When I first arrived at Mustard seed I was rather nervous. That’s why when I met Brett I decided to sit beside him. He was quiet like I was. So I sat down beside him and noticed that he was carrying large headphones and his phone in his hand. Maybe it was a comforting to him I pondered. Later I would find out that Brett is not a fan of loud noises. Which is why a barn filled with people talking had made him quiet.

I don’t remember really how the tradition started. All I know is after that first day Brett and I would go on walks through the wood and pastures every Wednesday morning. He wasn’t very interested in the horses but he was interested in Superheroes. Thankfully, that was something I could relate to. Around other people and loud noises Brett was quiet, but one on one with the topic of captain America and Batman he was different. He wanted to tell all about the movies he had seen and the comics he had read. He went from a silent unsmiling teen to one who talked nonstop and wore a big grin on his face while on our walks.

Over time I began to see a different teen. He opened up to me more and more about his struggles and joys. This made what we do at Mustard Seed all the more real to me. I could see the fruits of what we were doing. Eventually, Brett even agreed to brush one of the miniature ponies and a bigger horse. As long as he got to go in a walk after that is. Because of Mustard Seed Brett was becoming more comfortable with people in general and more confident. He became to talk with more people besides just me.

Over all this experience encouraged me, made me more confident, and fulfilled me like no other activity I have ever taken part in.

Caroline Joiner
Volunteer

5/10/2019

What exactly goes on at Mustard Seed Society? While this question should be easy to answer, it is surprisingly not. The simple response would be that we work in partnership with our horses in order to provide interactive therapeutic activities to individuals struggling with something going on in their lives. This simple answer does not encapsulate all that we do.

Therapy here does not always follow the mold associated with typical office therapy sessions. Each Wednesday, Pell City High School’s special needs program comes out to Mustard Seed Society to participate in equine activities. Every week brings different challenges and rewarding moments. There are days where every kid that arrives is happy as can be, and then there are days where there are challenges. Despite this, though, the one thing that never changes is the difference you can see in each child while they are loading the bus to head back to school.

The activities these kids participate in may seem small to an outsider looking in, but when you’re a part of it you can truly see the differences they are making in their lives. Upon arrival at the farm, the kids all come and sit down in a circle so that they can spend the first few minutes talking about their week and how they are feeling that day. This helps to get a feel for where everyone is at that day, and make sure that they feel heard by someone in their lives. Next, each kid gets to pick a horse to groom and tack. Quite often this becomes one of the most entertaining scenes. It’s always fun to see how each child interacts with their horse and how they understand that this is a necessary activity in order to take care of the horse and in order to ride. Then comes the fun part, riding! They all get to lead their horse to the arena and mount them. The volunteers present are always appreciated, but during this time is where many of them shine. They are the ones that are in charge of leading the horse while the child is mounted. Where you can truly see their impact during this time, though, is through their interactions with the child on the horse they are leading. Each one finds a way to connect with the student and, while their brains are being stimulated by riding, the student gets to gain a personal connection. This activity may seem pointless to those looking in from the outside, but, in truth, this is where we tend to see the most changes among the students.

Not all of our activities involve riding, though. There are some weeks where the kids only groom and simply get to spend time with the horses. Then there are times where we walk to the pond further down the property in search of aquatic animals and to switch up the routine. Recently, we’ve used this time to show them the tadpoles that have been growing, and now each week certain kids will ask about their status whether we are going to the pond or not. Through all of this, Mustard Seed Society’s goal for these days shines through: to teach these amazing young people social skills and independence through interactions with the horses and all of us who think they are pretty special, indeed.

Peggy Haynes
Volunteer

5/08/2019

We want to thank:

The Daniel’s foundation for their grant of $5,000 to our ROC program

The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham for their grant of $5,000 for our Suicide Prevention Program

The wonderful friends at Pell City Zaxby’s for their generous gift of time and hard labor to help maintain
the farm and offer assistance any way and any time we ask. They are FANTASTIC!!

All of these wonderful donors help to make Mustard Seed Run! Our kids thank you very much.

July 13, 2018

Well, we are over half way through 2018 and about to begin a new school year. We are excited about the opportunities we have to give hope and help to the many at-risk youth and their families.

RESCUE OUR CHILDREN PROGRAM
Through the Rescue Our Children (ROC) Program, we continue to serve at-risk and adjudicated youth from Coosa Valley Youth Services: Camp Lewis Academy and Attention home for Girls, , St. Clair County Day Program, Pell City High School, and Jefferson County Strong Girls Program. And this year we have added Grace House from Birmingham. The ROC program provides equine-assisted and adventure-based psychotherapeutic activities for groups that focus on problem-solving and life skills.

This year we were privileged to have 3 groups of special needs kids from Pell City High School. One group was significantly impaired but the experience in relationship with our horses – especially our funny minis, afforded them some tactile experience and some joy. They brushed, hugged, and exchanged many kisses with their furry little friends! The other 2 groups developed new life skills, communication skills and relationship skills. It was an exciting time.

This past year ROC has served 2081 young people and provided 482 hours of therapy.

SUMMER CAMPS
In 2017-2018, Mustard Seed Society expanded its summer camp program by partnering with the Boys and Girls Club and Pell City High School providing Man Camp, Girls day, and Special Needs Camp. 53 young men and women learned life skills through intense, day camps at the farm, and had LOTS of fun!

THE BROKEN PRINCESS – CUTTING TO COPE
This past year we began a 2-day camp for young girls who have experienced significant trauma and have chosen self-harm as a coping skill. The program has been very impactful for those who participated.

SUICIDE PREVENTION
Mustard Seed Society began the Suicide Prevention Program in 2013 by entering the classroom and teaching students signs, symptoms, and how to help friends who might be struggling with thoughts of hurting themselves. We have changed the name of this program to BUILDING STRONG AND RESILIENT KIDS. We have increased our focus on helping the youth to identify their strengths and gifts, giving value to their lives and hope for their futures.
We continually strive to show youth what Jeremiah 29:11 tells us about them:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Glenn Magargee, LPC
Executive Director

We had a successful 2-day camp doing our Broken Princess program with a group of teen girls .  This is a trauma based program for girls who choose cutting as a coping skill to deal with difficult times.  There were many tears and lots of laughter.  The girls learned a lot about working with their pain.  They also learned new coping skills to manage that pain.  We ended our camp with each girl being individually crowned the princess she is and hearing her peers speak positive things about them.  It was a GREAT time!

June will bring the annual Boys and Girls club day camps.  We are all excited.  The boys will do a survival hike, learning how to survive in the woods but also learning important life skills to take everywhere.  Their camp is June 23, 2017

The girls camp is June 30, 2017 and they don’t like the hike at all!!  So we do girly things with the horses, crafts, and hopefully an entertaining show by the girls like they did last year.

All our camps are designed to teach life skills and to instill confidence in these young kids,  as well as have LOTS of fun!!

We have presented our Suicide Prevention program in most of the high schools in our area as well as in several DYS programs.  We did a Cutting to Cope program for St. Clair High School, thanks to their counselor who is on top of the needs of her kids.