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A chorus of second graders shouted “Go green,” as Claudia DeMegret, City Parks Foundation’s education director led them in the chant.

Students of PS 116 came to celebrate the fruits of their labor with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Queens’ first Learning Garden.

“There aren’t a lot of city kids that get a real connection to nature,” David Rivel, City Parks Foundation’s executive director said. “This is something that really enriches their lives.”

Rivel said the learning Garden maybe the children’s only avenue to learn about nature.

“Schools don’t do this,” he said. “So how else are they going to learn where food comes from? This is something they will take with them their whole lives.”

The Learning Garden at Liberty Park in Jamaica has been a semester long project, where students at PS 116 and MS 8 tilled the soil and sowed plants and fruits. DeMegret said the City Parks Foundation provided all the materials to create the garden.

“We’ve been working out here since September,” Bernadette Mearini, PS 116 second grade teacher said. “It was just a fun experience for them to dig and get dirty. It was a break for the daily grind.”

DeMegret said in addition to the Queens Garden there are three others in Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx. She said the foundation works in tandem with Green Thumb to “give us sites that are neglected or abandoned.”

“We work in low income communities, Title 1 Schools and schools that lack environmental education,” DeMegret said.

She said the garden was both a learning and “therapeutic” experience. DeMegret said before the garden was transformed it was a wading pool and asphalt had to be excavated from the site.

Manuel Caughman, a representative for Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-Jamaica) said he saw the transformation of the garden.

“I live in the area and I’ve seen the hard work that you have done,” he said. “You will see the fruits of your labor.”

The children abuzz with excitement carefully watered their garden, which included roses, pansies, tomatoes and mints plants.

“Tender feet,” DeMegret warned as they marched on the surface of the garden.

“Would you like some mint?” Ebiuwa Obasuyi asked. She opened up her palm and offered a collection of mint leaves. “It tastes just like gum,” Obasuyi said as she popped a leaf in her mouth.

She proudly showed off the peppermint plant that she helped sow.

Cyrile Francis, 10, said he enjoyed planting and watering the flowers, but he is most looking forward to harvesting the strawberries he helped plant.

The students with watering can in hand each found a part of the garden to quench.

Lydia Bennett, 7, who had her can poised over a tomato plant said she enjoyed the experience.

“I want to be a gardener when I grow up,” she said. “I like to plant plants and water them.” Lydia said her mother is proud of her dream to be a gardener.

“On behalf of your congressman I want to say how proud of you we are,” Brian Simon, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks said. “Continue to do positive things.”