Little Seedlings™
Education for children ages 3–7 and their supporting adults.
An Institute for Trauma-Informed Education and Human Development
Growing Knowledge.
Cultivating Life.
The Living Garden Institute provides trauma-informed, nonclinical education through customized workshops, curriculum, professional learning, educational consulting, and practical resources for individuals, families, educators, schools, organizations, and communities.
Home of The Living Garden Framework™
Based in Central Texas, the Institute offers virtual programming and in-person services by arrangement.
Explore the Institute
Find your starting point
Choose the pathway that fits your setting
Every offering is customized to your audience and goals. Start with the entry that matches yours — all programs remain available to every group.
Customized Education for Your Setting
Three ways the Institute works with you
All programs and services are available by request and customized to the needs of the individual, group, or organization.
01
Caregiver Workshops
Customized, nonclinical education for parents, caregivers, and families.
02
Staff / Educator Training
Professional learning for educators, staff, and organizational teams.
03
Curriculum Development & Educational Consulting
Curriculum, materials, and educational guidance adapted to the audience, goals, and setting.
One Institute. One Framework. Many Pathways.
The Institute and the Framework
The Living Garden Framework™
An evidence-informed educational model created by Barbara Diaz
The Institute is the organization. The Framework is the educational model. Programs, services, and resources put the model into practice. Partnerships bring the work into schools, organizations, and communities.
The Institute is home to The Living Garden Framework™, an evidence-informed educational model created by Barbara Diaz. The Framework brings together research and theoretical perspectives from psychology, sociology, human development, learning, and stress physiology.
Five Interconnected Systems. One Whole Person.
- 1Root System™ — Origin, development & environment
- 2Body System™ — Nervous system, body signals & regulation
- 3Mind System™ — Thoughts, beliefs & meaning
- 4Heart System™ — Emotions, attachment & belonging
- 5Alignment System™ — Identity, values & direction
Program Pathways
Seven programs, one Framework
All programs and services are available by request and customized to the needs of the individual, group, or organization.
Garden Starters™
Education for youth ages 8–18, adapted to developmental level.
Designed Different™
Neurodivergent-affirming education for learners and supporting adults.
The Garden Home™
Education for parents, caregivers, and families.
Sacred Mirror™
Relationship-focused education.
Shedding Self™
Adult education about self-awareness, identity, and learned patterns.
The Cultivator Intensive
Professional learning for educators, staff, and organizational teams focused on understanding and applying the Framework in their settings.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us about your audience and goals — we'll shape the right combination of programs and workshops for your setting.
Meet Barbara
Barbara Diaz
Trauma-Informed Mental Health Educator
- Founder & CEO, The Living Garden Institute LLC
- Creator of The Living Garden Framework™
- Program & Curriculum Developer
- Educational Consultant · U.S. Army Veteran
- M.S.Ed. Candidate — Transformative Teaching and Learning, William Jewell College
“People Are Not Broken. They Are Shaped.”
Resources & Professional Work
Practical materials and professional work
Explore practical materials and examples of curriculum development and educational work.
Next step
Bring the work to your community
Request a customized educational engagement for your audience, goals, and setting.
- 01Inquiry
- 02Needs discussion
- 03Proposed scope
- 04Agreement
- 05Delivery
Plant. Reflect. Connect. Grow.