Searching for the Great American Prairie 

David Monk (Tthe Prairie Monk”) was born in Australia. His interests can be traced to his artist mother and schoolteacher father, who both had a strong commitment to community service. Monk left Australia with degrees in Agriculture Science and Education and came to the United States looking to satisfy his curiosity about Americans and see the great American Praire he had read so much about. After arriving he quickly discovered that the prairie he sought was gone. With the help of others Monk has tirelessly worked to recreate and promote the return of prairie lanscapes in their natural environments.

Art and Education

Today David is an artist/environmentalist with a commitment to prairie preservation, restoration and interpretation. His art medium is largely photographic and includes high contrast silk screen printing. He is an avid recorder of the local natural and cultural landscape and of the people living and working in them. He is a self described ecologist at heart with a strong commitment to biodiversity. He has taught formally in biology and science and art. Some of his formal courses have included “Reading the Landscape” and “Artist in the Landscape”. Currently Dave focuses on teaching informally through field trips, prairie tours, conversation, and his weekly radio talk show. Catch “The Prairie Monk” on WEFT Sundays at 11:00 AM. 

ERES

David is President of Educational Resources in Environmental Science (ERES), a 501 C3 not-for-profit corporation founded in 1969.

ERES is a community based corporation that fosters environmental quality and upgrade through awareness, involvement and action. ERES regards environmental education as a process that leads to a citizenry sensitive to its environment, actively involved in it concerns and focused on the solution of environmental problems now and in the future. Environmental education as practiced by ERES includes a simultaneous interplay of awareness, involvement, and actions.

Heartland Pathways

Also close to Monk’s heart is Heartland Pathways, a 33 mile path of trails and wildlife habitat that he founded in 1987 by leading a group of volunteers in the purchase of 330 acres of railway corridor from the Illinois Central Railroad.  

Heartland Pathways believes that the reclaimed land should serve the public in numerous complementary ways. Dave believes the study of the old railways, with important cultural artifacts such as trestle bridges, early farmhouses, grain elevators and train depots provide us with important information about our cultural past. In addition, the land can be used to restore prairie and to provide recreations areas for hiking, biking, jogging and nature observation. Dave hopes recreational train travel will someday be restored to the train lines to further utilize the land.  

 Community and History

A fixture in the community for many years, Monk has a vast knowledge of local history and is continually striving to restore and maintain the historical integrity of local architecture and culture.  ERES, and Heartland Pathways, as well as his other interests are dependent upon the donations and work of volunteers.