The potential Food Science Lab at Schurz High School. View Full Caption Jaime Guerrero

CHICAGO — Schurz High School is in the process of building a Food Science Lab that will teach students the benefits of sustainable urban farming.

The school, 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave., has started a $15,000 Indiegogo campaign to build a vertical growing system inside one of its classrooms. Schurz, which has started construction on the urban farm classroom but needs the Indiegogo funds to complete the project, is teaming with Urban Farm & Eatery on the venture.

The classroom also will be a food production site that will provide vegetables to local food pantries.

"It will be exciting for school to house a living green space around which teachers can build a curriculum," said Schurz's principal, Daniel Kramer.

Urban Farm & Eatery founder Jaime Guerrero, also a local restauranteur, came up with the idea to create a fully sustainable food service and restaurant program in the Old Irving Park community. Guerrero, who lives next to Schurz, thought the high school was the perfect place to house the Food Science Lab.

"It can nourish the whole community by answering the call for fresh local food supply, job training and more," Guerrero said.

The urban farm classroom inside Schurz also would provide students with business expertise in management, design, marketing and distribution, according to the school.

"That’s why creating this unique, hands-on learning center is essential. Not only for the kids, but for our community and public as well," Guerrero said.

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