MOSES LAKE — Gardeners can get a head start on their flower arrangements and vegetable gardens, and help a good cause besides, this weekend. Future Farmers of America chapters in Moses Lake, Quincy, Othello and Ephrata are sponsoring their annual plant sales, with the money raised going to chapter activities and to restock the greenhouse next year.

“It’s super-crucial,” said Moses Lake High School FFA member Samantha Underwood. “It funds almost everything. Every profit that comes out of this greenhouse goes back to FFA (or) back into our sale next year.”

“It’s mainly a fundraiser for FFA and our ag program combined,” said MLHS FFA member Ian Cox.

“The proceeds of the plant sale will support FFA members on their trip to state convention and other chapter activities throughout the year,” wrote Quincy FFA co-advisor and ag instructor Rod Cool in a press release.

Moses Lake FFA co-advisor and ag instructor Tony Kern said the goal is to make back the investment put into the greenhouse and raise more besides.

“We have about $15,000 in upfront costs,” Kern said.

Students in the MLHS program raise vegetables in the first semester, Kern said, which they take home. The second semester is spent raising flowers and vegetable starts for sale to the public.

“We hope to have a big sale, where we can get everything paid off, and any of the extra proceeds go to support our ag program and FFA activities.”

The students do the work, starting with big empty greenhouses. Really big, really empty greenhouses.

“It was just a bunch of these little planters (filled) with dirt,” Underwood said.

The students then planted the seedlings. Tiny seedlings.

“They were so small,” said Madison Kehr. “They were very small.”

But by the week of the plant sale, those big empty greenhouses out behind Othello, Moses Lake, Ephrata and Quincy high schools are filled with tables of petunias and geraniums, sweet potato vines and marigolds, hanging baskets and various vegetable seedlings.

“When we first walked in and they all had bloomed, it was like, ‘Wow, this is gorgeous,’” Kehr said.

“It’s crazy to see how much we did,” said Kamiah Gaines. “When we first got the plants they were tiny - tiny little plugs. We planted it all, and so it’s really exciting. It makes me happy, seeing all the stuff we did and knowing it’s going to a good cause.”

Gaines said she thinks the greenhouse teaches lessons to all students, whether or not they plan a career in agriculture.

“I think the greenhouse is a really good opportunity for kids to learn real-world stuff,” she said. “Getting your hands dirty and actually doing your own stuff instead of going to the store and buying it. Usually things are just given to you, and this is an opportunity to do your own. Show new skills you didn’t know you had.”

The MLHS sale provides one on one assistance for each customer, something Underwood said she really likes.

“It’s always great to see the faces of these people when you’re helping them with (selection), because we have a lot of age ranges from young adults to senior citizens. Everybody comes in and everybody gets one person to help them with everything they need,” she said. “I really enjoy doing community service projects like this.”

Kern said shoppers should think about getting there early.

“A lot of times we sell out on Friday,” Kern said.

“Quality is excellent. Quantity is limited,” Cool wrote.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

Plant sale dates and times:

(All sales are open as long as supplies last)

Quincy High School, 403 Jackrabbit St. NE

Grand Opening, 2 p.m. Thursday, 2 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday

Moses Lake High School, 803 E. Sharon Ave.

7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Othello High School, 340 S. Seventh Ave.

3 to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

Ephrata High School, 333 4th Ave. NW

3:15 to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday