Shiloh Field Provides Fresh Produce for the Food Insecure
Imagine a group of nine to 11 year-old boys and girls, dressed in jeans and “work” shirts, feet covered in tennis shoes or work boots. Now push your imagination even further and think hard to figure out what you don’t see. Got it? It’s cell phones! No one has one open to instantaneously receiving a text, an email, or just a plain, old-fashioned call. Instead, that second hand holds a hoe or a rake or another gardening tool.
The 14.5 acre tract of land known as Shiloh Field or Shiloh Community Gardens has occupied a place of prominence in the Denton County skyline for the past 11 years. All you need to do is dig your fingers deep into the rich soil at Shiloh Field and look for evidence of the first seed planted by Gene Gumfory in 2013. “Gene planted that first seed with the intention of planting, tending, harvesting, and distributing as much fresh produce as possible to the 21 percent of Denton County residents who are food insecure,” said Nancy DiMarco who, among other things, is the director of the Junior Master Gardener’s Program.
“12,071 pounds of food came from the first harvest , followed by 23,453 in the second one. And it was all done by passionate and compassionate volunteers. Gene knew what he was talking about when he said a community garden is important because, for one thing, it brings people together.”
It seemed as if those well-fertilized acres were aware of the role they played. Volunteer hours continued expanding and facility improvements made it possible to grow more with each harvest. The people at Shiloh Field learned very quickly how to tap each opportunity for the greatest benefit. To date, a total of 340,000 pounds of produce has been grown and harvested at Shiloh Community Gardens, with the farm itself named the largest community garden in the United States.
Shiloh Community Garden has based its program on the same precepts since the farm’s inception. They are:
- Fresh food for hungry families.
- Families deserve to have fresh food to eat.
- All the food grown in the garden is given to hungry families in our community.
- Family-friendly gardening experiences.
It’s Shiloh Gardens’ intention to utilize the Cornucopia Plan, using the Cornucopia as a sign of abundance and overflowing supply. Shiloh Field can become a cornucopia of food for those who need it in our community.
“We partner with the Tarrant Area Food Bank, and use their Volunteer Management System. We actually partner with 20 different food banks and pantries. The land we use for the gardens is owned by Denton Bible Church. It didn’t take very long for me to realize this was the best possible project for me to join. Besides, it really did take me full circle since I taught nutrition at Texas Women’s University. I retired in 2019 and started teaching Junior Master Gardener in 2024.
“We harvest on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and we actually partner with 20 different food banks and pantries. In some ways, it seems I’m right back where I started but, in other ways, it’s as if I’m starting all over again. Either way, I know it’s all been a wonderful experience and it wouldn’t have happened without Shiloh Gardens.”
Come for a tour. Just bring your gloves and a smile!
Shiloh Garden – Shiloh Field
1650 Nottingham Drive, Denton, TX
shilohfield.com
