By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A group of educators was learning how to design, build, and maintain a schoolyard garden today at a West Philadelphia charter school.

It’s part of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society‘s “Green City Teachers” program.

At the Global Leadership Academy Charter School, at 46th Street and Girard Avenue, some of the 40 teachers from various district schools participating in the two-day program were building wooden frames for the raised garden beds.

Others were leveling the landscaping.  Still others were doing some planting.

“Actually, they are paying to be here,” says Phillip McCabe, a 5th grade teacher at the charter school (second from left in photo below).  “They are paying to get (Pennsylvania) Act 48 (continuing education) credits, and to learn how to build a school garden in their school.”

(Teachers built a compost bin during their training. Credit: John McDevitt)

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Teachers will be able to incorporate the sustainable garden into class lessons, and kids will be able to maintain the garden and eat the vegetables grown.