A Green Thumb and a Gift for Teaching
Faith has been a gardening instructor at TLC for more than three years, and if you spend any time in her class, it is easy to see why her students look forward to it. She has a natural ability to make people feel capable, and she brings that quality into everything she does in the garden. It’s in programs like the Creative Arts Day Program that Faith’s gift for teaching shines, especially for adults with disabilities.
Faith’s gardening class is one of many classes offered in TLC’s Creative Arts Day Program for Adults with Disabilities. Each week, her students work alongside her learning how to plant and tend to flowers, herbs and vegetables. For many of them, it is one of the highlights of their week.
“My role at TLC is about more than gardening. It’s about helping students realize what they’re capable of. Watching them take pride in caring for something living is incredibly powerful.”
What Grows in the Garden
Faith’s classes are hands-on from the start. Students prepare soil, plant seeds and learn how to care for a garden over time. Research from the American Horticultural Therapy Association has shown that working with plants supports well-being and builds a sense of purpose for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This hands-on experience is a hallmark of TLC’s arts day program for adults with disabilities, fostering creativity and growth.
Students come into the class at different levels and with different needs, and Faith meets each of them where they are. Some are learning patience. Others are building focus or practicing working as part of a group. The garden gives all of them a tangible way to see the results of their effort. In fact, these small victories are central to the philosophy behind Creative Arts Day Programs designed for adults with disabilities.
“Seeing a student hold up a tomato they grew themselves and say, ‘I did this,’ brought tears to my eyes. That moment reminded me why this work is so special.”
From the Garden to the Market
Faith’s class does not stop at growing. Students use what they harvest to create a range of handmade products, including bath bombs, lotions, greeting cards and more, which they sell at markets hosted by TLC. For many participants, it is another meaningful way to connect with the wider community and put their skills to work. This is yet another example of how TLC’s Creative Arts Day Program for Adults with Disabilities encourages independence and real-world engagement.
For one student, the garden sparked something unexpected. Working with Faith, they began turning the flowers they grew into handcrafted bouquets, building a small floral business rooted in what they had planted themselves. Truly, such opportunities are a testament to the impact of creative arts day programs designed for adults with disabilities.
What Students and Staff are Saying
The impact of Faith’s class is best described by the people who experience it every day.
“Faith makes gardening fun and calm. She helps me when I get stuck and tells me I’m doing a good job. I love seeing the plants grow with her.”
Her colleagues have noticed, too.
“Faith brings patience, knowledge and so much heart to everything she does. She creates a safe space for students to learn at their own pace and truly bloom. TLC is better because of her.”
There is no better way to get to know Faith than to hear directly from her:
Faith loves what she does, and it shows. At TLC, the garden is one of more than 30 classes offered through the Creative Arts Day Program for Adults with Disabilities where participants can explore their interests, develop new skills and find community. For the students in Faith’s class, the garden has become exactly that kind of place. They can explore their interests, develop new skills and find community. For the students in Faith’s class, the garden has become exactly that kind of place.
Interested in Faith’s class and other inspiring classes at TLC? Visit our programs page to learn more about our Creative Arts Day Program for Adults with Disabilities.