MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — Students at Cheatham Elementary School in Laveen are getting a hands-on lesson in sustainability and healthy eating through a program called “Cooking from the Garden” started by the non-profit organization GreenDesert.

Quita Jackson, GreenDesert’s cofounder, said the organization has worked with the school for the past three years, teaching students how to maintain a school garden to help give them tools to live a healthy life. 

>> Live, local, breaking. Download the 12News app

 “The gist is just to show the kids a whole different lifestyle,” Jackson said. “We come out, we plant the garden, and they’re part of the whole process.” 

Friday, a class of first graders at the school harvested fresh vegetables from the garden they had grown to turn them into a stir fry meal.

The students took a hands-on approach, learning about the different types of vegetables and how to prepare them. 

“They love planting because they get the seeds and they’re just right involved,” Jackson said. 

Jackson said the impact of teaching students about healthier food options has been seen on the school campus. 

“We’ve been out here before during lunch where they had pizza and we made salad, and the kids are coming back seconds for the salad, not for the pizza,” Jackson said. “That’s when you know you’re doing your job right.” 

Jackson said some students who have participated in the program now have their own gardens at home. 

“Here in Laveen and in South Phoenix, we’ve got the food deserts, and then we’ve got a lot of health ailments, like diabetes and things that,” Jackson said.”[This is] just to teach them. It’s another way.” 

The students were excited to try the food they had prepared, with one student saying, “I was excited about taking the plants and cutting them and eating them.” 

The adults involved in the program were also learning from the students, with Jackson saying, “Oh my god, the kids teach me so much.

“These kids bring the best energy, and they make you want to come out here and do it,” Jackson said.  

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! 

The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. 

12+  showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. 

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. 

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.” 

Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12+ app to add to your account, or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.