Maintained by Carmel's Garden Club, students begin seedlings indoors, plant and care for the garden throughout the spring and summer, and harvest produce that is shared with local families. In recent years, the project has expanded with the addition of Elisha's Orchard, featuring 20 fruit trees made possible through a grant from the Carmelite Order.
The article also highlights the leadership of Carmel Catholic's Chief Mission Officer, Kambra French, who shared how the garden provides students with a holistic opportunity to put their faith into action through service, environmental stewardship, and solidarity with their neighbors.
At Carmel Catholic, Elijah's Garden is more than a place where vegetables grow—it is a place where students cultivate compassion, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of what it means to serve others. Through hands-on experiences rooted in faith, students witness how even the smallest seeds can make a lasting impact on individuals and the broader community.
We are grateful to our Garden Club students, faculty, volunteers, and community partners whose dedication continues to make Elijah's Garden a flourishing ministry and a beautiful reflection of Carmel Catholic's mission to educate the whole person through faith, service, and leadership.
Read the article here: https://www.chicagocatholic.com/web/chicago-catholic/chicagoland/-/article/2026/07/22/parish-school-gardens-grow-community-benefit-pantry-ministries-1