Christiane Rudmann, Board Chair
Chris was born and raised in Germany and moved to Montana in 2014. Her grandparents and parents have gardened for as long as she can remember and passed the love for growing flowers, fruit & veggies onto her. Chris started gardening with HCG in 2021 and joined the Board in early 2022. She is currently serving her second term as Board Chair. Chris is dedicated to working with the Board on moving HCG into its next decade and to keep ensuring that all Helena families have access to garden plots and with that, to fresh food.
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Whitney Bausch, Board Vice Chair
Whitney was born in Butte, and spent many years in western Washington and Missoula before moving to Helena in 2016. She started gardening at the Sixth Ward Garden in 2018 due to a lack of gardening space in her own yard. Whitney joined the Board in 2019 and is currently serving her second term as Board Vice Chair. Whitney is also the garden manager of the Sixth Ward Garden. She believes that HCG can, and should, be a part of ensuring that all community members have access to nutritious food.
Trish Ackart, Treasurer
Trish was born and raised in Cut Bank Montana. She moved to Helena after graduating in 2001. Even though Trish has been away for a bit she still takes pride in being a Hi Line girl! Her love of gardening came from also being a farm child growing up. In early 2022 she and her husband were able to join the Waukesha garden community, and Trish joined the board in late 2022. They enjoy getting down to the garden with their 2 young boys, playing in the dirt and watching their garden grow.
Trish takes great pride in being a part of the HCG, always looking to help our community provide for their families. Trish is currently serving her second term as HCG’s Treasurer.
Vacant, Secretary
Amie Butler, Board Member & Head Garden Manager
Master Gardener, Amie was raised on a ranch in Northwest Colorado. Animals became her first love, and she followed her dream of becoming a veterinarian, graduating from Veterinary School at Colorado State University in 1977. As she puts it, “she did large animal veterinary stuff for 20 plus years, before accepting a job with U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Veterinary Services.” Now retired, Amie lends her expertise to garden management and is an excellent resource on pest management.
Les Clark, Board Member & Head Garden Manager
Les has worked with non-profit organizations for nearly forty years, including Growing Friends of Helena, Montana Independent Living Project, RMDC, and the Center for Mental Health. He is a founding board member of Helena Community Gardens. He is particularly drawn to the vision of having a community garden within walking distance of every neighborhood in Helena so that people can learn to grow their own healthy food. He also enjoys connecting children with gardens. Fascinated by the miracle of life he sees in plants, Les has been a Master Gardener for six years and gardened for more than fifty.
Amanda Coyle, Board Member
Amanda was born in Connecticut and raised in South Florida before moving to Montana as an AmeriCorps member with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in 2021. Previous to AmeriCorps, she was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mongolia. These two experiences instilled a deep sense of service and need to help others whenever possible. Amanda is currently the program coordinator for a new AmeriCorps program with the Montana Department of Agriculture. This position has sparked an interest in agriculture, gardening, local food systems, and helping our neighbors get access to healthy foods. HCC offers a space where she can serve the Helena community while exploring the world of gardening with purpose. She has just purchased some acreage where she hopes to expand her gardening pursuits in the future.
Alice Hinshaw, Board Member
Alice was born and raised in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She moved to Montana in 1973, and for many years she worked in farming and animal husbandry. She has been an attorney in Helena for 30 years. Alice is passionate about youth programs, animals, gardening. Recently retired from her law practice, she is enjoying the opportunity to focus on community service, family and gardening. As a Montana Master Gardener, joining Helena Community Gardens as a volunteer and board member is the perfect fit!
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Jake Mohrmann, Board Member
Born and raised in Helena, Jake and his family have recently settled back in Helena after living and gardening at 10,000 feet elevation in Colorado. Jake is a Master Gardener and co-garden manager at the Covenant Community Garden where he enjoys gardening with his family.
Gretchen Tigner, Board Member
Gretchen believes in service and in contributing to the greater good. She told us: “A community garden has many benefits: giving people the opportunity to grow fresh food, supporting beginning gardeners efforts, encouraging people to learn and dig in the dirt just to name a few. I can get behind that 100%.