The Happyville Farm project began in 2014 as a network of volunteers bringing fresh local produce to the Community Food Basket-Idaho Falls, to help provide for thousands of families served annually. The farm began planting in 2020 on an acre leased from the City of Idaho Falls to create Idaho’s only urban, organic food bank farm. The farm has more than 12,000 square feet of drip-irrigated healthy soil for growing vegetables.  The farm also has two orchards with apple, cherries, peach, apricot, and plum trees. The back quarter acre of the farm is being developed into an urban forest and woodland classroom. See our farm map for more information.

A unique feature of the farm is the high tunnel, also called a hoop house, it is like a greenhouse but is less expensive. The solar-powered, plastic-covered structures offer a higher-yield, low-cost solution for growing crops through more months of the year. The high tunnel extends the fall harvest into December and the spring harvest starts as early as April. Our goal is to grow as many months of the year as possible while keeping the farm ecologically healthy and sustainable.

The high tunnel is a gift from the East Side and West Side Soil and Water Conservation Districts. 

We create our compost with two Earthcubes, a closed-vessel system designed by Green Mountain Technologies in Bainbridge Island, WA. The closed-vessel design prevents access by insects, rodents, stray cats, or dogs and eliminates any potential for odors that could bother people on the farm or neighborhood. Our composter was built by a local fabricator using an IBC tote generously donated by Basic American Foods. Our composter reaches over 130 degrees temperature to break down material quickly and kill pathogens and weed seeds. 

Having our composting system saves the farm money, makes us more sustainable, and creates the high-quality compost we need to grow those great vegetables and fruit! 

Our hives (Langstroth and top bar) are a HUGE attraction at our urban farm. The picture to the left shows the Langstroth beehives, which are vertically modular bee hives with vertically hung frames, an open bottom board with an entrance for the bees, boxes containing frames for brood and honey, and an inner cover and top cap to provide weather protection. Volunteering at the farm is a great way to learn about beekeeping.