Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Hand.
Hi Kara , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a young girl, I spent as much time as possible on my Aunt Helen and Uncle Forrie’s farm–The Kerrstead (Colmar, PA). Family picnics with hayrides or shoveling horse manure were not only some of my BEST childhood memories, but formative as well. I watched my Uncle drive his tractor through the fields; his the planning, planting, tending & harvest. This little girl asked him a million questions following him around the farm as he worked.. He was not a big talker, but he was a big demonstrator, and I payed close attention. The GRAND finale of his hard work, watching the all-day canning event in my Aunt Helen’s kitchen.
My Grammy was not an outdoor gardener, but instead her home was adorned with greenery from her MANY house plants, the majority succulents and cacti, I was a little shadow following Grammy around the house asking her a million questions about plant tending and her watering routine. I payed close attention as she explained the differen light and water needs for her different types of plants, but I should have payed closer attention when she warned me to NOT TOUCH THE CACTUS PLANTS. (Lesson learned the hard way)
My mother always had a vegetable garden, no matter the size of our backyard. She loved her alone time tending to her garden; and she was a pro at canning. We kids didn’t work in her garden with her very often, that was her special alone time. It was only after I became a Mom that I realized that time in the garden was my mother’s form of self-care time, de-stress time and therapy for the headaches and noise the 5 of us kids brought into the house.
Fast forward, It was during my time in dental hygiene school when I met Richard, my future husband. We eloped after my graduation and shortly thereafter, started our family. We wanted a bunch of kids, and he knew my dream of raising them on a farm. The compromise: building a house on the end of a cul-de-sac with enough land for a) nice size garden and b) a blank canvas yard for for me to design and landscape. Six neurologically diverse children, two dogs, garden, dirt-bikes, ATVs, and 1 pony later, I am a busy full-time Mom (back in college) and Richard is growing his practice. Our kids were busy, highly intelligent, and very inquisitive. When some entered elementary school, we discovered their behaviors, challenges and struggles were due to unseen disabilities. We agreed a more sensory friendly and natural space to roam would be so beneficial for their growth–it was time to find a farm.
in 2010, we moved to our family farm that Richard named “Handsome Acres” (a play on words for our last name) With an additional guest cottage and large barn perfectly prepped for apartment conversion, this purchase was strategic due to the possibility that some of our children with unseen disabilities might live independently as adults. At this time I also completed my degree in Applied Psychology and additional training supporting those living with various unseen disabilities. The catalyst for this additional degree and training was the damage and stress I saw my kids suffer from the high staff turn-over rate from the agencies providing supportive services. I was already working as an unofficial TSS (Therapeutic Support Staff) for my kids, and this additional education made me more effective, and better equipped to fill the gaps in their services and lack of social engagement.
Practicing dental hygiene was no longer an option for me with our kids extra needs. Weekly doctor and therapy appointments, inability to ride a school-bus, struggles during the school day. and challenges/inability in participating in activities or organized sports. I was lucky to be afforded the opportunity to be a full-time Mom offering hands-on supportive care for their individual needs. Whether that be a driver to and from school, class volunteer, field trip chaperone, assistant coach, scout leader, starting afterschool clubs, and hosting in the summer what I later recognized as a therapeutic day camp for my kids and their friends. These summer camps offered free and guided outdoor play and nature based activities that provided opportunities for practicing social skills, conflict resolution, and supporting sensory regulation. The natural crafting offered fine motor skills practice, emotional regulation, self-expression and stress relief all while building their self-esteem when they proudly displayed their finished projects. It was during the extra exhausting days when I thought about my mom working solo in her vegetable garden when she needed to escape,
In 2019, my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Shortly after his diagnosis, the COVID lockdown began. At this time we wanted something that we could all do an enjoy as a family. We decided on a garden. Friends and family showed up to help us build raised beds, fences, and gates. We then started planting and tending to our new family garden, and it brought us some peace and happiness during such a dark and painful time in our lives. When Richard was too weak to participate, he could still sit with us in the garden, or on the back patio smiling and watching. We harvested, and I taught my kids how to can and make preserves, jellies, and jams. Richard lost his battle in May of 2021. He had planned and prepared a succession plan and sale of his practice, and the kids and I continued working in the garden together trying to adjust to life without him by side.
Life pelting our family with lemons, I wanted to show our kids that we can still make lemonade even during the most painful of times. After some months of adjusting to the new normal, it was time for me to find.new purpose in life. I never had the opportunity to farm the property, and I had many ideas dancing in my head. It all hit when I learned that the time we spent in the garden was more than just gardening, I learned that I we were actually practicing therapeutic horticulture. A whole new door opened for me with this realization. I was so very sad, and not confident at all in moving forward my idea. It was my closest of friends who were literally sitting around the table with me on our back patio who told me it was a fantastic idea, and then continued to give me the push (more like a shove) for me to give it a go! They are the best friends a girl could ever ask for.
It was a slow, emotional process for me as a new widow with six kids and a HUGE new pile of paperwork to complete with the loss of my spouse, but one baby step at at time, I moved forward with the support and professional help from my friends, and sweat equity from family. At this time, I chose NC State’s program, and I spent just over a year completing my certificate in therapeutic horticulture. As a family, we built a greenhouse, tilled, prepped, and fenced a new farm field. We worked together as a family, and turned my husbands former office building (a historic one-room schoolhouse) into a workshop. One baby step at at time, we built what is now known as The Little Greenhouse and Schoolhouse Workshops of Handsome Acres Farm LLC.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it surely has not been a smooth road, in fact, it has been bumpy as hell. Bumpier than our pothole filled roads in Pennsylvania at the start of Spring. Managing the grief of loss is hard enough for neurotypical kids, but supporting grief and loss for kids with autism and other unseen challenges is a whole new level of difficulty. The hardest struggle for me (and still is) was acquiring Richard’s former responsibilities and tasks. Learning how to complete many of the things that he managed was quite the hurdle. Compound that with the joys of dealing with Social Security, and the kids support services and doctor appointments all while trying to start a business and practice self-care….. definitely a challenge for a person like myself who already has a difficult time asking for help. (I am a work in progress)
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are Handsome Acres Farm “Where Memories are Made and Skills Grown”
I love that we blend our love of plants and crafts to offer a unique, hands-on workshop experience for kids of all ages and abilities. There is not a single workshop or camp that does not begin without me thinking about my childhood time spent on my aunt and uncles farm, or my Grammys succulents. Using elements home-grown on our farm or foraged ourselves in nature–flowers, succulents, herbs, fibers, gourds etc. our crafters create and take-home masterpieces such as wreaths, terrariums, soaps, holiday centerpieces, home decor and MUCH more!
Our mission is to seek to educate and promote the mental and physical health benefits of plant crafting, gardening & small farming. We want our crafters to reconnect with nature, and nurture their creativity or discover their creativity that they might not know that they possessed. Some of our most favorite moments are when we hear a crafter say to us that they have NO artistic ability….. and we see them hold up their completed project like the lion parent in that famous scene from the movie The Lion King.
I am proud that our diverse ability workshops were born from my own personal struggles trying to find clubs and programs with leaders who understood my own children’s unseen challenges. When we see a happy parents and crafter kids I am reminded of the time when I started clubs and summer camps when my own kids felt like square pegs in a round world. Our workshops aim to fill this vital gap where crafters can feel safe, valued, and free to be themselves.
I love our choice of continuing to keep our workshop and camp sizes purposely small. Our boutique-size classes and “old school” approach to business allows for a truly unique, and personalized workshop experience. We collect details before our client’s private workshops and learn what type of experience they are looking for (fun, therapeutic, relaxing etc..) We personally tailor the project, colors, scents, music, signs, and even the decorations. From an educational and hands-on birthday, retirement, holiday work outing, scout groups, homeschool, or special schools, we take pride in tailoring each and every workshop to suit our crafters needs.
We love that our crafters can connect with nature in either of our workshop locations (Greenhouse or Schoolhouse) and they get to bring a piece of our farm home with them, we truly love creating lasting memories.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
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Pricing:
- We can tailor workshops to budgets based on type of craft, size of craft, etc. Wide range is from $20 to $120 per crafter for workshop
- Camp pricing dependent on activities. 2026 Camps 8:30-9am drop-off 4pm pickup. Returning Campers $285 per week. New Campers $295 per week Additional Sibling $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.handsomeacresfarm.com
- Instagram: TheLittleGreenhouseWorkshop
- Facebook: The Little Greenhouse Workshop at Handsome Acres Farm LLC
