Yakima County Master Gardeners nuture young gardeners

For kids who love to dig in the dirt, an upcoming gardening class could be a perfect fit.

The Master Gardeners of Yakima County are putting on a gardening class for any child wishing to learn how to grow and care for plants and gardens.

The class was presented locally for the first time last year by members of the Master Gardeners.

The Master Gardeners organization started from a small group of gardeners in King County that helped relieve Cooperative Extension staff by answering questions raised by home gardeners. The program has spread across the country since its launch more than 30 years ago. About 135 Master Gardeners, who must undergo at least 60 hours of training to be certified by Washington State University, are active in the county.

The instructors for the Cultivating Young Gardeners course are Doris Sonstelie and Felicia Faringer, two Master Gardeners in Yakima County.

Prior to moving to Yakima from Montana, Sonstelie retired from her career as a school teacher. She has been involved with the Master Gardeners for about six years.

Faringer was inspired to join the Master Gardeners with her mother as a "mother-daughter" bonding experience. Faringer has been involved in the organization for about 10 years.

Sonstelie often makes presentations at various places, including McClure Elementary School and the Salvation Army.

The young gardener course that will be held Saturday is part of the Master Gardeners' efforts to reach out to young people.

Sonstelie and Faringer started the class in 2010 with about 40 students who raised pumpkins.

This year, they will be using bean and pea plants, rather than pumpkins, for the students to take home because of the extended time it took the pumpkins to grow.

The biggest inspiration for the two Master Gardeners was their "love for children, gardening and being able to share knowledge."

The aim of the class is to give participants a basic idea of what a plant needs in order to grow, including sunlight, water and depth in the soil. In addition, the gardeners say they wish to give students the opportunity to spend time outside to learn where their food comes from and to encourage healthy eating.

On the day of the class, each student will be given seeds to plant in the demonstration garden at the Ahtanum Youth Activities Park in Union Gap. Students will leave with their own seeds to plant at home, as well as a gardening journal.

The journal will allow them to record important dates in the growing process of their plants. The packet also contains a comprehensive set of questions to quiz the students as the plant grows. The students are invited to return Aug. 8 for a final showing of how the peas and beans at the demonstration garden have matured.

If the journal packets are completed and returned by the August session, the participant will receive prizes, organizers said.

Cultivating Young Gardeners

* What: Free seeds and journals for youngsters. Sign up to win free garden tools and gloves.

* When: 10 a.m. Saturday

* Where: Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Ahtanum Youth Activities Park, 1003 Ahtanum Road, Union Gap.

* Cost: Parking and class are free.

* Info: 509-574-1600.

* On the Web: www.yakimacounty.us/wsuext/mastergardeners

* Matt Holford, an eighth-grader at West Valley Junior High School, participated in the 2011 Valley Workshop: Stories in Your Backyard at the Yakima Herald-Republic on May 13-14. The students did reporting, writing and photography under the guidance of professional journalists.