By now, you have probably seen the viral 6 minute video of a hiker that had an encounter with a mountain lion. We live amongst the wildlife in Boise County and no matter the species, residents and visitors should always remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings. Our community does a great job alerting others right away of any mountain lion sightings and share recordings from their security cameras on Facebook.

Elk and deer roam our area and they are the natural prey base for mountain lions. When living or visiting the mountains, it’s always important to be prepared for any encounters with wildlife. Below are some tips from mountainlion.org should you ever come across a mountain lion while spending time in the mountains.

Make noise.
Yell, shout, bang your walking stick or water bottle. Make any loud sound that cannot be confused by the lion as the sound of prey. Speak slowly and as loudly as possible.

Seem as large as possible.
Make yourself appear larger by picking up children, leashing pets in, and standing close to other people. Open your jacket. Raise your arms. Wave your raised arms slowly.

Act defiant, not afraid.
Maintain eye contact. Never run past or away from a mountain lion. Don't bend over or crouch down. Aggressively wave your arms, throw stones or branches, do not turn away.

Slowly create distance.
Assess the situation. Consider whether you may be between the lion and its kittens, prey or cache. Back away slowly to give the mountain lion a path to retreat, never turning your back. Give the lion the time and ability to get away.

Protect yourself.
If attacked, fight back. Protect your neck and throat. People have used rocks, jackets, garden tools, tree branches, walking sticks, fanny packs and even bare hands to turn away mountain lions.

If you’re like me you love the easy care, splash of color that a border or basket of Geraniums adds to the summer décor.  The deer tend to leave them alone and if pruned and watered properly, they will bloom all summer long.  In fact, I have one now, in October, that is puny but still flowering.

Rather than toss them away and re-purchasing in the spring, it is possible to keep them over the winter.

Try this:
Before frost remove the plant from the pot.  Trim away all  the wilted and dead leaves.  Remove all  the buds and flowers.  Carefully shake the soil from the roots.  Take as much dirt away without harming the roots.  Place the plant in a dry place overnight to insure it dries out completely.  Gently place the plant into a paper bag or box.   Roll the top of the bag or overlap the lid of the box to protect the plant.

Check the plant about once a month.  Remove any moldy or mildewy leaves and put the plant away again.
In early spring start to spritz the plant occasionally with water.  You’ll observe small leaves starting to emerge.  In April or May repot the plant and let it grow out.   About 2 weeks before the weather is warm enough to put the pots outside, cut the new length back to ensure the summer plant will grow out nice and full.

Enjoy!

Volunteerism is the heartbeat of the Garden Valley community and the fulfilling feeling of giving back and contributing to society is unparallel. One of the ways we give back is through the Garden Valley Foodbank.

Garden Valley Foodbank is a non-profit organization which distributes free food to families in the Garden Valley/Lowman area.  GVFB was established a few years ago and is partnered with the Idaho Foodbank.

Garden Valley Foodbank is open for distribution for free food the second Friday of every month at Calvary Chapel located at 872 S Middlefork Rd. from 4-5 pm.  Calvary Chapel supplies the storage, coolers and freezers.  Shipment of food is about an hour before distribution from the Idaho Foodbank’s main facility in Boise.  It is delivered by local volunteers.  Free food and personal care items are available to anyone in need.

A donation box is located at the Garden Valley Market and food donations and/or charitable donations can also be delivered to Calvary Chapel.

We appreciate all the hard work and dedication from all of those who help our community!
For more information to volunteer or donate please contact Toni Palmiotto 208-315-5418

The Garden Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts several events throughout the year.  

Starting the New Year off with a lantern lighting at the Weilmunster Park on December 31 at 6:00, the town gathers together and sends lanterns into the sky creating a beautiful display.  Lanterns are available for purchase a couple of weeks prior to this event.  The money raised from the Lantern Sales goes to a scholarship fund for a local graduating HS Senior.

July 4th is a time-honored tradition in Garden Valley beginning with a Flag Raising Ceremony followed by various events in town during the day along with the famous “duck” race down the Middle Fork River.  Ducks are purchased with prizes being awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.  The proceeds go to help raise money for the fireworks.  A parade thru town gets everyone in and ready for the big finale at the end of the day, a beautiful display of Chamber Sponsored fireworks at Weilmunster Park.  

October is another fun time as we have Trunk or Treat in downtown Crouch by the Community Center and City Hall.  People come and decorate their cars so that kids can have a safe environment to trick or treat.  Prizes are given out for best decorated vehicle.  It is always fun to come out and watch the little kids in their costumes and a great time to visit with friends you haven’t seen for a while.  This event takes place the last Saturday in October.

A new event we are trying this year, is an Oktoberfest for Chamber Members.  It will be held at the Weilmunster Park beginning at 6:00 on October 1st.  Appetizers and drinks will be provided along with musical entertainment.  All Chamber Members are invited to attend.  If you have not yet joined the Chamber, now is a good time to do it.  You don’t have to be a business owner to join, individuals can join as well.  We encourage everyone to join and help with these community events. 

Garden Valley Properties is excited to announce a new agent, Dani Welsh!

Dani moved to Garden Valley in the fall of 2019, she is an experienced agent and brings a unique charisma to the valley. Dani has been a licensed member of the National Association of Realtors and Boise Regional Realtors since 2017.

Dani’s is passionate when it comes to helping families find homes that exceed their expectations. She excels within negotiations to ensure the best outcome for her clients. We are pleased to have her join the GVP team and look forward to her future contributions to the community