EcoEcumenical combines enviornmentalism, religion

Members of the EcoEcumenical group begin planting one of their three community gardens this spring. The group, which combines religious ideas and environmentalism, grew fruits and vegetables for nonprofit organizations.
Photo courtesy of the EcoEcumenical group

As fall arrives, the EcoEcumenical group that combines ideas of faith and environmentalism is wrapping up its four community garden projects.

EcoEcumenical, founded in winter 2008, is an environmental group for religious community members, said club founder Brian Sauder, a 2007 University alumnus.

"We bring people together to think and act upon ecological responsibility from the perspective of our faith tradition," he said. "We are accepting of anyone."

The group started three gardens in spring 2009. One is at the First Mennonite Church, 902 W. Springfield Ave., Urbana. Another is at A Woman's Fund, 1304 E. Main St., Urbana. The third is at the Center for Women in Transition, 508 E. Church St., Champaign.

"One of the big reasons we need it (the gardens) is people don't have enough food," said group member Eleanor Evans. "I think it's important, too, that people in our churches put their faith into action so they're more relevant."

Sauder said EcoEcumenical group members also helped maintain the Catholic Worker House's established garden at 317 S. Randolph St., Champaign. The Catholic Worker House serves food to needy people.

"All the plants were donated to us by people in the community," Sauder said. "The gardens have primarily vegetables and fruits. We have planted some flowers and herbs as well."

Sauder said the group had volunteers working on the gardens throughout the summer.

"The produce has gone right into the kitchens (of the four sites)," he said.

Janiece Carter, residential advocate at A Woman's Fund, said she was thankful the group came and planted the garden since the cost of tomatoes has gone up.

"It was great to see the women cultivating, watering and weeding the garden," Carter said. "It (the garden) is a really nice addition."

Sauder said the spiritual analogies of gardening and the activity's ability to bring people together symbolize the ideology of the EcoEcumenical group.

"Among religious folk, environmentalism has a lot of negative connotations," he added. "We try to deconstruct all those barriers religious people have with the environmental movement as a whole and deal with it more on an ethical religious platform."

Evans said unity is an important aspect of the group's philosophy.

"There is a lack of understanding between the different faiths. We want to try to bring people together," Evans said. "We involve all faiths, we meet in different churches. Unitarians, Mennonites and Muslims have been involved."