It's time to renovate our beloved school garden to make hands-on outdoor learning possible for years to come!

THURS, SEPT 18, 2025

Thanks to last year's donors, we raised an incredible $7,985 from 148 donors to benefit our beloved school garden!

Why Garden Renovation is Needed

Ten years ago, Bloom Elementary had limited outdoor play and green areas. Working together, our school community transformed the former asphalt playground into our beautiful new ParkGround. They also transformed a weedy patch in front of our school into our current raised bed school garden that is used for Mindfulness programming, including 1st grade Mindful FIE.

After ten years of continuous use, our beloved school garden is in dire need of renovation. The wooden raised beds need replacement, and Bloom teachers tell us the lack of shade and a comfortable meeting space are barriers to using our garden as an outdoor learning space.

Help us create an outdoor learning space that gets Bloom students outside more often and learning in nature! Our vision is to develop 3 outdoor classroom spaces to use for experiential learning that supports STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) and Literacy. These classrooms will include a sensory garden and an edible plants garden (a.k.a. Food for Thought Garden).

For more information about the Bloom Garden Project or to volunteer, please email Amanda Voils Levenda or Catherine Graber. Thank you!

Read how bringing nature into our schools benefits children's cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being! How Gardens and Greenspace Help Children

Outdoor Classroom I - STEAM & Literacy

Our vision is to create a K-5 experiential learning space that will serve as both an outdoor classroom and sensory garden where students can explore the natural world.

Promote K-5 outdoor learning in STEAM and Literacy
Regrade soil and install sustainable ground cover
Install sun shade with new tree cover, stone seating, and teacher work area to make outdoor learning comfortable
Expand our pollinator-friendly native plants to attract wildlife,
like butterflies and birds
Plant pollinator-friendly native plants that appeal to our 5 senses
Create a hands-on discovery area
Install additional bike rack
Continue gardening instruction via K-5 Mindfulness programming
Install Walking Storytimes in all gardens
Host community organization educational programming; for example, Blackacre, WAGS Pet Therapy of Kentucky, and LFPL Library Bookmobile, community readers

Outdoor Classroom II - Food for Thought Garden

Our vision is to create a K-5 outdoor learning lab for young gardeners, food scientists, and chefs where they will cultivate edible plants, and prepare and taste fresh healthy foods.

Replace the aging raised beds with new metal ones
Fill new beds with organic soil, heirloom vegetables, and native edible plants
Install signage, including plant and tree markers
Practice sustainable gardening and mindful eating
Continue nutrition instruction via K-5 Mindfulness programming
Install Walking Storytimes in all gardens
Host community organization educational programming; for example, Louisville Food Literacy Project, Louisville Metro Gov., and LFPL Library Bookmobile, community readers

Outdoor Classroom III - STEAM & Literacy

Our vision is to create a K-5 outdoor learning space dedicated to supporting STEAM and Literacy skills.

Remove and rebuild the existing ramp to configure this space for an outdoor classroom with room for a whole class to gather
Provide flexible student seating
Install teacher work area
Plant pollinator-friendly native plants
Install Walking Storytimes in all gardens
Host community organization programming; for example, LFPL Library Bookmobile, community readers

Last updated 08/19/2025

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