Michelle Obama Visits Newark School On National Garden Tour

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- First lady Michelle Obama spent the day gardening in the Garden State.

Obama helped students at Philip's Academy Charter School in Newark plant a garden Thursday afternoon.

"I was really surprised that someone as big as Michelle Obama would come and see our school," one student told CBS2's Vanessa Murdock.

The first lady made the charter school a destination to highlight the benefits of diverse gardens as the school created a program to show students how food is grown and how it helps them make healthy choices in their lives.

Students showed off their rooftop garden, planted some seeds and explained their Aerofarms indoor garden.

They also saved her a seat at the table and served her a healthy spread of smoothies, quinoa bars and fresh vegetables.

"We are going to have a meal experience," Obama said.

Students at Philip's Academy are planting the seeds to make healthy living possible through their co-curriculum EcoSpaces.

"My favorite part about going to school here is that they care about what we put in our bodies and what we do after we leave here," one student said.

Obama kicked off the tour at Watkins Elementary School in Washington D.C. earlier this year. The first lady also welcomed students to the White House on Monday to help with the White House Kitchen Garden -- an initiative established by Obama in 2009.

The first lady's American garden tour highlights the impact and benefits of gardens across the country.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)