Stories Archive

On a crisp, fall morning in Winthrop, Washington, young students hustle to prepare for the seasonal farmer's market. Each of the booths at the market is decorated with children’s art, handwritten recipes and fresh vegetables of every color. The students have spent months preparing for this event by growing all the produce themselves and learning about the vegetables they are about to sell.

As the sun rises and the market opens, the children welcome customers and discuss the nutritional value of each vegetable on display in their booths. They giggle and chatter away about their experience as young farmers and all the hard work that went into making this event a reality. As more members of the community visit the market, the students weigh the produce and make change using the mathematical and retail skills they’ve been practicing. This magical experience is made possible by the mission of Classroom in Bloom, an organization dedicated to inspiring children to grow healthy food and connect with nature.

Classroom in Bloom is an outdoor garden classroom, where students ages K-12 learn about organic farming techniques and participate in activities focused on observation, science, writing and artistic expression. The garden classroom was established in 2004 on the Methow Valley School District campus. Nineteen years later, Classroom in Bloom welcomes 300 students every week (nearly 6,500 per year).

Executive Director, Kim Romain-Bondi says the Classroom in Bloom team strives to make every child’s time in the garden positive, fulfilling and full of joy. “Watching a child light up with glee when pulling a carrot out of the ground, knowing that they planted the seeds just months earlier… it says a lot about the success of the garden program.”

In addition to the educational benefits of Classroom in Bloom, the students harvest and deliver thousands of pounds of produce to the local school cafeteria, which helps low-income families in the community have access to nutritious, healthy food. The food is prepared in the school kitchen then served in student lunches or combined into boxes with simple recipes the students can cook with their families.

Students visit in the Classroom in Bloom greenhouse.

For several years, Classroom in Bloom has been a recipient of AgWest’s Rural Community Grant Program, a stewardship program helping non-profit organizations complete projects to improve rural communities. In 2023, Classroom in Bloom received funds to build a harvest wash station inside the school garden, which will help harvest 6,600 pounds of vegetables each year and teach students proper food safety and handling protocols.

“AgWest has been incredibly supportive of our garden education programs over the years, and we are extremely grateful for their generosity.” says Kim. “We appreciate AgWest’s trust in our organization, as they are helping build enthusiasm for learning in the outdoor classroom, while allowing children the opportunity to grow their gardening skills and bring these home to their families.”

The work of Classroom in Bloom doesn’t stop within the space of the two-acre garden. Kim hopes that someday, every school will have their own educational garden. To make this dream a reality, Kim and her team are mentoring seven local school districts and helping them develop their own school gardens with year-round farm programs.

The passion Kim has for the next generation drives the continued work of Classroom in Bloom. “Together we are growing a new generation of community leaders and environmental stewards. Investing in our children and our farm communities is a true investment in the future.”

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