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A community garden sandwiched between two buildings on West 134th Street is more than meets the eye. For students at P.S. 175 it's an organic learning center that has transformed the school community. Just ask fifth grader Nigale Fofana who plants and eats what grows here.

"What we’ve created teaches me that kids have the power to make the world a better place," Fofana said.

The lush garden which sits directly across the street from the elementary school was once an abandoned lot, overrun with rodents and trash. That is until school volunteer Tony Hillery came up with an idea to turn the eyesore into a teaching tool. He financed a not-for-profit called "Harlem Grown" and put the students to work.

“They laid out these flowers, they put these flowers in the ground, they dug the hole and put the plants in, they pick it and bring it into the lunchroom for the salad bar," Hillery said.

And now this garden is part of the school curriculum with interactive projects about gardening and nutrition.

“Now I have children that are walking through the hallways with an extra bowl of salad as opposed to a bag of chips," said P.S. 175 Principal Cheryl McClendon.

“What I used to eat before was a lot of French fries and potatoes and now I love eating lettuce and chickpeas and a lot of green vegetables like spinach," said P.S. 175 Fifth Grader Katherine Rosas.

And for all of their hard work, the fifth grade students are invited to the White House next month to highlight the First Lady's nutritional campaign.

"Mrs. Obama yeah I would love to meet her so she can give us a little congratulations," said P.S. 175 Fifth Grader Quannel Straughter.