Harvesting Helena Workshop to Showcase ‘Montana Harvest of the Month,’ Community Food Programs

An August workshop in Helena will offer a day of training and tours for anyone interested in getting more Montana grown and raised food into their community.

The event, Farm to School Workshop: Harvesting Helena, will provide general training on farm to school programs and Montana Harvest of the Month, which promotes Montana foods in Montana communities. Each month, sites taking part in Harvest of the Month spotlight a product grown in the state and serve it in at least one meal, snack, or à la carte offering.

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) coordinates Montana Harvest of the Month in collaboration with Montana Team Nutrition. Helena Food Share, Old Salt Co-op, St. Peter’s Health, and Helena Public Schools are among the other partners hosting the August workshop.

“Helena has a lot going on in the local food space,” said NCAT Local Foods Specialist Molly Kirkham. “Not only do they have their very own Harvest of the Month Community Coordinator, but there are also many Helena-based organizations implementing the program. Folks are especially excited to learn more about the organizations increasing access to local food.”

Kirkham said anyone with an interest in locally grown food is encouraged to attend the event Thursday, August 10, at Central Elementary School, located at 402 North Warren Street. It will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

The workshop will include tours of Old Salt Co-op’s new processing facility, school gardens, Helena Community Gardens, and Helena Food Share’s pantry and mobile kitchen. Along with the tours and training opportunities, there will be time for networking, tasting local foods, and action planning.

The cost for the Farm to School Workshop: Harvesting Helena is $25 for an individual, and some scholarships are available. Registration includes lunch and snacks made with local foods.

For more information on the conference and scholarships and to register, go here: https://mtharvestofthemonth.org/harvestinghelena/ .