Mentoring garden ready for season

Weed, seed, water and watch the magic unfold.

New Vision High School students donned gloves and dug into the dirt last week as they prepared the Post Falls Community Garden for the growing season.

Avary Hunsaker carefully sowed spaghetti squash seeds, lightly patting the soil after each seed was covered.

“I love to garden,” she said. “My major in college I want to be botany. I thought this was a really great opportunity for me.”

The 14-box herb, flower and vegetable garden next to the Post Falls Senior Center on Third Avenue is managed by students of the Post Falls School District through the Alternative to Suspension program, led by supervisor Mark Jones.

Alternative to Suspension gives students facing suspension and expulsion opportunities to participate in community service in lieu of being sent home.

The program also give students a way to make up for absences as well as provides elective credits for those wanting to graduate early. It originally launched in 2003. A "mentoring garden" has been offered through the program since 2006. It is in its third location after moving from two previous areas in Post Falls. Kootenai Technical Education Campus students built new garden boxes in 2021.

New Vision junior Echoe Stapel helped plant the garden last year.

“I worked with the squash a lot,” she said. "It was so happy last year."

She said she used to garden with her great-grandma when she was little, but no longer lives close to her great-grandma, who has since curtailed her green thumb days.

"This is my way of being able to continue on her tradition," Echoe said. "It brings a little bit of peace. I’m able to calm down and kind of like reset."

Everything grown in the garden is donated to the Post Falls Senior Center, which uses the produce in congregate meals and meals that are delivered to seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. This year's crops will include tomatoes, onions and about seven different kinds of squash.

"It’s a big deal for who we’re growing it for,” Jones said. "It’s easy for us to manage it. It’s easily digestible, cookable, can last, it’s hearty."

The garden boasts a new arbor built by Post Falls High School senior John Paul Jenne for his Eagle Scout project.

At least 20 students will manage the garden and help out in the senior center this summer.

*SIDEBAR OR INFOBOX

The Post Falls School District Stuff the Bus Food Drive will be held May 31 through June 3. This year's goal is to stuff a school bus with 4,800 pounds to fill the shelves of the Post Falls Food Bank.

Drop off non-perishable food items at any Post Falls elementary school.

Most needed items:

• Canned meals — ravioli, spaghetti, stews

• Canned fruit

• Canned or packaged soups

• Breakfast cereal

• Snack bars

• Diapers