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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

Missoula County Department of Ecology & Extension

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Missoula, MT
Missoula County Department of Ecology & Extension

Providing coordination & ed. for land management, youth development and family consumer sciences

09/07/2026

This week at the Exploration Center!

Tuesday: 6 pm - Garden Walk: Dahlias
Thursday: 9 am - Volunteer in the Gardens & 6 pm - Canning Tomatoes
Friday: 12 pm - Tomato Seed Saving
Saturday: 10 am - ReWild Your Yard - SOLD OUT

Visit missoulaeduplace.org to register

09/05/2026

Submission lines are open for the Cool Futures First Friday Art Show! As part of Climate Smart Missoula's Climate Solutions Week, the Stay Cool Missoula crew is hosting an art show on Friday, October 2nd.

What is your vision of a cool Missoula? We want to see! Art submission sign-up is due Friday, September 18th. Swipe for more details!

Submit your art at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Phxw5jfLt0-9pdtMVUlTylA1TlhC-A1As8eNVIXfbhFUM044MlJEUlhWNjFISFM1VjAyVlNQTk5CQS4u

09/04/2026

The AIS crew had a very busy August in terms of fieldwork! We pulled Fragrant water-lily, collected veliger and eDNA samples, and continued our fragrant water-lily monitoring efforts.

09/03/2026

Spice up your garden and your kitchen!

Cultivate & Cook - The Pepper Patch Kitchen: Growing Peppers & Creating Flatbread
Thursday, September 17 | 6:00–7:00 PM

Explore the world of peppers, including the sweet and flavorful Jimmy Nardello variety! Learn how to grow peppers successfully at home, including tips on soil, sunlight, and care for a bountiful harvest.

Then, we’ll take your homegrown peppers to the kitchen to create a delicious Tomato Flatbread, highlighting the peppers’ natural sweetness and spice. You’ll leave with practical gardening knowledge, a tasty recipe, and inspiration to turn your peppers into memorable dishes.

Visit missoulaeduplace.org to register for this tasty event!

09/02/2026

September isn't the end of the gardening season- it's the start of next year's success!

Remove diseased leaves, fallen fruit, and plant debris to reduce pests and pathogens that can overwinter in the garden. Good sanitation is one of the simplest and most effective tools in integrated pest management (IPM).

Give plants a deep drink before the ground freezes. Well-hydrated plants are better prepared to handle winter conditions.

Hold off on pruning. Give plants time to naturally enter dormancy before doing major pruning.

👉 September is about putting your garden to bed thoughtfully so it can wake up ready to grow next spring!

09/01/2026

Calling all Western Montana horse enthusiasts!

Join us for the 2nd Annual Horse Farm Tour & Storytelling Event on September 4, 6:30-8:30 pm for a celebration of the hard work that goes into making our properties beautiful, productive, and safe for horses.

This year’s tour will showcase a well-designed track system and rotational grazing strategies, with practical ideas you can take home and adapt to your own property.

After the tour, enjoy a catered dinner and an evening of stories from our local equestrian community. Hear from Missoula County Commissioner Josh Slotnick about his experiences developing PEAS Farm, along with George Bettas, a longtime Stevensville resident who has spent countless hours on horseback exploring Montana’s wilderness.

Have a horse or land story of your own to share? We’d love to hear it! Email [email protected] to tell us about your experience.

Register now at missoulaeduplace.org and join us on September 4!

08/31/2026

September is packed with opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate at the Exploration Center!

Horse Farm Tour & Storytelling Event
Friday, September 4 | 6:30–8:30 PM
Join fellow horse enthusiasts for an evening exploring grazing and property management strategies. Tour a local horse farm, learn about track systems and rotational grazing, then enjoy a catered dinner and stories from local equestrians and community members.

ReWild Your Yard
Saturday, September 12 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Bring the beauty of Western Montana into your own yard! Learn how native plants can support pollinators and wildlife, conserve water, improve soil health, and create beautiful, resilient landscapes. The workshop also includes a hands-on native plant planting demonstration.

A Taste of Missoula’s Finest
Thursday, September 17 | 5:30–8:00 PM
Join us for a delicious evening celebrating Missoula’s local food scene, featuring creations from local chefs, wine pairings, auctions, and the beautiful Rocky Mountain Gardens! Your support helps fund hands-on programs that build practical skills and strengthen our local food system.

And that’s just the beginning! From workshops and garden walks to hands-on learning and community events, there’s so much more to choose from this September.

👉 Explore the full lineup and register at missoulaeduplace.org.

08/29/2026

Don't miss out on our ReWild Your Yard workshop!

Bring the beauty of western Montana into your own backyard! Join us for a hands-on workshop and learn how to create a beautiful, resilient landscape that supports native pollinators, birds, and other wildlife while conserving water and reducing long-term maintenance.

Local experts will share practical tips on:
🌱 Designing with native plants – Kathy Settevendemie, Blackfoot Native Plants
🌱 Cluster planting & reducing herbivory – Elliot Conrad, Pipilo Native Plants
🌱 Site preparation & mulches – Sarah Holden, MSU Extension
🌱 Native pollinators – Marirose Kuhlman, MCDEE

You’ll also see a hands-on demonstration of how to plant native plant plugs and learn how small changes to your yard can make a big difference for conservation and biodiversity.

Bring your native plant questions and get inspired to rewild your yard! 🐝🌼

08/28/2026

In addition to our 5 basic strategies for reducing the negative impacts of mosquitoes (the D's), here are some additional tips to make your outdoor space less appealing to mosquitoes.

Mosquito season is starting to slow down; our traps have been catching fewer mosquitoes each week, and we are preparing to clean them up for the year. Keep these tips in mind as you start thinking about your outdoor space for next spring!

08/27/2026

Come hungry and leave inspired! Join us Thursday, September 17, 2026, for an unforgettable evening celebrating the flavors of Missoula, the joy of community, and the many connections that help our local food system thrive.

You will enjoy inspired food creations from some of Missoula’s finest chefs, appetizers and drinks to enjoy as you explore the Rocky Mountain Gardens, stories showing how local education is cultivating healthier people, landscapes, and communities, and a live and silent auction.

Proceeds from this year’s event will support the youth and community programs and educational opportunities offered by the Missoula County Department of Ecology & Extension and the Rocky Mountain Gardens. Together, these programs help youth and adults understand where food comes from, care for the natural systems that sustain it, and build the skills to grow, prepare, and enjoy it.

Tickets are limited: Purchase yours today at https://bit.ly/4bVmhKd

Address

1075 South Avenue W
Missoula, MT
59801

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14062584200

Website

http://www.missoulaeduplace.org/, https://linktr.ee/Missoula_EcologyExtension?utm_source=linktree_admin_share

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