🌱 MY STORY

How Early Bloomers Kids Academy Began

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Hi, I’m Kim Woodford — a certified teacher, former Houston Zoo zookeeper, and the creator of Early Bloomers Kids Academy. My love for nature and teaching has shaped every part of my career, and this website is the place where those worlds finally come together.

 

For more than a decade, I worked at the Houston Zoo, caring for animals, leading educational programs, and helping families discover the magic of the natural world. Those years taught me that children learn best when they’re curious, hands-on, and invited to explore. I watched kids light up when they touched soil, fed an animal, or asked a question that opened a whole new world of understanding.

When I transitioned into teaching, I carried that spark with me into the classroom. Over the years I’ve taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade, and now 4th grade Science and Social Studies — and no matter the grade level, one thing always remained true:

 

Kids learn best when they can touch, observe, wonder, and interact with the world around them.

So I started blending gardening and nature-based learning into my teaching. What began with a few plants turned into full lessons, then routines, then hands-on projects where students could watch something grow from seed to sprout. Eventually, this passion led me to start the Poe Garden Club, where students from all grade levels could dig, plant, water, observe, and learn outside the traditional classroom.

 

From the very beginning, families and teachers kept asking me,
“How can we do this at home?”
“What actually grows in Houston?”
“What should kids plant first?”
“How do you make gardening so doable and kid-friendly?”

I realized there was a need — not just for gardening information, but for simple, encouraging, warm-climate gardening guidance designed specifically for kids, families, and schools.

 

There was no single place online that combined:

• Child development

• Hands-on science

• Warm-climate gardening

• Small-space solutions

• Teacher-created activities

• Garden club leadership

• Real classroom experience

 

So I created Early Bloomers Kids Academy — a resource built from everything I’ve learned as a zookeeper, a teacher, and a garden educator.

 

Here, I share:
🌿 Kid-friendly gardening activities
🌞 Houston-ready planting guides
🌱 Simple routines that help kids grow responsibility
🌼 Nature and science projects for home and school
📚 Practical lessons and club ideas teachers can use right away

 

My goal is to make gardening feel joyful, simple, and accessible — whether you have a backyard, a small patio, a sunny window, or a school courtyard. You don’t need to be an expert gardener. You just need curiosity, patience, and the willingness to try.

 

Every seed planted is a learning moment.
Every sprout is a victory.
Every child can grow something — and grow through something.

Early Bloomers is my way of helping you bring that magic into your home or classroom.

I’m so glad you’re here.
Let’s grow curious kids together. 🌱💛