BOSTON -- There is a green lesson going on at a Newton middle school.

NewsCenter 5's David Brown reported that the classroom is not under the roof, but rooted in a garden.

Greg Maslowe teaches in one of the smallest classrooms at Newton's Oak Hill Middle school. The classroom is a 600-square foot garden, and Maslowe is a local organic farmer. The lesson is on organic gardening, and the students are learning from the ground up.

"If we could give them a little skill here and just being exposed to gardening a couple of techniques, it could go a long way in transferring the knowledge around," Oak Hill teacher Matt Timmins said.

The kids are exposed to the tradition of farming in Massachusetts from small local organic farms to garden plots in the back yard. In early spring they designed the plot, picked the best vegetables for the site and planted seeds. Now, they're beginning to reap the early harvest.

They are also learning the lessons of hard work and teamwork and the power of knowing where food comes, hoping that the garden will be just the beginning for the students.

"If people started putting in a 20-by-20 garden plot in their back yard, that really changes the local food landscape in New England," Maslowe said.

"Makes you feel good about yourself. That you made something that you can eat and share with people," student Chris Keo said.

"That's been the best thing. I like it when the kids actually enjoy eating what they grow. That's why I talk to them about what they want to grow next year. I don't want to grow food they don't like," Maslowe said.