We have an incredible team at Taylor Made Retreat, and we’d love to help you get to know them a little better! Meet Amanda, our Groundskeeper  – aka, the person responsible for how beautiful the property looks! – and one of the core members of our team, always willing to lend a hand and jump in as needed. 

Keeping the Grounds

As the groundskeeper at Taylor Made Retreat, Amanda wears many hats, ensuring that the outdoor spaces are meticulously cared for and maintained. From tending to the garden and growing fresh vegetables to keeping trails safe and creating inviting seating areas for meditation and alone time, Amanda’s passion and initiative shine through in every aspect of her work. In addition to her responsibilities outdoors, Amanda also steps in as house manager occasionally, and covers for our chef when needed, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

About Amanda

Amanda was born and raised in Seattle, but it was in New Mexico where she made her passion for art and nature into a career. As a client of Taylor Made, she was particularly inspired by the healing aspects of the grounds here, and now works daily to create spaces for people to heal and shares her passion for the beauty of nature.

When she isn’t at Taylor Made with moss in her hair, she is spending time with her beautiful daughter, researching bugs, and working on her recovery.

 

 

A Conversation with Amanda

 

You were a resident at Taylor Made, and now you are a member of the staff. What was that journey like?

Before I was a client at Taylor Made, I was a florist and ran nurseries – that’s what I knew. So, when I came to TMR, I was always outside, stomping in the creeks with my boots on. I enjoyed helping around the yard and the gardens, since I knew what needed to be done. After I graduated, Lowell [Executive Director of TMR] offered to have me stay on staff. I had no direction at that point, but I thought about it for a few weeks and realized it would be a great way to stay close to the community and stay in recovery –  instead of being on my own, going back to what I knew previously. I’d never lived in Portland, so it was like a fresh start, doing something I was passionate about. The way I saw it, this was how I could give back in my own way. 

What part of the program at Taylor Made connected with you the most?

I had never been to a treatment center or recovery house before I came to Taylor Made. I had this picture that I’d lay in bed with a dog all day until I was better, then I’d go home and be fine.  The truth was – I learned that everyone here felt the same way I did, and I wasn’t the only “crazy person” in the world. Being in a room full of people where everyone was struggling with the same thing was really eye-opening for me, and I learned a lot about alcoholism while I was here. I think the process and structure for me was really needed, because my life was so unorganized. It was hard to get used to at first, but I think having that set schedule was really nice – because it helped me prepare to be back “in the wild.” My perspective shifted, and I understood: oh, this is how I need to live life now. I think I was more successful going back out into the real world than if I had just done the steps without learning how to make recovery part of my daily life – going to meetings, going to meditations, doing daily reviews. The magic happens in the steps, but learning those daily practices are what helped me move forward. 

What’s your favorite part of working at Taylor Made? 

I think it’s really magical to see the transformation in people’s lives, from the day they come here until they leave – and after that too. You see people come here at their lowest point and then leave with a new perspective on life. It’s awesome to get to be a part of somebody’s recovery. I also love that I have a job outside in nature all the time: I get to watch things grow, be proud of them. Seeing the projects I put my energy into grow and become beautiful things – it’s healing. 

Why would you recommend Taylor Made? 

I felt more hopeless than I ever had in my life, and I got the opportunity to turn everything around and be the person that I wanted to be. So like, it works. And TMR teaches you to maintain that sober lifestyle throughout your entire life. It feels like a really spiritual place, but I think what’s incredible is how it sets you up for success once you leave. It really works!

 

To take your first step towards recovery, or simply to learn more about Taylor Made Retreat and our mission, call (360) 433-1040 today.