BURIEN -- An alternative school in Burien is growing its community garden, and along with the vegetables, they're harvesting a little hope.
When you plant a seed, there's a always a chance you'll grow the unexpected. That's what Michael Taylor is learning at New Start High School.
"Did you notice what was growing inside the peas - smell that?" volunteer Jon Feeney told Taylor.
"Whoa! How did that get there? This is mint," Taylor smiled.
Taylor always wanted to garden but never had the chance. The chance to grow something is what New Start is all about.
"You can develop a strong connection with a kid, they do well for a couple weeks and then they disappear. A lot of times they stop coming to school for reasons that are really sad," Susanne Renkin said.
Renkin is Taylor's math teacher, but she's really more than that. She's like a gardener for kids in need of a little more sunshine.
New Start is an alternative school for kids at risk for dropping out. Refugees, homelessness, domestic violence, sex trafficking - these are kids whose "soil" needs a little more care.
"They can do so much more than what they limit themselves to," Feeney said. "A lot of times, they'll just say thank you."
Students are encouraged to take home what they harvest, and sometimes they even take home a little hope.
"Because you never know what's going to happen," Renkin said. "You never know what will actually grow ... it could surprise you. I'm surprised all the time."
King Conservation District helped in the initial start up and continues to provide support.
This is the second growing season. The program is so popular now, the school plans to expand the garden and grow food for area food banks.
"I think it's cool we start with a little seed and we can say we're the ones who helped it reach what it's meant to be," Taylor said.
