HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-23 Public Comment - R. Moppert - Public Comment (City Hall Garden Plot Ground Squirrels)From:Ross Moppert
To:Agenda
Subject:Public Comment (City Hall Garden Plot Ground Squirrels)
Date:Monday, June 12, 2023 10:13:47 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless
you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Good Morning,
I’m writing looking for a solution to the ground squirrel infestation at the city hall community garden plots. Our
garden is getting massacred! I’ve asked parks a recreation for a solution but they have said that my only recourse is
fencing them out at my own cost and labor (plot rent is already $40).
Proper fencing must be buried 18” to be effective but that’s not feasible, and also very expensive. Gardener rules
also state fencing must be taken down year after year. I’m curious the protocol for ground squirrel remediation in
other departments of the city (ie when it’s causing property damage).
30% of our garden was destroyed the first night. If any of you are gardeners you can relate to the extreme
frustration of growing your own starts for months and seeing them eatten without a solution. If this “community
garden” is truly for the community, accommodations must be made to encourage its participants success.
If this wasn’t so frustrating it might be comical. Many of the community gardeners are new gardeners who invest
large amounts of time, money and love. Gardening in southwest Montana is challenging as it is let alone with
voracious pests waiting in the bushes without any remediations.
Some quick math might lend some perspective to the humor of the community garden plot gardeners delema.. $40
rent +Let’s say $40 starts +$40 fencing/ fencing posts= $120 for a garden plot that is shaded half the day by million
dollar vacation rental condos, and ultimately might produce $20 of viable produce??
Thank you for taking the time to read this email and value my concerns. My name is Ross Moppert and I have
lived in Bozeman for 18 years. I’ve moved a dozen times, still can’t afford a house, but have maintained rental of
my garden plot for about 10years. To be honest it’s never been that successful but the ground squirrels don’t even
give the garden a fair chance. I hope this email resonates with someone and we can get it fixed.
I work at Bridger Brewing so anyone who reads this can come in and and we can chat. I’ll even buy you a beer for
your caring.
Thank you,
Ross Moppert
Sent from my iPhone