Many gardeners tend to church plot

At the Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin, the congregation's food garden gives members an opportunity to put their religious principles into action.

"Our garden is a direct manifestation of our engagement with the interdependent web of life," said garden coordinator Donna Askins.

"Efficient, organic gardening methods tread lightly upon the Earth, and the synergy of the gardeners working together produces much more food and fellowship than any one of us could create alone. In addition, decisions about the garden are made by the group, thus honoring our religious commitment to democratic decision-making."

The raised-bed vegetable garden, now in its fourth season, produces lettuce, camomile, sugar snap peas, onions, and more. Volunteers from the congregation attend garden parties in which participants get together for an hour to plant, mulch, set up trellises, and otherwise support the congregation's food garden. Once the plants are established, rotating teams of two to three people manage the garden throughout the summer.

Food harvested from the garden is distributed through an honor system.

"If you work a lot, take a lot. If you work a little, take a little. If you work not at all, make a donation. And assistance is available for those who need it," Askins said.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin is representative of a national movement among Unitarian Universalist congregations to explore and act on ethical eating issues. At the 2008 Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly, congregations voted to make ethical eating their Congregational Study/Action Issue for 2008-2012.

For details, visit tinyurl.com/eatingCSAI. For details on the Elgin church, visit uuce.org.