Community Garden Revitalizes its Roots

Kettle Falls resident Jen Farnam decided in 2013 that it was about time to bring some love and joy to the community in the form of a garden that would be available and free to anyone who wanted. With the help of friend Deanna Hurst, Farnam worked with the city and its residents to create the Kettle Falls Community Garden.

“The city had this plot behind the high school that they needed maintenance on,” said Farnam. “They thought it was a great idea. Deanna and I got things going, raised money through donations, and cleaned it up. It’s a huge plot of land, belongs to the city. It is considered a city park.”

Farnam said the garden is made up of individual plots, and the people who tend to them are responsible for taking care of them.

“When we were getting started, we did all of the work. We dug the trenches for water. We had a storage unit moved in so that the gardeners could keep their tools. We built raised beds for the handicapped and elderly. To get started, Columbia Cedar donated wood for the raised beds.”

Along with the raised beds, Farnam utilized the practices of Hugelkultur. “This is a type of mound gardening, and it comes from Germany,” she said. “You dig down and ‘lasagna-layer’ it, which means layering organic materials like compost, cardboard, and leaves on top of the ground in order to cut down on watering.”

She added that the Kettle Falls Community Garden is dedicated to Danny Hodgson, one of the first gardeners there and now the only one left.

“We call it the Danny Hodgson Kettle Falls Community Garden, and there is a plaque at the entrance. Danny is autistic, and therefore very shy. But he has been with us since the beginning.”

Due to time and circumstance, the garden has fallen into disrepair. “The boxes are falling apart, and weeds have taken over the garden,” said Farnam. “I had to leave the garden in 2020. I had my own garden at home, and there were other things going on. The manager of the garden fell and hurt herself.”

Farnam said she believes that the community needs this garden. “I can’t let this go. I think that a lot of people don’t even know that it’s there. There is a lot of space available for people who want to tend a plot.

“We used to have the elementary school involved with the pumpkins. One year, the high school built bird houses, and the younger kids painted it.”

She added, “I’m starting the effort to put the community garden back together. I’m working with the Rotary, the city, local businesses, and volunteers to donate time and money for this project. The 1804 Club is also pitching in, helping to repair the broken down boxes.” The 1804 Club is a youth program based out of the BreadHaus in Kettle Falls, she said.

Farnam believes that, once people see that the garden is there and growing again, more people will participate. People who live in apartments or don’t have access to planting their own gardens can participate in the community garden for free. “It’s important for people to know where their food comes from.

“I will actively find people to participate in the garden, and I will hire a new manager, I might do some flowers to bring pollinators in,” she said.

Farnam said the community garden has a Facebook page with more information on how to get a plot. Kettle Falls City Hall has applications for getting a space, as well.

“Anyone who is interested can contact city hall, and they will be assigned a space. We have free water on site. Soon, the city will be installing portable toilets. Also, we have a shed with tools that anyone can use.”

The Kettle Falls Community Garden is hosting a cleanup event on April 11,  at 9 a.m.

Farnam said, “The clean-up event will last until whenever, and the Rotary will provide snacks and drinks. It will be great. We will fix fences and boxes.

“The garden is located on Evergreen behind the high school. You can’t miss it.”

Contributors to the Kettle Falls Community Garden include Columbia Cedar, Mike Matney, Dirt Works, Kettle Falls Rotary Club, Eric Weatherman, Wicked Wild Designs, and True Value Kettle Falls.

For more information on the Kettle Falls Community Garden call or text Jen Farnam at 509-690-8396.