Garden of Eatin' serves Pipe Creek community

This year marks the 15-year anniversary for Joanne Fry’s community garden, known as The Garden of Eatin’, located north of town off of Pipe Creek Road.

“I try to grow stuff that’s expensive in the store or stuff that people can’t find,” Fry said, “They can come up here and try something they’ve never had before.”

Each year, Fry grows a different list of fruits, vegetables, and spices. This year, the list includes zucchini, onions, kale, spinach, beans, broccoli, horse radish, asparagus, garlic, cilantro, berries, melons, string beans, tomatoes, hot peppers, egg plant, rhubarb, among other various produce.

Fry moved to Montana when she was eight years old, and has been gardening for around 40 years.

“People come up and I’ll tell them what’s available to pick that day, and then, at the end of the season, I’ll tell them, ‘take whatever you want,’” said Fry excitedly.

A tall fence, with a gate that opens up onto the main path, surrounds the garden. The path divides into sections for people to walk through and make selections of the available produce. According to Fry, her and her volunteers are currently working on making the garden handicap-accessible.

When Fry is not in the garden, she leaves signs, which shows visitors which produce is available to pick.

According to Fry, the soil is all rock, but over the past 15 years she’s recycled compost to create fertile soil. Fry also said that everything in the garden starts from seed. No chemicals are used, only natural fertilizer.

In the center of the garden, sits a gazebo, a birthday gift from Fry’s husband.

Fry encourages adults to bring their children. Butterfly nets, juice and popsicles are set up inside the gazebo to keep the children entertained.

“I give the kids a nickel for each butterfly they catch,” said Fry.

In special circumstances, Fry make deliveries.

“If someone really wants something and they can’t get here, I can make a trip and deliver it,” she said.

“She is a very respected member of the community,” said Darlene Goucher, Fry’s neighbor. “She’s helped feed this community up here in Pipe Creek. When she first moved up here my kids would go down and pick rocks and pull weeds and she sent them home with a basket full of food.”

A donation jar sits on top of the center table in the gazebo. Fry stressed that all of the donated money goes toward the garden; she takes none of the money for personal use.

“I’m not doing it for [the donations], I’m doing it to serve people,” said Fry.

Fry currently has two volunteers at the garden, her son, Allen Beach, who moved up with his wife to help with the garden, and Fry’s neighbor, Hilda Ingraham.

“My wife and I came up to help mom out with the garden,” Beach said.

“The best thing I like about gardening is sharing it. It tastes better when you share it,” said Ingraham.

The Garden of Eatin’ is located at 2026 Bobtail Cutoff, off of Pipe Creek Road. Frye welcomes people to come pick produce at any time.

For more information about The Garden of Eatin’, call Joanne Fry at 293-6274.

Reporter Bethany Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at Reporter@TheWesternNews.com.