Every Monday and Wednesday, volunteers at the Shared Harvest Community Garden prepare about 48 pounds of fresh produce for delivery to Father Bill’s Kitchen at St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho. There, it's cooked into nutritious meals for homeless and financially struggling individuals five days per week. 

“It ensures they get some fresh produce in their diet that they don’t normally get,” said Garden Treasurer Christie Masters.

The Garden has provided about 900 pounds of produce so far this year and expects to reach 3,000 pounds by year's end.

It has donated fresh produce to individuals in need since 2008, but now the garden is in danger of closing.

Currently under private ownership by Marshall and Dolly Mend, the property will be liquidated a year following their passing unless The Shared Harvest Garden gathers the funds to purchase it. The property, located on 10th Street and Foster Avenue, takes up three city lots which must be purchased together, with a total estimated purchase price between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.

The Garden currently has about $20,000 in reserves and recognizes that it is a long way from being able to purchase the property. Garden volunteers are searching for sources of financial support. Masters plans to investigate the property's historical value with the assistance of the Museum of North Idaho to build more enthusiasm for saving it. She fears the garden will be developed into a housing project if a different buyer picks it up.

“What’s the history and what does the community want the future to be?” Masters said. “Because if we can’t hold on to it, then it will become houses. We all know that’s what will happen.”

The Garden began as a group of individual plots a decade ago and gradually transitioned to a community model. The gardeners have donated produce since the Garden’s origin to causes such as Community Action Partnership, 3rd Avenue Marketplace, Union Gospel Mission and families with a member suffering from ALS. 

Today, each gardener keeps about 1 pound of produce for themselves, and the rest is donated to Father Bill’s Kitchen. The Garden also provides a welcoming space for anyone in the Coeur d’Alene community. 

Homeschool groups and special needs groups use the garden for outdoor classes. The Garden is also a venue for memorials, baby showers, Audubon Society talks and the Harvest Festival in October. Locals visit the garden simply for a quiet space to hang out. 

“It’s not just a community garden, it’s a community space that gets used,” Masters said. 

The future of the Garden is a looming uncertainty as they prepare for their annual fundraising event, Dinner Under the Stars. The event, featuring a buffet dinner, bar, live music and auction, is scheduled Aug. 22. 

Their previous fundraiser three years ago brought in $20,000, and they hope to raise a similar amount this year. The funds will allow them to cover maintenance costs, property taxes and utilities for another year, but they do not expect to raise enough to help them purchase the property. To accomplish that, they still need to gather a lot more community support.

“It raises money to do those things and to keep the garden going so we can keep raising food for people,” Masters said.

The Garden depends on community support, with around 25 volunteer gardeners devoting their time, and several others contributing to property maintenance. Over the years, Boy Scouts have contributed by providing benches and an entry sign. 

If the gardeners are unable to gain the support to purchase the property, they will continue producing food for individuals in need until the day the property is liquidated. If it comes to it, they will find a new plot and start over. 

“But there aren’t a lot of spaces anymore,” Masters said, “so we think it’s important to try and hang on to this one. Not just for the garden, but for the community. I mean, there aren’t places like this anywhere else in town.”

To learn more about The Shared Harvest Community Garden or purchase tickets for the fundraising event, visit sharedharvestgarden.org.

    Christie Masters and Michael Lee at The Shared Harvest Community Garden with 48 pounds of fresh produce to be delivered to Father Bill's Kitchen.

    Shared Harvest Community Garden volunteers Michael Lee holding shih tzu/Yorkie mix Lucy, Ronnie Semko, Christie Masters, and Casey Carr in front of the garden's entry sign.