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Hi, my friend
From the moment Katie revealed to the crew that she'd been conducting underground due-diligence to determine whether acquiring Aster Garden Center would be a wise move for KLT, there has been a quiet shift happening in our organization. We've always been an optimistic bunch, but this decision has produced more hope, more ideas, more love for our community, and more exposure for the conservation, connection, and community work we do together.
It was October 11th of last year that we publicly announced our intent to purchase Aster. On April 11th, just 6 months later, we will officially re-open the nursery as an initiative of Kaniksu Land Trust! Just when I thought I couldn't be more inspired, Aster has given us a community hub of conservation, a welcoming new HQ for the KLT crew, and a place to hang out with native and polllinator-friendly plants (and plant-people) - and we haven't even opened yet!
I hope you can be here with us on this special day when we celebrate this huge milestone for KLT and for our community.
Aster Garden Center Grand Opening
924 West Superior Street, Sandpoint
Saturday, April 11, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
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Katie’s latest Dry As Dirt Letter takes a different path than usual. It’s still written from the trail, but this time the miles felt a little heavier. As she runs, Katie shares honest thoughts from a tough night before. It’s a real and personal moment that she invites us to be part of. Read your letter.
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The recently completed Dillin Farms Conservation Easement now protects 66 acres of family farmland in the shadow of Hall Mountain in far North Idaho. This location, nearly on the Canadian border, serves as a strategic corridor for grizzly movement across the Kootenai River Valley between the Selkirk and Cabinet Ranges and is a known grizzly use area, which has contributed to the protection of other lands in the vicinity. The property also lies within the Panhandle Complex Big Game Priority Area and serves a wide array of wildlife species. Kaniksu Land Trust is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Y2Y, USDA-NRCS, and the longtime landowner to permanently conserve this important farmland parcel.
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Pine Street Woods Trail Closures In Effect
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Pine Street Woods: We now have two simultaneous forestry projects underway and have closed the access road from West Pine. Given that the majority of the trails at Pine Street Woods can still be used, we have opted to keep Pine Street Woods open, closing individual trails as needed. Please observe trail closures - indicated by signage or caution tape. If you encounter a trail closed sign, please turn around and go back.
Sled Hill: Work to implement features of the Sled Hill Master Plan begin Monday! Awesome news, but expect closures while we work on the access road, parking areas, and the new trail around the pond.
Subscribe to our WhatsApp trails community for timely alerts and trail closure details or call the KLT office if you would like more information.
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Since 2019, The Trail Fairy Fund has supported trail-related initiatives across Bonner and Boundary Counties. From helping build “Big Buck” trail at the Sled Hill to supporting the the new Syringa Trails map by local trail user and cartographer Lee France, its impact is everywhere. Have you stopped and looked at the new maps installed on all of the kiosks? These maps include a QR code that links to Avenza Maps, so you can easily find your location on the trail. Want to help keep the magic going? Read More
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In a hundred years, lands protected by Kaniksu Land Trust will still be mostly as they are today. But, a lot of other things will change. Sandpoint Rotary and the Bonner County Daily Bee are partnering with us to preserve the past with a time capsule to be buried at Pine Street Woods on May 3rd during Rotary’s District Conference, and opened 100 years from now, in 2126.
You are invited to submit a small, tangible item, idea, story, or memory that describes life in 7B today or predicts what it will be in 100 years. Your message will be printed on archival paper and sealed in a metal cylinder. Send your message to the future by noon on May 1 to davidkeyes09@gmail.com, or deliver your object to Northwest Auto Body, 1305 Michigan Street.
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Introducing The Camp Kaniksu Junior Counselor Program
Want to help your 12-14 year old develop leadership skills? Camp Kaniksu Junior Counselors help instructors, support younger campers, and make camp safe, fun, and welcoming, while learning leadership and outdoor skills. If your teen loves being outdoors, enjoys working with kids, and wants to build their leadership cred, we encourage them to apply HERE.
P.S. The deadline to get your kids into the Camp Kaniksu registration waiting pool is March 31st. Here's the link.
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A Tree Worth Quaking Over
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Remember that big aspen we shared in a past eNews? It just got official. The University of Idaho Big Tree Program confirmed the aspen in Kids Camp at Pine Street Woods is the largest quaking aspen in Idaho (their online list hadn’t caught up at the time of writing).
Students from Washington Elementary and Sandpoint High School helped measure it with local forester Bill Love. The tree reaches 97 feet tall and 11 feet around, beating the previous champion. Next time you’re hiking PSW, point it out and share the story.
Read More
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A Grape Place To Work
Some juicy new jobs have just come on the vine. Learn more about joining our wild bunch at kaniksu.org/careers.
🍇 Aster Garden Center Nursery Coordinator
🍇 Conservation Project Manager
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Work to Live. Live to Give.
Maybe your job makes it possible for you to invest in your community through gifts to Kaniksu Land Trust. Some ways to hold onto your paycheck while making tax-advantageous donations are:
- Qualified Charitable Deductions from your retirement account
- Donating stock
- Donor Advised Funds
It's beginning to feel a lot like tax time. Your tax-smart gifts now will make next year's time happier. Give a gift to future-you and KLT with non-cash giving options.
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Getting Colorful Here
These colorful buttons have a purpose. Here's a legend:
- Green is for KLT events
- Red is for Kaniksu Folk School workshops
- Purple is for Aster activities
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Because Partner Sponsors
Why are KLT events so successful? These businesses and community members support our major fundraising events so that proceeds can go directly toward the work we all do. Bonus - that makes a portion of your event ticket qualify as a tax-deductible donation for you! Learn More
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Here We Go Again
KLT has been accredited by LTA's Land Trust Accreditation Commission since 2014. This recognition shows that we meet strong national standards for caring for land, operating responsibly, and keeping conservation promises for the long term. Fewer than 35% of land trusts in the United States are accredited.
It's time to apply for reaccreditation. As part of the process, there is now a public comment period. If you’d like to share feedback about how KLT meets national quality standards, you can learn more or submit a comment at landtrustaccreditation.org or by emailing info@landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments are most helpful by June 1, 2026.
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"The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway."
-Michael Pollan
See you out there,
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Connect with your people on and off the trail when you
join our WhatsApp community.
| | Uncover past issues of The Dirt HERE. | | Caring for the land and people of the Kaniksu Region, today, tomorrow, and forever. | | Kaniksu Land Trust acknowledges that we work within the traditional territories of Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Kalispel Tribe, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe. | | | | |
