Jahn Elementary Awarded 75th City Learning Garden

Jahn Elementary students may come home with a green thumb this spring, thanks to the newly-installed learning garden at the school.

The Roscoe Village elementary school is one of 100 that will receive the gardens this year, funded by privately-raised funds and $1 in NATO Legacy Funds. Mayor Rahm Emanuel made the announcement at the school Friday and did a little digging of his own. 

“Learning Gardens prepare our students for success in the classroom and beyond by instilling at an early age an appreciation of interactive learning and biology as well as creating a strong nutritional foundation that will serve them their entire life,” Emanuel said in a press release. “The students here at Jahn Elementary and throughout the City now have access to more fresh produce, open space, and a proven program to improve student achievement and healthy eating habits.”

Students who participate in garden-based education almost double their overall fruit and vegetable consumption, according to a release from the mayor's office. 

Aside from nutrition, fifth grade students scored 15 points higher on science tests with a hands-on lesson versus a typical classroom.

The gardens are organized and built by The Kitchen Community (TKC), a nonprofit that creates gardens and learning environments in five states.