As visitors of all ages weaved through the Shiloh Field Community Garden, they passed by rows of zucchini, sweet potatoes and yellow squash. As the hayride they were on rolled along, children waved to chickens clucking inside their coop, the children’s laughter echoing throughout the garden.
The garden, located on Nottingham Drive near Mingo Road, hosted its first-ever pumpkin festival on Saturday, Oct. 4. The event was part of Denton’s 31 Days of Halloween. It featured a pumpkin patch, scarecrows with pumpkin heads, hayrides and other family-friendly activities.
Christina Proctor, a volunteer operating the event and board president of Friends of Shiloh Garden, the nonprofit organization that operates the garden, said the event was a great opportunity for people to learn about what the garden has to offer.
“We are kind of hidden,” Proctor said. “People drive by us every day and never knew that we were back here, so I’m glad that they’re getting more awareness in the community about what we have here, and hopefully they will come back on a Saturday or a weekday and come and volunteer with us, or even just take a tour.”
In 2011, businessman and gardener Gene Gumfory founded the Shiloh Garden, aiming to help combat food insecurity in the Denton area. Since its establishment, the garden has been donating its harvest to local food banks and nonprofit organizations.
Proctor said the garden currently has 17 local partners. The garden provides them with fresh foods such as eggs and vegetables.
“It’s become really important,” Proctor said. “Especially since COVID, there’s been more and more people kind of struggling with food insecurities. And you know, with the grocery prices rising so high now, it’s just even harder to get the simple things that you need, and so having us grow here, we’re donating hundreds of pounds a week to the food banks of in-season produce.”
Rhonda McKinzie, a four-year volunteer with the Shiloh Garden and a Denton County Master Gardener, said volunteers assist with various tasks around the plots.
“We do everything,” McKinzie said. “We plant. We weed. We harvest. There’s all kinds of things.”
The pumpkin festival took place from 3 to 7 p.m., featuring live music and several Halloween-themed photo opportunities. The event also included a variety of booths offering food and drinks, face painting and information about plants and sustainability.
One of the booths was selling homemade canned goods, from berry jam and beans to spaghetti sauce and pickled jalapenos.
Shiloh Garden volunteer Christie Wood, who made these canned goods, said they were all prepared using extra produce from the garden.
“I can tell you exactly which plants some of these jellies came from, because I work right over there,” Wood said.
Wood said that she has been canning at home for 50 years, following instructions from a 1943 guidebook. She started canning for the Shiloh Garden last year to fundraise for the organization.
“I use the same methods that were used with the Victory Gardens in World War II,” Wood said. “Same recipes, same canning timetables. […] I have never had anything spoil or go bad. So yes, you follow the old-fashioned recipe, you’ll be fine.”
Another booth at the event was selling drinks like warm apple cider and sodas.
Proctor said that all proceeds from the festival will go to Rotary International’s PolioPlus program, an effort to eradicate polio worldwide. She said that Rotary has supported the garden for years, and the festival was an excellent opportunity for collaboration and giving back.
Varina Lavelle, a university alumna and Denton resident, said the pumpkin festival was a fantastic community event.
“I think it’s a great community effort,” Lavelle said. “I’m glad to see as many people as are here, and I hope it continues to grow.”
Proctor said that people who wish to get involved with the garden can visit Shiloh Garden’s website for more information. The garden welcomes individuals, families and large groups.
“We’re super excited to have our name out in the community as something that people can come out and volunteer,” Proctor said. “And we would love to have you.”
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