City Harvest serves as a home site for the Five Valleys Seed Library at its River Road office. Hosts seed swap events and provides space for seed library operations.
• Missoula County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for Farm to School programming. Manages 8 school gardens, teaches in every second grade classroom, and buses 2,400 students annually to PEAS Farm for field trips.
• Poverello CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiver Road Farm produces 4,000-6,000 pounds of produce annually for the Poverello Center, which serves homeless individuals in Missoula.
• Missoula Aging ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Farm crew participates in Congregate Meals program, preparing and serving meals with seniors twice yearly.
• Missoula Urban Indian Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Farm's Mobile Market program delivers produce to seniors at Missoula Urban Indian Health Center.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Green: National nonprofit that builds and supports Learning Gardens in schools, delivering food education and outdoor classrooms; directly comparable to Garden City Harvest's Farm to School program and school garden management across the U.S.
• Keep Growing Detroit: Detroit urban agriculture nonprofit running community gardens, farm training, and a Garden Resource Program supporting hundreds of family gardeners — similar multi-program nonprofit farming model with strong food-access mission.
• Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education: Pennsylvania nonprofit offering farm-based education, workshops, and community gardens on a working farm — comparable educational farm mission, though smaller and on a single site.
• P-Patch Community Gardens: Seattle's municipal-supported network of 90+ community gardens with plot rental, events, and youth programming; directly comparable as a large-scale community garden rental organization, though city-operated rather than nonprofit-run.
• Denver Urban Gardens: Denver-based nonprofit operating a network of community gardens and urban farms with educational programming, sliding-scale offerings, and donation programs — the closest direct analog to Garden City Harvest's community garden + farm + education model.
• Local Matters: Columbus, OH nonprofit focused on food education, cooking classes, and food access — directly comparable to Garden City Harvest's Farm to School programming and community education/workshop offerings.
• Cultivate Kansas City: Kansas City nonprofit supporting urban farms, community gardens, and farmer training with a focus on food access — closely matched urban agriculture nonprofit operating across multiple sites in a single metro.
• Southside Community Land Trust: Providence, RI nonprofit operating urban farms, community gardens, and youth education programs (including the widely cited "Young Maker" youth employment model) — closely comparable integrated food production + youth development nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• The Food Trust: Philadelphia-based national food-access nonprofit running farmers' markets, nutrition incentive programs, and food education — broader incumbent in food access / nutrition with overlapping CSA and school programming.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit scaling food-access nutrition incentive programs (SNAP doubling at farmers markets, produce prescriptions) — adjacent broader incumbent in food access that interfaces with CSAs like those Garden City Harvest runs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/gcharvest
• Facebookfacebook.com/garden.city.harvest
• Pinterestpinterest.com/gcharvest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garden-city-harvest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garden City Harvest