Back in her native Ukraine, Valentyna Kean's 'garden' was a few pot plants on her balcony.

Now she can look out her window and see sunflowers, daisies, calendulas and marigolds growing, all cultivated by her own hands.

Some she has grown from seeds, some she put in water and some in pots.

She is part of a new green-thumbed initiative taking the learning out of the classroom and providing local migrants with practical skills to help their opportunities blossom.

For the past two months, 11 TAFE NSW Tamworth Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) students have been cultivating their language and gardening skills as part of the new Stepping Up into Horticulture course.

"It's very interesting for me," Valentyna said.

"I don't think about it before. Now I improve my English and knowledge a

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