Tyler Flanders, a recent St. Cloud Area School District graduate, has a green thumb. He has been the mastermind behind the InStep program’s annual plant sale since 2016. InStep is a specialized transition program for 18 to 21-year-olds with moderate to severe disabilities. Its staff and students took Flanders’ plant sale idea and helped him grow it every year.
“I’ve always had an interest in plants,” says Flanders. “They [InStep] made my idea theirs. I didn’t really mind that, and we made it an annual thing.”
This year, the plant sale was in jeopardy because of COVID-19. In fact, it was canceled because schools were closed. However, that didn’t stop Flanders. He was determined to have the plant sale to raise money for the program.
“The coronavirus hit us bad, so it threatened to shut our plant sale down,” explains Flanders. “And I single-handedly saved that from happening.”
Flanders purchased seeds and put together greenhouses and grew the seedlings for two and a half months.
“He pretty much turned my house into a greenhouse,” laughs Michelle Suarez, Tyler’s mom.
Once the plants were large enough, Flanders set-up shop at his house. He sold between 300-400 plants as well as pots he’d painted. He raised over $600 to donate to InStep.
“$664.35 to be precise,” says Flanders.
The only thing missing this year were the animal shelters InStep students have incorporated with the plant sale over the years.
Flanders had the initial idea of incorporating the animal world, which he sees as a big part of gardens. Students in the past have built birdhouses and bee and butterfly shelters.
“Let’s just say I’m a kindhearted soul with some big ideas,” smiles Flanders. “And I also love animals.”
Now, he is on to his new project. He’s started a pumpkin patch in his backyard in the hope of selling pumpkins in the fall.
“He likes to do things and give money to different charities,” explains Suarez.
Flanders developed a close relationship with his teacher, Cari Hansen. Now that he’s graduated, she has already invited him back next year to assist with the plant sale and to return in December to teach the other students how to make one of the holiday sale items – a whole plate of treats. He’s already dreaming up ideas for a bake sale.
He likes to remind everyone of what he was taught, “There is no wrong path as long you are true to the path you are on.”
With a green thumb and big heart, Flanders has found one of his paths and some of his passions along the way.
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