The newly created vegetable garden at Smith Renaissance School of the Arts in northeast Denver already has taught students a few important life lessons.

First, and obviously, the garden is teaching students about botany and how food is grown.

Second, and unfortunately, students learned a hard truth when someone broke into the garden and stole plants.

The final and heart-warming lesson is one of community, which pulled together to donate plants and made a promise to help keep the garden green over the summer.

“It’s a great lesson that when something bad happens, to turn it into something good,” said Tom Boasberg, the Denver Public Schools superintendent, who visited the school Monday to help replant the garden.

Students busied themselves with shovels, seedlings and the joy of gardening.

“It’s cool,” said Jessica Gavala, a 9-year-old third-grader. “We’re out here having fun, digging and putting plants in the holes.”

“I think it’s interesting that food comes from the dirt,” said Cheyenne Sharp, 9, a third-grader, who said his favorite vegetables are broccoli and carrots.

The garden was built last fall and named for Zumante Lucero, a Smith student who died from a severe asthma attack last summer.

Students in Molly Eldredge’s third-grade class started with seeds in the classroom, watching them grow over the past few weeks. “They reminded me every day to water,” she said.

Two weeks ago, on a Friday, the students planted the seedlings and others that were donated. The following Monday, the plants were gone.

“One student wondered if it was a clever rabbit,” said Lindsay McNicholas, the school’s resource advocate. “It was deflating. We had just planted them. We didn’t even make it 72 hours.”

But businesses and community members heard about the theft and stepped up. Lowe’s Home Improvement donated a shed and locks for the garden gate, Noodles & Co. contributed the replacement plants, and Slow Food Denver is providing the guidance through their seed-to-table program.

About two dozen Denver public schools, including charters, have added gardens on their campuses. The movement is being pushed by Slow Food Denver, the nonprofit dedicated to preserving food traditions and heritage, supporting local food producers and purveyors and promoting sustainable agriculture.

“We’re doing it because it’s important for this generation to understand where their food comes from, to be more connected with our food,” said Krista Roberts, president of Slow Food Denver. “That basically leads to people eating healthier, less processed food.”

The DPS administration is also on board.

This summer, professional farmers will begin to cultivate urban farms at McGlone and Bradley elementary schools. Also, DPS food-service workers will be undergoing training on how to cook from scratch.

Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com