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