Lawson Living and Giving Garden in Elk Grove Receives $7000 Grant

The Bob and Doris Lawson Living and Giving Community Garden at Prince of Peace United Methodist Church was recently notified it had been selected for a $7000 grant from Faith in Place.

The Mission of Faith in Place is to empower Illinois people of all faiths to be leaders in caring for the Earth, providing resources to educate, connect, and advocate for healthier communities. This grant will allow the garden to increase its yield, teach more community members how to grow their own organic food and add more sustainable practices.

The garden at Prince of Peace Church in Elk Grove Village has a long and varied history. Back in the 1990's, church member and avid gardener Bob Lawson began a garden at the church to satisfy his passion for gardening and to share his crops with members of the church. Every Sunday during the summer, members would have the opportunity to pick up fresh vegetables after service, leaving a small donation to sustain his work and benefit the church.

In 2008, Bob passed away and eventually other church members took up the task of planting and harvesting vegetables. After some time the decision was made to name the garden The Living and Giving Garden with all the produce being donated to local food pantries. After several years of tending the garden, volunteers took a break and the garden went uncultivated. A few years later, the group Living Green in Elk Grove Village, wanting to start a community garden project, proposed a partnership with Prince of Peace and the garden was reborn. It was then renamed The Bob Lawson Living and Giving Community Garden.

The primary goals of the garden are to provide fresh, organic produce to Elk Grove Village food pantries while building community, to educate residents of all ages about the importance of and how to grow their own organic food and to use regenerative, eco-friendly practices.

The Garden was recently renamed to include Doris Lawson, Bob's wife who passed away in 2021.