Redmond’s Montessori Children’s House (MCH) is the recipient of a $2,000 grant from the Whole Foods Foundation as formal recognition of the school’s expansive, centrally located garden.

MCH’s gardening program was started nearly 20 years ago, but when current head of school, Jennifer Wheelhouse, took over the helm in 2003, the focus on gardening and farming became the school’s passion.

“The Montessori philosophy centers around being a part of the natural environment,” says Wheelhouse. “So it made sense for MCH to have a gardening program that added to what our students are learning in the classroom.”

At MCH, Early Childhood students spend up to an hour a week in the garden as a part of their normally, scheduled day. MCH garden specialist Katherine Stewart takes the children, in groups of up to four students, into the garden where they count seeds as they plant them, harvest the vegetables they planted and study northwest native plants and insects.

With the grant, the school plans on converting the garden to being 100 percent organic and expanding the growing space by installing vertical planters. Fruit trees will be planted outside the school’s newest building, which houses the infant and elementary classrooms so students can grab an organic snack while walking to class or at recess.