SANDPOINT — Kaniksu Land Trust has purchased Aster Garden Center, transforming the local nursery into a mission-driven venture that supports conservation, education, and community stewardship.
The acquisition marks a new chapter for the land trust, which has conserved thousands of acres, built many miles of community-access trails, and brought hundreds of children outdoors each year, largely from an office tucked away in a business park. By relocating to Aster, KLT is moving its operations into the center of the community, making its mission more visible and accessible.
“This is where conservation and community meet every single day,” said KLT Executive Director Katie Egland Cox. “Aster embodies our values of caring for the lands and people of the Kaniksu region, today, tomorrow, and forever.”
Aster will provide an income stream to support KLT’s programs, diversifying revenue sources and adding stability and growth to existing programs. The purchase also offers a permanent home for its staff and operations. The existing 1,200 square foot building on-site will receive a modest remodel in order to accommodate staff offices.
With a focus on pollinator-friendly, drought-tolerant, perennial, and native plants, the garden center aligns directly with KLT’s mission. Customers can support biodiversity and reWild their own backyards, extending conservation efforts from wild landscapes to private lands. KLT plans to continue to offer the same high-quality products and knowledgeable staff that Aster customers have come to expect, while building onto that foundation with even more opportunities for community engagement.
KLT envisions Aster as a “third space” outside of home and work where people can gather, learn, and connect. Plans include workshops, seasonal events, and opportunities for volunteers and partners to contribute. The longtime shop cat, Kitty, will remain a fixture.
For Paul and Karen Oleson, founding Aster was as much about creativity and community as it was about plants. The couple purchased two overgrown lots on Superior Street in 2015, envisioning a fresh start for both the land and themselves. What began as a 30×40 machine shop building used for storage became a vibrant garden center, developed almost entirely by their own hands.
“Stepping back after the landscaping was finished, with the vines climbing, the walls in place, the trees and greenery full, that was the most gratifying moment,” Karen recalled. “It was like living inside a sculpture.”
When Aster officially opened in April 2020, just as the world shut down for COVID-19, gardening surged in popularity as people turned to their yards for comfort. “In some ways, the timing worked in our favor,” Paul said. “People were home, improving their living spaces, and we became a place they wanted to be.”
For the Olesons, the heart of Aster was never just about selling plants. “We became the town therapists,” Karen joked. “People came not only to shop, but to talk, to connect. It mattered to us that they felt cared for.” Their granddaughter even painted small rocks to hand out to customers — a simple gesture that became a cherished memory.
Paul, who had always worked for others before Aster, found fulfillment in this new role and a creative outlet in metalwork, gabions, and garden structures. “It was a complete shift from driving a propane truck or working at Schweitzer,” he said.
Customers felt the difference. Many referred to visiting Aster as an “experience” rather than an errand — an oasis inside city limits. The Olesons are proud that people came to Aster not just for plants, but for the way it made them feel.
Though they loved the business, the Olesons knew it was time to move on to new adventures with grandkids, travel, and hobbies. But they wanted Aster to continue as a nursery. “When we put it on the market, there were other offers, but some wanted to turn it into a dance studio or a van-lifer court,” Paul said. “We couldn’t imagine that. We wanted Aster’s values to live on.”
That’s why KLT’s offer felt like such a perfect fit. “They’ll carry forward what we built. It’s not just about profits. It’s about people and the earth,” Paul said.
Paul admitted it feels strange not having a daily to-do list at the nursery. “I still get that nagging feeling, like I should be out there watering or building something,” he said. “But that’s just part of the transition.”
“By purchasing Aster, we gain more than a retail space,” Katie shared. “We gain a place to bring our mission alive, creating a place for people to unwind and rewild their own spaces for a sustainable community.”
The public is invited to a soft opening on Saturday, October 25th during Kaniksu Folk School’s Harvest Festival gathering on site at Aster. Event details are posted on the Event page at kaniksu.org.
Aster Garden Center will reopen to the public Tuesday, April 14, National Gardening Day, with a grand re-opening celebration. More details about that event will be released in the future. For more information, visit kaniksu.org/astergarden.
Kaniksu Land Trust has purchased Aster Garden Center with plans to use the nursery as part of a venture that supports conservation, education, and community stewardship.
A view of the Aster Garden Center, which was recently purchased by the Kaniksu Land Trust.
Kaniksu Land Trust has purchased Aster Garden Center with plans to use the nursery in an effort to support conservation, education, and community stewardship.
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