PSNI’s Greenhouse set to open May 6
Panhandle Special Needs clients, John Painter, left and Christie Hampton use learned skills to get plants ready for sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 6 at The Greenhouse, 1424 N. Boyer Avenue.
Courtesy photo
Every gardener in the panhandle has been itching to don their gloves and set their trowels to work planting, but the weather forecasters keep cautioning against it. Well, it now looks like the wait is over, and Panhandle Special Needs, Inc.’s Greenhouse is more than ready to provide them with an abundance of plants for all gardens.
Opening May 6, the Greenhouse, at 1424 N. Boyer Ave., Sandpoint, will be open from 10-4, seven days a week.
“When I took over the Greenhouse six years ago, the clients and I had fifty baskets to sell. We now have 400,” Work Services Manager Kim Derr said. She and PSNI clients, all adults who are developmentally challenged, made 87 of the baskets. The rest were procured, but it’s been the diligent watering, deadheading and gentle caring that has made them all flourish and ready to grace your home.
Derr said that between two and four clients are out working in the Greenhouse with her every day. Depending on their skill sets, they’ll perform all the needed duties including sweeping the floors. The benefit to the clients is that they learn skills that may one day be applied toward working out in the community.
“Besides gardening skills, clients are taught customer service skills, how to be on time and how to follow directions,” Derr said. “Along with learning employment skills, they learn good hygiene. That’s a big one.”
The Greenhouse features hanging flower baskets along with vegetables, perennials, annuals and, not to be left out, tomatoes.
“When I first started, we planted some onions, sunflowers, and nasturtiums. Now we’ve expanded with Early Girl, Sun Sugar and Cherry tomatoes which are all very popular. There’s also zucchini, peppers, radishes, and peas,” Derr said.
PSNI’s Work Services is dedicated to developing opportunities for people with disabilities in Bonner and Boundary counties. They help over 200 clients each year learn to live, work, and play more independently.
Information: Panhandle Special Needs, Inc., panhandlespecialneeds.org