Missoula Urban Demonstration Project

MUD brings to my community what no other can. The expertise and professionalism which is available through MUD is incomparable to any other.

MUD is the most humble of charities. I'll bet a dollar will go farther with MUD than just about any group you can come up with. We have led the solar installation workshop on site, been a member, done small presentations and donated a truck. Every town should have a group like this to set a great example to youth and allow students to live a sustainable life 24/7. MUD competes for donors with many other eco-minded organizations and has shown itself to be a survivor. That is a testament to MUD's true adherence to sustainability. From worms to tools to compost and manure, MUD gets it right!

We recycled a old house in Missoula. We ended up getting ripped off by the company we hired who claimed to be recyclers. The bank gave us a dead line and we had no money to finish but had joined the people at mud. We needed to sand floors, finish the landscaping, finish plumbing, puddy the windows,put up 2x4 walls,tape walls, paint,build a porch. Then our only vehicle was hit while stopped at a stop light on Broadway. We cryed. Then we took out the list MUD had and started to see what they had. We got the power washer first and washed down the house and couldn't get the washer back because our friend truck wasnt home so we called and they had another couple who needed it and lived near by,So they arrange for them to pick up at our house.
We pick up all sort of power tools to finish the walls 2x4-sheet rock-
mudding and the works and they looked thing up for us on how to do
things like framing, mudding nailing, orange peel. Some times we showed up when they where not open and they helped us anyway.
We also used the truck share to haul 2x4s, cement mixer, sheetrock
and trees people dug up or wanted to get rid of for our yard. We ended up meeting the dead line the bank gave us for our first house
we have ever owned. We thought we were going to lose the house, the houseing market crashed and I lost my job and my husband job was looking like they were going to cut hours for them and we had
used our saving to do this not wanting to rent anymore. They had ever thing we needed and still do.

Lona

MUD has helped Missoula become a leader in urban sustainability. It's an important and cherished part of MIssoula's character. Missoula would not be the same without it, and more importantly, the MUD model could be applied to other towns, big and small.

I think MUD provides an invaluable community service. Our family has utilized several services offered by MUD. We have accessed the apple press from the tool library on several occassions to make cider with our apples. My husband has attended several of the workshops offered by MUD as well. I highly recommend this organization to everyone in my community.

MUD! My next door neighbor and hardworking partner in sustainable living for several years. The honest efforts of Missoula Urban Demonstration are a testament to the hard work of non-profits. Through the collective efforts of dedicated staff and volunteers, MUD has grown from a simple city seed company to a vital community resource for cooperative urban living. It is a delight to watch them evolve. I sincerely support their efforts as a Missoulian, neighbor and friend.

The tool library and its employees and volunteers helped me make improvements on my home I wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford.

Missoula Urban Demonstration Project (MUD) is a great benefit to the Missoula community. I have attended two workshops provided by MUD: one taught basics of saving seeds relative to gardening/farming, the other taught basic blacksmithing skills. Both workshops were taught by very knowledgeable and qualified instructors, and were provided to me, a member, at a very affordable fee. I would highly recommend participating in learning experiences offered by MUD, and advocate for supporting the organization with membership or donations. MUD also provides an excellent tool library and affordable pickup truck share program.

MUD is a phenomenal resource for members of Missoula community. All in all, this is a very cool place staffed by great people.

A wonderful place for the Missoula community to utilize. Everything from the tool library to the truck share. MUD creates a beautiful neighborhood with their chickens and gardens. Full of good hearted people Missoula is lucky to have MUD.

MUD provides valuable clinics on a wide range of interesting topics such as how to raise chickens and composting. They also have a tool check out system that can help many people save money and is a valuable resource for the community.

MUD is a great resource for Missoula residents. If only every town had more MUD in their back yards.

Community, a concept, is hard to define. However in moments of acquiessence or repose may bring warmth and familiarity.

Familiarity amongst neighbors are seeds that draw each and us closer. MUD strives to bring community and family together. Allowing for the resources when idle, we may provide for the betterment of homes sitting side by side, building and sharing our community.

MUD, a gift amongst ou to share.

MUD is great. It is the kind of experimental non-profit that every quasi-urban area should have. They house one of my friends in their sustainable urban living program, and provide great resources to make urban living even greener.

I have been a member of MUD for years. I've taken a number of their courses and made regular use of their tool library. I have really enjoyed and learned a lot in their courses and their tool library has been indispensable--what a terrific idea to fill an important community need.

MUD is wonderful! It's a great source for so many and offers a variety of avenues to get the community involved on a really important issues that affect us all every day. It's an opportunity to meet neighbors, work with vast populations on community wide issues, as well as to learn new skills and resources within people all around you.

It makes the community stronger through its community focus and esteemed presence in the Missoula community.

MUD serves a really important role in the Missoula community through its efforts to promote sustainable lifestyles. My wife and I are both members and we have made extensive use of the tool library for our home garden and yard. We borrowed tools to build 5 raised beds, thus allowing us to grow most of our own vegetables, and again when we converted part of our yard to a low-water use garden, so decreasing our overall water use.

i love the tool library that MUD has created. they have so many diffrent tools that are available at no to little cost. They always would work with me if i did not return the tools back on time. they also have a truck share that i love and have used many times. it is affordable and a great service.

I support MUD's overall mission for encourage people to live sustainably. I know that the organization does fantastic work.

We regularly use MUD's tool library - what a fantastic resource. Before purchasing tools, you should check it out as they have everything and just using 1 or 2 of the tools can pay for the membership. An additional benefit that pays for the membership is the 10% discount at Home Resource. Membership for us in MUD is a no brainer. We also live on the Northside and regulary attend social events hosted by MUD. It is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people in our neighborhood and the Missoula community at large. The classes are beneficial as well and taught by super knowlegable people. This is an amazing organization.

We moved to Missoula with all of our household goods in storage, so no tools at hand. THank goodness we had the tool library to start remodeling our house and maintain our yard and gardens. Without their help we would have had to buy tools for a one time use (demolition for remodel required sledgehammers, etc. The expertise offered guided us through the process as well.

We have lived in several communities and have not experienced such a unique service. The friendly, helpful staff at the lending tool library and the office connected us with many community resources as well.

MUD should be considered a contender for this award because it is a pioneer in the field of sustainability, with a long history of innovation and outreach, to offer especially appropriate services and education to the community which it nurtures. The truck share and tool library programs are outstanding examples of ideas that allow us all to live more lightly on the planet, and within our means in trying times. The planned renovation and upgrade of the Phillips Street properties will be stellar models of accessible means to reduce our resource demands and provide a setting for a rich life in community.

MUD provides an important service to the Missoula community. I have been a big user of the tool library which has allowed me to tackle many home improvement projects that would have otherwise been out of my reach.

MUD was a fantastic place to learn and grow within the Missoula Community. Without MUD I wouldn't have known the power of my own hands and spirit.

I have been a member of MUD for almost ten years. They have allowed me to fix and improve my house without purchasing any new tools. Additionally, I learned gardening skills that have allowed me to become a better urban farmer. With MUD's tool library and workshops, I have been able to live a more ecologically and socially responsible lifestyle.

MUD is great!
I've used the truck share program to haul many loads of tree trimmings to EkoCompost.
I just attended a workshop on American Mud and can't wait to try the trowel techniques on my walls.
The tool library is amazingly well- stocked with odd tools designed for a specific job- the shingle shovel was a great time saver on my house roofing project.

MUD is incredible! They have a large number of tools in the tool library, reasonable rates for membership and rental, friendly & knowledgeable staff and a wide variety of class/programs that serve the community.

They are a great asset to our community!

M.U.D. has been a great asset to Missoula Community for all the years it has served. The people working in the office were very helpful and patient. Thank you MUD!

The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center has been proud to share many events and initiatives with MUD over the years we have both been part of Missoula. It's a great resource for empowering local people to take local action and make the world a bit more sustainable.

M.U.D. has been a valuable part of this community for years now. I have been a class participant, a member, and a grateful tool borrower. The tools in the library helped me to refinish my home's bathroom and have inspired my many gardening projects!

I love the apple press from the tool library. Making apple cider is so much fun with this great press! It is a perfect activity for a beautiful fall day. I only wish it was available more often.

I've been borrowing from MUD's Tool Library for several years. One of our favorite activities when guests visit is to take them by the Tool Library to get or return tools. Our guests are always amazed at the concept itself (even friends involved in community work elsewhere have not encountered such a practical and useful resource), and then even more amazed when they actually see the Tool Library in action. Thank you MUD!

My daughter, whom I adopted three years ago, had many emotional and behaviorial issues. Amazingly, what has helped her the most has been working with her hands, and gardening. Organizations such as MUD really helped her (and me, too), understand the importance of getting your hands dirty, choosing the proper tools, designing a living space for green things, and then--drumroll please--WAITING to see how it works out. There are always surprises, and MUD teachers are available for coaching. I was born and raised in a city and my garden was a windowbox--my daughter has a larger garden, but a clueless Mom. Together with organizations like MUD, we're planting a better world, and improving ourselves in the process!
THANKS, MUD! "May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."
--Wendy Leibowitz
Washington, D.C.

When I wanted to start my home garden, I was overwhelmed by the initial investments needed in everything from shovels to seeds to power tools for my raised beds. Luckily, with a $20 membership in the MUD Tool Library, I was able to borrow nearly everything I needed and was able to grow food sustainably and affordably in my own back yard.

MUD is a great asset to the community of Missoula! Their truck share is a brilliant idea and the tool library is wonderfully organized. It is great to be able to check out a truck or tool when you need it. The workshops I have attended have been a lot of fun. They have great staff and are wonderfully connected to nature.

I've been involved with MUD for more than 11 years. First as a very sporadic volunteer, then a Board member for 4 years, back to a sporadic volunteer, and now as a dedicated Tool Library user. MUD has been many things during its lifespan. It will never be a traditional success nor approach perfection, yet it continues to sustain, adapt, and inspire. Thus it has achieved a paradoxical manner of success and perfection I deeply admire.

I have been a member for several years. As an older gardener I really appreciate being able to pick up tools to use rather than buy them. Last year I bought a truck share and was able to pick up llama manure for my garden. Really liked having the truck share. MUD is an invaluable non profit to our community. My one problem is that I don't utilize my membership enough.

The tool library has been an invaluable resource in fixing up our 100+ year old house. Not only does MUD offer a great selection of tools to borrow, they give great how-to advice.

When we purchased our first home MUD was invaluable, not only by loaning us tools, but by providing us with the information and guidance we needed to take on home projects we might have never had the confidence to pursue. Over the years we've also received valuable advice about gardening, food preservation, weatherproofing, and other sustainability measures during our visits to MUD. More than any other local organization, MUD has made us feel part of a strong, forward-looking community.

AMazin organization. If you have the power or means to help please do

I have spent the last couple years working on my own home constantly using the tool library and the expertise of the individuals who volunteer there. MUD provides a great service to our community. In the last year MUD has greatly improved the organization of the library, the communication with members, and the efficiency of the programs. Keep up the good work.

Love, love, love MUD. Tool library and kids' education are wonderful resources. Bringing the tool library to more central location would be a huge benefit to this city.

I have worked with MUD as a volunteer in the past. I was very poor and needed bedding plants for my garden. MUD gave me the opportunity to work in exchange for the plants I needed. Way to help community members support healthy lifestyles. The tool library is also and excellent resource for our community.

One of the best things about MUD is its longevity. MUD has been advocating sustainability in Missoula since the 70's as I understand the history. Good job!

MUD is a great organization that really gets on the ground for sustainability and building social ties among Missoula's citizens. It is the model of what a community-building group should be.

They could really use some more resources, and this award would be a big help.

MUD is a unique and intregal resource for a sustainable Missoula. They offer hands on education and the tools needed to carry out sustainable living practices. They are a highly colaberative organization that is greatly valued in the Missoula Community.

I have been working slowly on remodeling my house in the neighborhood where MUD is located. I've certainly benefitted from being able to go get a crowbar when I need one (who wants to own one of those?), but mostly I've benefitted from the helpful tips and encouragement I get everytime I go to borrow something.

Love the tool library. It makes so much sense to borrow tools that I rarely need, especially the lawn mower, because I don't have a good place to store one, and I can never keep them in good working order.

I volunteered a day to distribute organic fertilizer to the public. It was quite an interesting asssortment of takers filing through in old pick-ups and new Volvo's. Everybody appreciated the product, though shoveling it was tough. The experience was good opportunity to help out the community with a valuable natural product. Manure happens!

MUD is a great local resource. The organization is an important part of the effort to create a sustainable future for Missoula.

As a fellow member of the Missoula Nonprofit Network, we support MUDD and the impressive work that they do locally in our community. They are working to make Missoula a more sustainable place to live including helping other non profit organizations become more sustainable through partnership and training. Good luck MUDD in this contest!

I have supported MUD for some years mostly because I believe that a sustainable planet begins with sustainable communities and MUD works for that end. Also, I am a believer in teaching people to grow their own food not only supports and empowers them, it creates a community that is less dependent on systems of handouts. Lastly they do a great job of collaborating with other organizations whose missions are likewise directed at building community, one family at a time.
Wayne Chamberlain, President
Missoula Food Bank
Board of Directors

MUD is an integral part of the effort to create a sustainable future for Missoula. This organizations hard work and collaboration with the community has greatly increased public awareness regarding issues of the urban environment.

MUD is a great organization who is always teaching me new was to be a better member of my Missoula Community.

My wife and I have used MUD's cider press in the fall to make some delicious apple cider from apples that would otherwise have gone to waste. We found the staff at MUD helpful and the atmosphere friendly and inviting. I always get new ideas to use around the home from my visits to MUD. MUD is a great resourse for the community.

Was just made aware of this fantastic project. As is the case always, we can do for others once in a while but to have lasting effects, it is best to teach others to do for themselves...

As someone trying to make it on a lower income in Missoula, MUD has been invaluable. My partner and I started going to MUD to use the tool the library. We checked out drills, bits, saws, sanders... anything we needed while trying to make a lasting place for ourselves in our apartment and thereby in Missoula. Without MUD our walls would be bare, the furniture we found on the cheap or for free would be less functional.

I know it doesn't sound like much, but having access to those tools means real things. We can make ourselves a home; a place we feel comfortable in that we belong to. Going back and forth to MUD we met other people, people with good advice about putting up a hanging mirror or where to go fix your bike. We got to feed the chickens and pull a few choice items from the garden, or just have a place to rest a while and chat with other folks before biking home.

Knowing there's an organization like MUD means there's people in this town looking out for each other, trying to make a common and collected go of it. I've felt more at home, more a part, of Missoula than most places I've lived because of that quality. You see it in MUD, the organization embodies community. It houses it, gives it a center.

MUD adds meaning to city life in a way no other endeavor does. It helps make Missoula Missoula!

I continue to use the knowledge I gained from taking the seed starting/gardening classes. Always a comfort to know that the tool library is available when needed.

I am placing myself amongst the clients served category because this organization has tapped the academic community as well. In the past I worked with MUD as a student working on a community project. Our student group was provided an opportunity not only to learn but to complete actual hands-on service. This is invaluable in the concept of community learning, sustainability and the learning realm of social work students!

MUD's tool library has proved to be indispensable for me a home owner with limited income. I have borrowed circular soars and garden tools , all of which have been we maintained by MUD volunteers and staff. I have also been impressed by the range of workshops that offer throughout the year and will sure to take in one about worm bins this year. (Everyone needs a worm bin, you know). In addition , just visiting the MUD site , provides a wealth of ideas of new garden plants , herbs, etc..

I became a member less than 6 months ago, and since then have utilized my membership numerous times. I have used the tool library mostly and it has helped me tremendously. I have small home projects as well as artistic endeavors. Their volunteers are helpful, friendly, and communicable. I received a tour of the property prior to becoming a member, and explained all that they have available. I heard about them through word of mouth, and the they have passed my expectations. I receive e.mails about news and events and enjoy my membership. I hope to become a member next year, and hope to see them continue to grow. If their tool library can continue to be open more hours, and add tools then I can continue to work on personal projects, and save help consumerism and re-use items instead of always buying new. Thanks for being there for me MUD.

MUD has been a great resource to Missoula. Personally, to know there is a place I can go to share tools and avoid adding to the multiplication of resources is invaluable to me. I have also gained new techniques from how to build a straw bale structure to composting to outdoor pathways by volunteering there and through their many workshops. They also throw some of the best garden parties in town!

Missoula Urban Demonstration Project has grown and evolved over the years. It's always finding new ways to give Missoulians new information and opportunities to live well and live simply.

I've known about MUD for years and always appreciated the niche they've carved out to make Missoula a better place to live. MUD offers tons of information relevant to homeowners and "urban" agriculturalists, but my primary use of their services comes from the tool library. They have everything I need for small home building projects, and they offer great advice on using the tools. Particularly, I like being able to get tools from them that I would only use once or twice a year - or just once. Even if I could afford these tools, my purchase of them would be wasteful. Sharing these tools is a responsible use of resources, encourages community engagement, and reduces the storage space that every home owner seems to need for endless supplies of rarely used tools. Go MUD!

We were devoted members of the tool library for many years - we remodeled a kitchen, landscaped our yard, tiled our mud room all with tools from MUD. We moved away to Helena for a few years but are recently back and look forward to rediscovering all MUD has to offer. MUD is a wonderful resource for this community.

As a member of the faculty of the Environmental Studies program at the University of Montana, I know many of the excellent environmental NGOs in Missoula. MUD stands out as one of the most effective, grassroots, community organizations, and for 30 years has helped Missoula with practical, hands-on experience in sustainable urban living. A terrific organization with an important mission!

I moved to missoula a few years ago and discovered MUD. I signed up to have access to the tool library and was amazed at selection of tools. Since then I have been consistently impressed with the course offerings as well as their commitment to providing a tangible resource in the community for sustainable living. MUD is definitely a valuable asset to the neighborhood and the community.

I used the services here to build a table from scratch. The tool library and the staff were great; exactly what I needed. Thank you all!

i thought i knew how to grow veges as all my life i had done so....in california. in 2005 after two summers in missoula and whopping failures, i discovered MUD. first thing i learned was how much i needed to learn. MUD helped with everything from composting tips and soil prep, to understanding the seasons here, to harvesting and storing my own seeds and even offered tools and a truck to do the job. i also took a cheese making class. i wander through the MUD site sometimes just to get inspired, taste the delicious veges, see the community working together. i feel safe that MUD has been there a long time and is growing now into more of what it is meant to be even as MUD positions itself to launch into the huge growth spurt of a complete remodel, into an even better example of urban sustainable and healthy community living.

MUD rocks... i have attended workshops and used their tool library. they provide a great service to our community.

I have attended two workshops: a home improvement one on gray-water systems and a cheese-making workshop. The home improvement was thoughtful, practical and accessible thanks to the MUD volunteers and staff. I have also donated a large number of inherited tools, both power and hand. To me the tool library is the most brilliant idea! All neighborhoods should have one where people could share and not own so many things that rarely get used. They are welcoming and take the time to show you how to use the tools, as well. It's a wonderful model of community building, sharing, and resourcefulness.

Love the tool library! Also love the educational programs/workshops. Keep up the good work.

I've learned a lot since I became a member with MUD. This organization gives Missoulians the tools they need to live a more sustainable lifestyle. I have given my time to help teach girl scouts about recycling by making paper mache with them. I have also spent a lot of time in the native garden, weeding and redoing the landscape so kids can come through and learn about native plants.
MUD is a genuine organization filled with amazing people who volunteer their time to make Missoula a better place.

We have relied on MUD for the use of thier tool library to do many home projects as we do not have the resourses to get the tools ourselves. They have an amazing selection. Additionally, they offer so much in terms of community education that is so valuable.

MUD is the type of organization that should be present in every community. It helps people who need access to resources to work on their property and keep things in good condition; it offers education to people to help them learn to live in a more sustainable way, and it builds community.

We became members last summer after moving to Missoula and wanting to make improvements on our home on a tight budget. MUD has been a fabulous resource with the Tool Library and the Truck Share program! Fabulous!!

The "Tool Library" supported by MUD has saved me soooo much money and gotten me out of a ton of binds! Having access to all the tools that I don't own myself is a lifesaver!

The Tool Library and Truck Share programs are a way to help me make my home more sustainable and to help your non-contactor home owner access tools to complete projects. The social events to get people together to work on and do demonstartions of proctical and useful ideas to make "green living" do-able on a budget. MUD has also become the Cornerstone partner in the annual Earth Day Festival w. the University of Montana and other organizations.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to use mud in the form of their tool library for the past year or so. I have been so blessed by it, I just can express how much. We have used the tools to fix problems in our home that would have cost us so much more if we had to hire someone to do it. We are a family with 6 kids and could not afford to hire a repair man when we needed a new furnace. So with the help of MUD and the tool library we were able to do it for a fraction of the price. We are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization.

MUD has been a wonderful resource for all of our home and yard projects. I used the tool library when I was converting the lawn to garden (checked out the rototiller), and we had a great, productive first year garden. We also used the cider press to press over a hundred pounds of apples! MUD has been both a source of tools, and also great help. Every time we are getting going on project and stop by MUD they have had useful suggestions. I haven't taken any of their classes yet, but I've been impressed with the wide variety that have been held.

Mud has allowed us to complete many projects, including but not limited to gardening and home improvements.

MUD is awesome. I can't wait for the chicken 101 workshop coming up soon. Keep up the good work. Thanks.

MUDD IS THE BEST!!! I borrow all my tools from them to complete projects around my house. I saved enough money to cover the cost of joining in one week! My house projects are better informed and more sustainable thanks to MUDD's educational classes and fantastic staff. They are an incredible and unique community service and should be celebrated as a model for assistance in sustainable urban living. Thank you MUDD!!! I Hope you WIN!!!

MUD is an excellent resource and provides many services for Missoula, Mt. Through their tool library I have been able to complete a multitude of projects without the high costs of buying tools. With the help of MUD I was able to build a wood fired pizza oven in my backyard and through this I have gotten to know my neighbors and community better. The classes and workshops offered at MUD are very helpful and have taught me how to live more sustainably by teaching me how to garden and compost. I always look forward to MUD employees helping me with many projects and the organization is very welcoming and interested in helping others live more sustainably.

MUD is a great organization with a terrific mission. IT does a great amount on a little budget and is an integral part of making Missoula a sustainable community.

MUD has received media assistance grants from Missoula Community Access Television to record just some of their many helpful and informative demonstrations and workshops. We have recorded and cablecast over 30 programs for MUD over the last five years. Each program offer great information on pruning, gardening, water collections, green cleaning projects, baking demonstrations, straw bale building, bee-keeping and more. They provide a wonderful service!

MUD is just one of the many reasons Missoula rocks. The garden projects are ideal, keeps my healthy and eating my vegetables.
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MUD saved us! We needed resources that were well beyond our budget. The tool library was there to lend out post hole diggers, a tamper, even a truck so we could haul heavy materials. Thank you, MUD for giving so much to the community.

i think it's great that MUD has a community tool shed, helping people to garden on their own to increase their self-sufficiency

MUD is great! They help people garden, network, be more self sufficient, and become more involved in the community. The tool shed is a good example of community service, their educational classes run the gamut from growing food to building, repairing and taking care of our urban world in a thoughtful manner.

I've been bragging about the M.U.D. Project ever since I became personally involved as a volunteer presentor. The Project is a shining example of a grass roots effort to increase self-reliance and community-wide cooperation from agriculture to zoology. For two years I was a volunteer who presented a cheese making workshop, both of which were well attended by young and old, the curious and the experts. It was all about enriching our knowledge and improving our skills. Volunteers with the Project were eager and proved their capabilities in planning and seeing things through. I feel that Missoula's community continues to benefit on many levels, from the library, tools, and expert aid or advice.

As a neighbor of MUD for the past thirty years, I very much appreciate the help they have been for the neighborhood and our family. The Tool Library and workshops offered have helped us, as well as many of our neighbors, maintain and repair our modest homes in a way we could not otherwise afford. And MUD's dedication to the concepts of reducing, reusing, recycling have helped create other very worthy projects in the missoula area.

This organization has done a lot to help move Missoula forward and to help Missoulian's learn more about increasing their sustainability. Their workshops and programming are great.

When I moved to Missoula, I had no experience with growing my own food and no real appreciation for sustainability. MUD, through its many programs that have evolved over the years, has helped me understand that we can all help one another to become better citizens of, and on, the land.

MUD is an amazing idea. Promoting a do-it-your-self attitude is a powerful way to help people become more confident and independent. Aside from helping people save money MUD also educates people to help them selves. I volunteered for MUD last winter and it was a wonderful place to spend my time. The folks that run MUD are really dedicated and have great visions for the future. Missoula wouldn't be Missoula with out MUD,

I believe in what MUD provides to the community! What a wonderful example of communitys working together for the beneft of all. Thank you MUD!

MUD is a wonderful local organization that has provided the tools for sustainability in the Missoula area for decades. I love their workshops and community events that provide great educational opportunities to learn how to be more sustainable. Also, they have a great tool library that provides a broad assortment of tools for members who are implementing sustainable living knowledge.

It is critical to have services like MUD offers in the Missoula community. The Tool Library, Truck Share and Educational Workshops all help people to empower themselves through self-reliance and knowledge.

I love the MUD Mingles, and I hope to use the tool library and truck share in the future!

It is the people involved with the Missoula Urban Development Project that make it not only a worthwhile endeavor but a unique asset to the community. Caring people determined to help others make life a little better is what I think of when I reflect on MUD. I can think of no nonprofit more beneficial in the state.

I've been involved with MUD through the tool library. I've never lived anywhere with a program like this. To be able to borrow tools instead of owning them saves me money, brings me closer to others in my community, and helps me do projects around my house and garden that I otherwise couldn't afford.

I've worked at MUD and seen how people learn to be empowered by their involvement with MUD. This small non profit's commitment to self -sufficiency and sustainability radiates throughout the whole community.

The MUD tool library is fantastic. We wouldn't have been able to complete nearly the number of renovations around the house without it!

This is a great organization that is truly an asset to Missoula

MUDD is my “go to” for information on just about anything concerning gardening. I’ve learned, for instance, how to prune trees, garden with less water, build a compost heap and how to engage in Hugelkulture. I’ll be coming to you in the next few weeks to learn how to build a cold frame. Thank you for being an indispensable presence for self-help in our community.

Our family has received so much support from MUD through the Tool Library which allowed us to complete numerous home projects to workshops on home gardening, composting, and building that boosted our motivation, self-confidence and made the work easy to understand. We feel MUD really contributes to the quality of our community in helping each of us do more and feel more accomplished. MUD inspires greater cooperation and involvement in our community.

MUD's role in Missoula is not only about sharing tools among the community, but it's about education and self-empowerment. If borrowing tools lets me build my own chicken coop, then I will have a better appreciation for my own capabilities.

A unique and active organization, MUD seems to shape the dialogue on sustainability in Missoula and the region. Actions speak louder than words and MUD certainly embodies that phrase.

MUD is a great benefit to the MIssoula and greater Montana community. I would love to see MUD have a greater breadth of resources to continue, and expand the good work.

MUD exemplifies all that is great about the Missoula community--commitment to engaging the public, commitment to sustainability, and commitment neighborhoods.

MUD offers great opportunities to the community surrounding Missoula. It is great to live in a place that not only encourages sustainability, but also helps people realistically be able to accomplish those goals.

Living in this neighborhood and partaking in it's life is an obvious result of the hardwork of the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project. I am so very grateful to have landed here with my family and to have found such a resourceful community to be a part of. I especially love the idea of the tool library and truck share which we frequently use during the summer months here. I think it will become tradition for us to haul manure from our friends farm or borrow the cider press when our neighbor is willing to share their bumper crop of apples that year. It is so good to see the commitment of this organization to its neighborhood and I hope they can receive the means to make their future thrive.

volunteered for many MUD workshops and attended the MUD mingles. Also worked as a volunteer. Really enjoyed what MUD had to offer and used the tool library often. Overall a great organization and an important part of the Missoula community.

MUD rocks! This organization serves so many people in a positive way. Now that I live in California, I am constantly wishing we had MUD Tool Library in my town.

i'm a neighbor and has help at mud the host with tools for a big project in missoula we re did the front of the provello help in buliding playground rent tools the knowledge of the workshop you learn from all 3 of my girls did summer camp they learn lots on the plant and are enviroment they had hands oon with a vacant lot and we all clean up it now it a park down from mud the whole strutce is be in the community and i been a neighbor 25 years . keep up the good work

I am relatively new to Missoula, returning after being away many years. It was great to see MUD not only still in operation, but flourishing! MUD has great community support. There are a variety of ways to become involved in this project. I am enjoying getting to know the program better and volunteering where I can.

Yay MUD! What a great group! I also take offense to being told that I need to submit a more substantive review. I respectfully request that you accept my original submission.

I was living in a household with a MUD membership for two years. Every fall, the best thing was going apple picking then renting the apple press (an incredibly specific and useful tool that there is no way we would ever have been able to afford for ourselves, nor is it a tool we would really need to own, as we only used it for a few days a year). I made so much cider and from that, apple cider vinegar, hard and soft cider, mmmmm!! Thanks mud! I also used the services to get a roto-tiller to set up our garden. It is incredibly affordable, and also incredibly sensible to have a place where tools can be shared communally. I highly approve!

MUD is an invaluable part of Missoula culture. I have take advantage of the tool library and truck share on several occasions. This concept of resource sharing is not just important for sustaining resources, but also for sustaining a sense of community.

Five years ago I brought handicapped clients that I worked with to a gardening class, that was offered by MUD, to people with disabilities. The individuals who participated loved it, and still talk about it to this day.
Since then I have become a member, gotten to volunteer for a few of the gatherings, and been able to utilize the invaluable tool library that MUD enhances the community with. What a wonderful organization! Thanks for all you do!

This was one of the most helpful organizations while I was in college at the University of Montana. Being a student, I moved around the city a lot and had very few personal belongings. MUD's tool library is a revolutionary idea that helped me with several personal projects. I also took gardening and canning classes, where I learned to process some of my home-grown food. MUD is a winner; I wish they had a branch in every town!

MUD offers a variety of workshops with practical applications tfor developing a sustainable life style. And the Tool Workshop helps folks take on projects they otherwise couldn't for lack of the necessary tools.

I took home brewing class with MUD this past December, and learned an astounding amount of information about how to set up my own home brewing operation! For the amount of membership dues required, MUD provides a vast array of services to members, including workshops, tool access, and a truck share. I was able to utilize the truck share within days of joining to move myself and my partner to our new home in Missoula. Without this vital service, we would have had to rent a truck from a larger company for far more money. This helped us keep costs down, and convinced us that Missoula is a really great place to live. Thanks MUD!

MUD goes above and beyond to teach sustainability to the community of Missoula. From their tool library, to their truck share program, workshops and youth education program, they provide the tools for everyone to be able to "give back" to our community. They've inspired me to be more mindful in my day-to-day living.

MUD does great things for the Missoula community and the surrounding areas. I am constantly impressed by the dedication of the members of the board, volunteers, and everyone involved with the project. Keep up the great work! I love the sustainable environment message they are working so hard to promote.

Love the message MUD is spreading- everyone living in a sustainable way on planet earth!!

I volunteer for mud and have a great time! The folks are dedicated to making the city of Missoula a more sustainable place.

I intern for mud, and it is a great program. I work on a project that works to educate students about the restoration and preservation of native plants.

MUD has been a leader in guiding many Missoula folks to practice a sustainable life style. This group offers many workshops and demonstrations that help others actually learn how to start their own gardens, store local food, use shared tools, build greenhouses and straw-bale walls, compost, build gray water systems, recycle, and the list goes on!

I received my first canning lessons from MUD more than 12 years ago, learned about composting and growing my own veggies. I continue to be inspired by all they offer our community and have continued to evolve to meet community needs (tool library, etc).

Missoula Urban Demonstation Project is a valube part of our community.

MUD is indespensible for helping neighborhoods make lasting improvements to parks. My experience is with Triangle Park off Mount. That dandy little park would not have been possible with willing volunteeers and support from MUD.

We have had many many projects around our house, as most of us do. We see the benefit in a cooperative sharing of tools, rather than cluttering up the earth with new stuff people buy at stores and that sits around collecting dust with lack of use. We were consistently delighted with the selection of tools in the share shed and the availability and knowledge of workers that helped us organize and prepare for our home projects. We have been clients for a few years now and each year find new resources, topics of interest and learn more awesome things about Missoula Urban Demonstration Project. Our community LOVES this sort of service, we thrive off it. It helps everyone save money, keep money in our local community, creates sharing networks that we all evolve from and serves as continuing education campus as well. Couldnt ask for more- MUDD rocks!

I've been a member of MUD for as long as I can remember. Their community gardens, tool library and sustainable living workshops have made Missoula a better place to live. They've had an especially significant impact on the "Northside" of Missoula, where I live. They're a great organization and have earned my support.

They are wonderful! MUD Makes it great to live in Missoula

I always feel good about donating to MUD because they do so much with so little.

MUD is a wonderful resource. Their tool library has made it available for me to till a garden & remodel a room in a house with their resources.

MUD is a great asset to the community of Missoula in its effort towards sustainability. Through workshops, shared tools, and various educational programs MUD makes the goal of sustainable living more achievable for many community members. MUD is a special asset for lower-income people trying to use resources efficiently to provide healthy food and environment for their families. I can't remember a time I wasn't aware that MUD is a real treasure ino our community.

I've loved MUD - their tool library and educational programs since I moved to Missoula over 15 years ago. Great community organization!

I have had several friends work at MUD over the years and
marvel at the good things they do there. Also the sense of
community that they exhibit and create. This in addition to
showing that it is possible to have sustainability in an urban
setting. Good work+ good people= a healthy, friendly community!

I have followed this organization for years, and they have proven to be an invaluable addition and contributer to Missoula's upward growth and knowledge base for simple home repairs, community reinvigoration, and spreading hope and inspiration from person to person. Anyone who values community investment would do well to check them out and attend some of their seminars and classes.
One of my favorite classes taught us how to construct a lettuce planter box using old glass doors, to help protect the seedlings from the unpredictable spring weather.

I was hired by the Down Home Project to speak at universities about genetic diversity in cultivars in 1984. My wife Sue and I had our first child at MUD. She was raised in the organic nursery we operated there. It has always been a magnet for fascinating people who are actively experimenting on ways to live better while consuming less. In addition to the usual suspects of hands-on workshops from everything from solar water heating to tofu, MUD has is a place where societal, intellectual and spiritual ideas are freely shared. Here’s to the current crew of brilliant and visionary staff and volunteers that are continuing old traditions and breaking new ground.

MUD is a wonderful community resource. They provide a wonderful educational program and provide many tools to help us live a more sustainable life. The people involved are very passionate, informed and approachable. I love MUD!

Ive worked with MUD on class projects which has lead to further involvement and participation in their programs. The truck share is awesome and the classes offered are practical and guide people on the path of living sustainably.

What a great concept put into action. We've just become aware of MUD and their hands-on approach to sustainable living. We're thinking of making the trip up for the Backyard Chicken Basics workshop. We'll have to miss the Tree Pruning session, but the Electric Fence for Garden and Livestock should come in handy with our chickens roaming the yard.

Thank you MUD for always having a lawn mower, tool and friendly advice to help us fix and maintain our home!

Great fun learning to grow things in my raised beds.

MUD is one of those community organizations that really is "grass roots." It is made up of local volunteers with the desire to improve their community in a sustainable manner. My favorite service is the tool rental- it really helps when you are putting in a garden- but all their services are great. And great people:)

MUD has great workshops. Cheesemaking is one of my favorites!

We've used MUD over the years for tools we otherwise would have had to buy - big expensive things like saws. Thank goodness for the tool library. And I'm so happy to hear they're moving in conjunction with Home Resource. What a great pair they will be together.

My family loves MUD- we have been a member for the past three years and we utilize this organization for their tools and classes offered. They help us to make Missoula more of a sustainable community!

The MUDD project is super awesome. I've taken community workshops and learned about how to better live a sustainable life! Rock on MUDD.

MUD serves a vital role to a community highly interested in preserving our environment through education, outreach, and advice. I strongly recommend MUD to everyone.

I love MUD as a community resource for Missoula and a model for similar work around the world!

When I needed a circular saw for a home project, the MUD tool library had it. I didn't need to rent one or buy one. Good for me, good for the planet!

I used to work for MUD in the late 90s and have always loved the organization for its innovative and resourceful approach to teaching people about sustainable urban living and providing people with valuable resources to support their low-impact lifestyles.

MUD is a great and unique resource for Missoulians. It's a great concept and they really put it into practice, which is most important!

MUD is a wonderful community resource, with a long history of bringing together volunteers to lead sustainable lifestyles in Missoula. The tool library and practical workshops they offer help me live more lightly on the planet.

MUD is a fantastic nonprofit organization in Missoula. It offers classes, provides tools to use for projects, and organizes a number of events in the community, Its goal to live more sustainably and ecofriendly is a good reminder to me to do the same. The staff is very knowledgable and helpful. Thank you, MUD!

I have been a member of MUD since we bought our first home. We used the Tool Library constantly as we remodeled - it was wonderful to not have to buy tools we only needed to use a couple of times. The Tool Librarians were always extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Then, I joined the MUD board almost two years ago and have been so excited to be a part of MUD's incredible growth and innovation over this time period. I am proud to be a part of what's next.

MUD is a great organization that helps Missoula citizens invest in their homes, gardens and community.

MUD does great stuff on their northside site. I've been involved for years helping with gardening, workshops, etc. there. MUD fills a critical niche in the Missoula nonprofit scene by providing this free place to learn about solar panels, strawbales, etc.

MUD is a strong leader in community building practices in Missoula and continues to grow, build relationships and inspire others to invest in our small town.

I lived at MUD back when it was the Down Home Project. My daughter was born there in the house at 619 Phillips. I'm so glad it is still going strong!

I'm glad MUD helps coordinate the annual Earth Day event at Caras park downtown. It's been going for a few years now and there is no bigger celebration in the state.

MUD peole are great! They are really sincere in their desire to live sustainably. Triangle Park has improved the neighborhood and is a remarkably achievement in an often politcally fractious town.

MUD is an incredible asset to the Missoula community. It offers a variety and unique combination of things for the common urban dweller--from the tool library to classes, get togethers. information, a truck. The volunteers and staff at MUD get it right to address unmet needs in Missoula.

MUD has grown and cultivated a renewed interest in community awareness, activity and re-vitalization. MUD's Director, Lauren Caldwell, has an uncanny way of infecting people with her enthusiasm as she explains MUD's goals and projects. Be careful: once you get her started it will be difficult to stop her. Result? You leave with a positive sense of wanting to see change in your own community!!! Not only that, but you now see that it IS possible....

When I first moved to Missoula 12 years ago, I was told about MUD and all that it does for the community and gardens and helping with tools. Well I was amazed by the knowledge and willingness to help. I learned about gardening in Zone 4 & 5. I was loaned tools to help my home projects. During a recent tour ... I liked the brick design they have in the yard, learned the how to and am now duplicating it in my yard ... with recycled brick. Thanks to all the staff and volunteers at MUD, you continue to help and inspire. PS ... one of these days I hope to get to a family and garden celebration.

Proud MUD member since 2004! MUD has been such a valuable resource for me, particularly the AWESOME tool library, though which I've been able to do many of my own home repairs and improvements. I've also benefited greatly from classes in pruning and composting. MUD inspires! MUD makes things possible! MUD is an agent of change!

MUD is an incredible resource! I helped in the creation of Triangle Park in Missoula, the conversion of abandoned asphalt to green space, and MUD helped at so many steps along the way. The use of their truck and tools was especially valuable.

MUD is an amazing place and a wonderful resource. I have the good fortune of living only a couple of blocks from their demonstration site. Their tool library is wonderful and I have been able to do everything from make fresh apple cider to till a new garden to remodel a room in the house with their resources.

We are incredibly fortunate to have this unique resource in Missoula. I have learned how to garden, how to prune trees, and this year I could enroll in Backyard Chickens 101, a great addition, since Missoulians are now permitted to raise six chickens in their backyards--and it's not as easy as we city people might think. Gardening, food preservation, and chicken raising classes contribute significantly to efforts to reduce dependence on food that is hauled clear across the country. Another particularly valuable resource is MUD's Truck Share program. I am a pedestrian/cyclist and seldom need a vehicle. When there is a need, Truck Share enables me to haul home project-related items, take yard waste to the local composting company, EkoCompost. or to free my garage of all that glass I've been saving to the recently established glass recycling collection point. The founders of this organization were way ahead of their time, and I'm grateful to the people whose labors have kept it going all these years.

MUD is great organization driven to make our local community more resilient and sustainable through a wide range of resources and programs operated by MUD

MUD is a great place to get to know the community-- you get your hands dirty, and you really feel as if you're making a contribution. It is both surprising and comforting to run into people around the city and find that you have MUD in common... and it may be the only thing. The Board, the director, the volunteers, everyone is committed and believes in what MUD does. This contagious attitude then spreads and affects the entire town. I know I have been touched by MUD, and I only hope others will, too.

MUD has a long history in Missoula with a positive mission to reskill the the community of Missoula about the importance of low-impact living, sharing of resources, and community celebrations.

MUD rocks! I have been involved with MUD in a number of different roles - member, Volunteer coordinator, events planner, general volunteer. I have had countless positive experiences when going to MUD. I think that this organization plays an important role in our community and has been teaching sustainable living for 25 years! Its incredible how they have been able to adapt through out the years while keeping consistent in their values. Way to go MUD!

MUD's tool lending Library is top notch -- and so are the volunteers who sign the tools out, with top notch advice on how to safely use them!
Liz

MUD rocks! They provide info and services to the community (activities, tools, info on sustainability, etc.)

MUD is a great program that gives famiiles options to live a sustainable lifestyle by offering resources such as trainings and tools that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

MUD has great tools and a unique business that serves the greater good of the community. I love the tool library and all of the things that I can't afford to own!

MUD is a wonderful organization that provides Missoulians with the tools to live a more sustainable existence. Keep up the good work with your workshops, event, tool library, etc.

I serve on the MUD Board of Directors and decided to get more involved in this organization because I think it has really stayed true to its positive message encouraging people to live more sustainably for 30 years now.

MUD is an exceptional nonprofit that helps all members of the public with information on all kinds of home projects, how to do them themselves, gardening to grow their own food, tools to apply with and classes to assist in doing so.

MUD provides an enormously valuable service to the Missoula community. We are incredibly lucky to have it in our small community!

Two words: Tool Library

Of all the excellent and pertinent educational and outreach programs MUD offers to engage the Missoula community the tool library alone makes the MUD project an eminently fundable and essential organization. Empowering homeowners to be self-sufficient is a major step toward stabilizing a tumultuous real estate market and we would do well as a community to ensure that MUD has access to the funding it needs to expand these services outside the Northside neighborhood.

MUD continues to provide a unique educational role in promoting greater sustainability in Missoula and outlying areas. They not only teach people how to do many things relating to local food production, and energy conservation but they show by example. The solar greenhouse built with local materials and gardens have inspired me and countless others to work harder and derive more satisfaction and enjoyment from achieving greater levels of sustainability in an urban environment. Based on the many ideas I learned from MUD I was inspired to design and build a year around passive solar greenhouse for food production and also to use all that was learned from MUD and my project to enhance my classes at the University and to participate in community events aimed at encouraging others to use their creativity to achieve greater sustainability and contribute to the community.

They have so many great things to offer to the community! I used their cider press to make juice out of apples I harvested in the Rattlesnake. If the apples are left on the tree bears come into the neighborhood and get into trouble. Cider making in an incentive to be a part of this other volunteer organization, everyone wins with MUD.

MUD really helps bring people together in this town. The workshops are awesome-- brewing beer, chicken keeping, welding-- and the instructor/volunteers find time to teach these classes while having day jobs, families, and countless other obligations.

The truck share is a unique and wonderful aspect of MUD. Instead of patronizing a corporation for our moving needs, we in Missoula have the option of supporting a local non-profit that values community support and engagement.

MUD was a great resource to me as I planted my garden a couple years ago. Being able to have access to tools without buying them and having people to ask questions made my job much easier.

I joined the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project last summer and continue to be happy member. Personally, I found the tool library very helpful for work on a back yard that very much needed work. More important, I fully support the admirable aims of MUD. Especially in these hard economic times, an organization where people can pool resources and work outside the commercial marketplace is essential.
Bob Rosen

I first became acquainted with MUD when I was a student at the University of Montana, Missoual. Through MUD, I learned a great deal about gardening in cold weather. Since graduation in 2001, I have followed the work that MUD continues to do and am most impressed with the Tool Library.

Love MUD! I have used the Tool Library many times, it is great to be able to do my home projects without having to buy expensive tools that I'll only use once or twice. Have not personally used the Truck Share program yet, but have friends who have and it is also a fabulous idea, as is the DIY project info/ instruction that MUD provides.
Every city should have this type of program!

This is an awesome expression of hope and determination to make a difference in urban gardening, caring for the earth, and being good neighbors.

A great community resource. MUD has friendly, knowledgeable staff, and educational workshops that fall under an important Mission. The Tool Library always seems to have that "special tool" that I need for home repairs and maintenance.

One of many incredible aspects of MUD is their tool library. At least once a week something comes up where I need a tool I don't own to fix a problem I am having at home. Instead of buying an expensive piece of equipment I may use only once, I can count on MUD's tool library having the tool and the knowledgeable staff informing me how to correctly fix my problem. Over the years the library has saved me several thousand dollars.

MUD is an exceptional organization that fills an important role in the Missoula community. Providing access to tools and the truck share is an important service for our community and enhances the sustainability of our community.

I can't tell you how many times I've relied on MUD for the expertise of it's staff and volunteers, the accessibility of quality workshops, and the convenience and affordability of it's neighborhood tool library! As a first-time homebuyer on a moderate income, MUD has been THE community resource for me.

MUD is a great resource for Missoula. I borrow tools for odd jobs from the MUD Tool Library all the time and was given instructions on building a rain barrel. Great people - keepin' it real.

We love MUD. They provide amazing services for Missoula citizens. Our favorite tool we rent from them every year is their apple press. We collect apples with friends and family and get together every year for a giant apple cider party. It has been such a great fall activity for us. Thank you for all of your services!

MUD's tool library is outstanding and so accessible. Thank you to all that have made it an important part of our community.

Absolutely love MUD. Has been a shining star among the over-abundance of nonprofits in Missoula. Always happily donate and support MUD, I always feel any donations to MUD come back many fold to myself and my community.

MUD is a great organization. They attract great volunteers who share an infectious passion for a healthy, sustainable Missoula.

MUD has provided affordable gardening tools for our community garden plot for the past few years, making our garden more affordable given that we live in a small apartment with no storage space.

I'm always impressed with, traditionally, all that MUD accomplishes with the money it has. I've taken gardening classes there, did a wonderful tai chi class once out in the yard, and borrowed a sander from the tool library. I remember first learning about MUD from those little notices on restaurant tables telling about how it collects and reuses coffee grounds. I love MUD.

I love MUD - they create community with everything they do. In particular, I am a regular user of their tool library. With MUD's help, I've created our entire vegetable garden, from roto-tilling the soil to building the deer-proof fencing. Thank you MUD!

I really appreciate the tool library.
I built our chicken coop entirely from tools borrowed from the tool library, and membership cost less then it would to buy any one of the tools necessary to build the coop!

I like the idea that membership dues are based on the level of income of the member.

Also, about ten years ago, I worked in the schools and used MUD activity boxes with the kids with topics such as recycling and composting.
The kids really benefitted from the hands-on experiences and were able to take home the lessons learned to benefit their families.

I support MUD because I believe in sustainable living through shared resources. The tool library is a working example of this. I also support organic and local agriculture. MUD's ongoing education through workshops and hands- on for volunteers is an important part of empowering people to grow their own food and learn about organic agriculture. I am a local sustainable building contractor and have participated in some of MUD's sustainable building projects which gives me the opportunity to share what I have learned with a larger audience.

MUD is a wonderful resource to Missoula. From the tool library, to the hands-on and timely workshops to the demonstration projects. Always worth a stop to get some new ideas, especially for the yard/garden.

I am a single mom who lives in an old house with a BIG yard and fruit trees. I rely on the MUD tool library for all types of equipment to make repairs and take care of my yard and vegetable garden. They always have good advice as well. I would love it if the tool library was open more hours each week. I also love the variety of classes they hold. We are so lucky to have MUD.

I have personally benefitted from M.U.D in a number of ways through the years. I first began gardening 15 years ago at a community garden plot run by M.U.D and have since then created numerous gardens of my own with the help of tools and resources available through M.U.D. The tool library is such a great way to get D.I.Y projects done without spending a fortune, we could never have built our chicken coop without it. What a great help and inspiration for living close to the earth...right in town.

Just having the tool library available for folks to use is an amazing thing. More communities should have something like this.

MUD is an invaluable resource for the residents of Missoula. The tool library is a great way to be able to do those DIY projects without having to break the bank just getting the tools to do the job!

MUD is a great resource to Missoula. They provide concrete, usable services and tools -- like renting a truck or other tools, selling manure, offering gardening classes, etc.

I used to live in Missoula just a few blocks away from MUD, and regularly visited them to use the tool library, get great gardening tips, see the chickens or just hang out in the garden. As a semi-transient college student, MUD made it easier for me to live a more sustainable lifestyle by providing access to tools and other resources for good living.

Missoula Urban Demonstration Project is a wonderful organization. They are instrumental in the community and the work they do changes lives for the better.

The Missoula Urban Demonstration (MUD) project has been an integral part of the Missoula alternative life-style movement for many years now. So long that 'alternative' has become 'mainstream'. MUD sponsors workshops from organic gardening to tying knots, from solar water heaters to garden/orchard fencing. It has done much to encourage 'green' living through its workshops and demonstration projects. MUD is truly an organization that makes Missoula special.

MUD is a great Missoula non-profit! The work that they do has a noticeable positive impact on the community and they are continually improving their programs to meet the needs of the community.

I have volunteered with MUD and helped with the Coffee 2 Compost program along with assisting in the planning of the annual Earth Day celebration. I am also a member and client, having utilized the truck share program and the tool library. Randall in the office is tremendous and the staff in general does everything they can to help the organization succeed. Its teh only site in Missoula that is an active demonstration site for sustainable living practices and their classes help the community incorporate those practices into their own lives.

MUD is one of the organizations that makes Missoula, and especially the Northside, a nice place to be. Their programs truly help people's daily lives become more sustainable and they bring that message to the larger community of Missoula as well through their outreach efforts. They are a fun organization to partner with and they throw some pretty good parties, too. :)

I live a couple blocks from MUD and love the work they do for our improving neighborhood as well as our community as a whole. From their demonstrations to the tools they rent and provide, they've got the best ideas for making our homes and lives more sustainable. It makes me feel good to know they exist and to use their resources.

MUD seems like a great organization. One of my family members is involved and I think the work they do is really helpful to the community.

MUD is a important part of the Northside. growing up going to the gardens was an amazing part of childhood, I learned about gardening in an fun and interesting place.

MUD is synonomous with the Northside. I love the communtiy gardens, workshops, childrens programs, tool library. Best of luck in the contest - you rock!!

Great Resource. Connecting with people today, that were apart of it 25 years ago. Nice to see how it has grown over the years to service the Community!

I love MUD! They started the Northside Community Gardens in which I love to garden and meet with neighbors. The Tool Library has been very helpful for me for all sorts of projects that come up - plumbing, sanding, pruning etc. And I truly appreciate the variety of workshops offered in which I can experience first hand projects I can do at home.

MUD is an incredible public service. I have used it extensively to work on my house and get ideas for new projects.

MUD is an amazing local resource. I used their tool sharing program when I was unable to purchase the tools that I needed for my home repair. MUD builds our community every day.

As a single person living in an apartment, MUD has provided me with the tools I need (literally) to get tasks done so that I don't need to buy them. I've also participated in their truck-sharing program, something that should be done in every neighborhood in this country! These guys and gals have innovative ideas and boundless energy.

MUD is the only organization of its kind in a very large area of Montana and they make Missoula a great place to live in. I really do wish every town in America had an equivalent.

MUD has been core to Missoula for decades, offering a model garden demonstration, free tool library, a inviting center for many volunteers. MUD too has created space for emerging student community leaders. MUD has always taken in University interns that they train and mentor to serve not only MUD but our larger community. I have personally witnessed the emergence of several leaders that had their start at MUD. The organization's impact spreads far beyond its physical borders.

MUD is a great homegrown organization. On the front lines of sustainably living in Missoula, and maybe the only organization that is actively promoting the recycling of grey water. Go MUD!