Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Community garden tackles water crisis

in News
Community garden tackles water crisis

Jennifer Mohler admires a pot of Prairie Smoke, a native plant, before it gets planted in the new Crail Ranch Native Demonstration Garden. The garden consists entirely of native plants. PHOTO BY BELLA BUTLER

Jennifer Mohler admires a pot of Prairie Smoke, a native plant, before it gets planted in the new Crail Ranch Native Demonstration Garden. The garden consists entirely of native plants. PHOTO BY BELLA BUTLER
Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
July 24, 2019

By Bella Butler EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

BIG SKY – Even after two full days of planting, Jennifer Mohler, executive director of the Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance, was chock full of vitality. After all, the alliance had finally carried out plans two years in the making: Mohler, along with a handful of other volunteers, planted some 700 plants, all entirely native to the area, in the new Crail Ranch Native Demonstration Garden.

The precarious dilemma that inspired the garden was Big Sky’s excessive water consumption. Ron Edwards, general manager of Big Sky Water and Sewer District, said when looking at past statistics, some years showed summer water usage was seven to eight times what it was during the winter months, despite population trends indicating greatest visitor and resident occupancy during the winter.

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad
ADVERTISEMENT

“The biggest consumptive use of water is [irrigation for] landscapes,” Mohler said, explaining the discrepancy. Native species, after their initial growing period, don’t require additional watering because they are accustomed to the water sources naturally occurring in the area, according to Mohler. “This [garden] is to show the community that you can plant a water-wise garden that is still beautiful.”

John Councilman, chair of GISA, said the Big Sky homeowner’s associations require homeowners to put in irrigation systems. This mandate originated years ago, when there were few homes and fire was the chief threat to the community’s safety in the summer months. Now, Councilman said, it seems the community’s present circumstances have outrun these antiquated policies.

In addition to being a flagship method in preserving Big Sky’s water reserves, the garden also serves the principal mission of the Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance: keeping invasive species out of the area’s landscapes.

“In that setting,” Mohler said, gesturing toward Yellow Mountain, “. . .we have such an impact on the environment.”

Mohler acknowledged that Big Sky is lucky to have a relatively healthy ecosystem, but she also warned that it takes very little to tip the scale. The key, she believes, is taking a proactive approach that saves the community from eleventh-hour action down the road.

Mohler said she often feels like a “Debbie Downer,” having to tell property owners that some of the flowers they count as beautiful are invasive and ought to be removed. She is grateful for the colorful and diverse new garden; a tangible and beautiful way for her organization to showcase what they do.

ADVERTISEMENT
Volunteers gathered July 10 and 11 to bring long-time garden plans to life. PHOTO BY BELLA BUTLER

The garden, which is a collaborative effort between GISA, BSWSD, Gallatin River Task Force and Big Sky Community Organization will use greywater and a water-wise irrigation system to hydrate the plant and vegetable gardens until the root systems are developed. Seventy more species of plants will be introduced to the garden in the fall, including a native species of grass to replace the invasive species that currently surrounds the Crail Ranch property.

“This demonstration project is two-fold, education being the primary one,” said Edwards, alluding to a prospective plan of using the garden as an outdoor classroom space. “It [also] helps answer questions and remove fear.”

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes
outlaw realty montana outlaw realty montana
ADVERTISEMENT
Outlaw Realty Big Sky Bozeman
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Jul 12
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Cretaceous Crossroads Education Celebration

Jul 12
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 13
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 13
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Hooked on the Gallatin

Jul 14
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

Community Hike Big Sky

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

David Yarrow photograph heads to Wildlands auction through Courtney Collins Fine Art
Arts & Entertainment

David Yarrow photograph heads to Wildlands auction through Courtney Collins Fine Art

July 9, 2025
Gallatin Whitewater Fest celebrates community, competition and crowns river royalty
Featured

Gallatin Whitewater Fest celebrates community, competition and crowns river royalty

July 1, 2025
Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy
Business

Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy

June 30, 2025
To the Tune of Hope
Featured

To the Tune of Hope

June 27, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube