First Presbyterian Church of La Grange’s (FPCLG) Grace Garden has grown into a staple of the community over the past years by donating to local food pantries in efforts to better the hunger crisis. Students of Sustainable Urban Agriculture class and Future Farmers of America (FFA) club have stepped up in partnership to begin seed starting vegetables to be donated; this not only contributes to FPCLG’s mission to serve the food insecure but provides learning opportunities for students.

Starting from the gift of a compost bin from FPCLG to LT, church member Olivia Hein and Sustainable Urban Agriculture teacher Kaliegh Dolan connected for the first time. Hein originally intended to teach youth proper composing techniques and find a home for the bin, so the idea of meeting students face-to-face sprouted. 

Students then learned of the Grace Garden and determined they could harvest vegetables in the class aquaponics system, and seed start in the class greenhouse to donate to the Share Food Share Love food pantry. This would increase yield for the food pantry in addition to the church’s contribution while speeding up harvest, weeding, and watering for the church.

“We are so grateful to dig in the dirt alongside our neighbors,” Hein said. “Together, we can make a big impact on lessening the hunger some of our neighbors are experiencing.”

This connection has also advanced the curriculum and opportunities for participating students. Students have visited the Grace Garden, learning garden practices that accommodate Climate Change while providing hands-on experience to apply what they have learned in class. Students have begun seed-starting peppers, herbs, eggplants, and more. Hein and Dolan also acknowledge gardening’s positive contribution to mental health by reducing stress. Hein expressed that the Grace Garden team is passionate about teaching gardening skills and loves to contribute to the knowledge and growth of the community’s youth.

“There is something so cathartic and therapeutic about gardening,” Dolan said. “When students come back to class the next day they know each other a little bit better, and that directly ties into our ability to learn material.”

In the spring Hein plans for FFA students to present a class for the church offering ideas for gardening and business practices. In the future, both Dolan and Hein hope for a long partnership to flourish. The Grace Garden has touched the LT science community, creating learning opportunities, while acting in service to those in need.

“We [at Grace Garden] believe that knowledge is power and the more our community becomes aware of the hunger crisis and ways to help – the better we all are,” Hein said.