Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Additional Plants: conifers, flowers, greenhouse, herbs, native plants, ornamentals, roses, trees

• Animals: bees, rabbits

• Community and Urban Pest Management: institution/shelters/municipal buildings/public places, other, residential/housing, school & child care

• Ecosystem: Ecosystem

• Natural Areas: forestry (conifer), forestry (hardwood), wildlife

• Pollinators: habitat

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: biological control, cultivation, cultural control, habitat modification, monitoring/scouting, mulches - living, mulching - vegetative, prevention, row covers (for pests), trap crops, weed ecology

• Animal Production: grazing management

• Crop Production: agroforestry, cover crops, greenhouses, high tunnels or hoop houses, intercropping, low tunnels, multiple cropping, no-till, nurseries, nutrient management, organic fertilizers, pollination/pollinator health/habitat, row covers (for season extension), season extension types and construction, seed saving, shade cloth

• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, wildlife

• Production Systems: agroecosystems, aquaponics, hydroponics, integrated crop and livestock systems, organic agriculture, permaculture, transitioning to organic

• Soil Management: composting, earthworms, green manures, organic matter, soil microbiology, soil quality/health

• Sustainable Communities: food hubs, local and regional food systems, public participation, public policy, quality of life, sustainability measures, urban agriculture, values-based supply chains

The purpose of this IPM project is to develop a comprehensive community approach to pest management that will eliminate the use of pesticides and increase crop yield with the expectation that integrated pest management will be more effective as a community effort. Incorporating community education and strategic planning into implementation of integrated pest control greatly enhances the potential of an effective outcome.

This project is intended to be a pilot program that can be implemented in communities throughout the region. Vista Ridge Montana works collaboratively with other groups and organizations statewide including Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO), Abundant Montana and Grow Montana as well as St. Andrew Community Garden and the Artemisia Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society locally. VRMT will share project outcomes and support replication of the program in other communities. 

We are requesting grant funds to develop and implement an IPM community program in conjunction with the first year of the Community Gardens program. Effective integrated pest management can make the difference for a beneficial harvest from successful gardens that can feed families, neighborhoods and communities and can serve as a tool for empowerment and autonomy to people who live in low access areas and food deserts.

Reliance on local availability to fresh, healthy affordable food can become a daily challenge in Yellowstone and Big Horn Counties. Access in many cases is limited by traveling distance, lack of transportation and income and significantly hinders food security. Based on data from Feeding America, food deserts surround the downtown Billings area. In Big Horn County, the percentage of persons living in poverty is almost twice the state average. And according to 2023 data from the United States Census Bureau website, 66.7% of the population in Big Horn County is American Indian. Additionally, the percentage of children is higher than the state average in Yellowstone County and significantly higher in Big Horn County.

The IPM program will focus on 5 primary areas:

(1) IPM Seasonal Integration

Understanding seasonal cycles to support integrated pest management results in less effort and more effective results.

(2) IPM with Pollinators

Learn to identify and attract beneficial insects with pollinator friendly plants and understand the consequences of using chemical pesticides.

(3) Proactive Solutions for IPM

Recognize pests and identify alternative solutions. Effective planning can minimize the presence of unwanted pests.

(4) IPM in the Garden

Alternative gardening modalities and growing methods including no till, companion planting, vertical growing, raised beds and living fences.

(5) IPM Property Maintenance 

Develop proactive strategies to minimize all types of pests including insects, deer, rabbits, marmots, racoons and invasive plants such as planting native plants, targeted grazing, and proper composting.

Objective (1): Increase awareness and understanding of IPM and eliminate the use of pesticides.

Outputs: Community IPM education including in-person and virtual presentations, school visits, flyers, meeting handouts, interactive workbooks, organize demonstration site visits to Vista Ridge Montana and field trips within the community where heathy ecosystems currently exist.

Short-term Outcomes: Understand the significance of community IPM options for a healthy ecosystem and develop community support to integrate IPM strategies. Identify and foster potential program participants as leaders and organizers.

Medium -term-Outcomes: Integrate community IPM strategies during the 2025 growing season.

Long-term-Outcomes: Adopt IPM strategies permanently and eliminate the use of pesticides. Establish effective solutions for communities to grow fresh, healthy food and to permanently integrate community IPM strategies as part of the effort toward establishing local food security.

Objective (2): Establish community commitment and foster community leadership in support of community IPM program goals.

Outputs: Meet with community leaders and organizations to elicit support of the community IPM project.

Short-term Outcomes: Collaborate  with community leaders to support program goals and work in partnership with community organizations to provide volunteers and financial support for the program.

Medium -term-Outcomes: Establish effective leadership positions and/or funding to facilitate long-term implementation of community IPM strategies. Incorporation of community organizations and local businesses creates opportunities for ongoing financial support of community IPM strategies

Long-term-Outcomes: Create local, value driven community systems that prioritize healthy ecosystem solutions for pest management. Develop effective leadership  and community involvement that will serve to sustain community IPM indefinitely.