How Does Your Garden Grow? Mayor Daley Helps Students Learn That Lesson

CHICAGO (CBS) – The garden at Smyth Elementary school in University Village is bringing more than just fruits and vegetables to its students.

Former Mayor Richard Daley's law firm is behind the effort, and as CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, Daley was among the dozens of volunteers helping today.

The garden serves as an outdoor classroom for students.

Volunteers teach the kids how to plant and care for fruits and vegetables--sometimes weaving in simple math lessons, like asking kids to count what's picked.

However, the lessons go beyond the academic basics.

"When they're in the garden, they're learning about the environment," said May Tsupros, executive director of Gardeneers. "They're actually planting food and seeing the process of it growing, and when they do that, they're much more likely to try it and love it."

Principal Ronald Whitmore says the garden is changing some students' eating habits.

"They can pick up a tomato instead of a bag of hot chips and look at the benefit, and it tastes good and it's good for you," he said.

Kyerre Howard recently tried peppers for the first time.

"I like them. I like the spicy ones," he said.

But some kids need a little coaxing. One student hesitated when offered a tomato.

Tsupros struck a deal.

"You grew it. You picked it. You try it. Sound good? Deal?"

High fives were exchanged: the deal was done.

Mayor Daley watched proudly as the kids harvested the fruits of their labor, but how much did the mayor actually do?

The students were asked if the Daley looked like he was dressed for digging in the dirt.

"No!" they said.

Daley was dressed more appropriately for a business meeting. A reporter suggested that maybe he was "dressed well for a date night."

That got a good laugh from the former mayor.

One student, Ca'ron Corbin, offered Daley some advice: "You should probably wear some gloves, stuff you can get dirty in."

That got a hearty laugh, too.