Friends of Shiloh Garden, the nonprofit group managing Shiloh Field Community Garden in Denton, will host a series of free cooking classes beginning Sept. 12. The sessions take place in the commercial kitchen inside the gym at First United Methodist Church, located at 201 S. Locust St.
Christie A. Wood, a board member for Friends of Shiloh Garden, stated that the organization updated its mission to include education on how to properly use, preserve, and reuse the produce it grows. The upcoming classes will cover techniques for making jellies and jams, traditional canning methods, and preparing pumpkin pie using fresh pumpkins.
Wood noted that most spots in the initial series are already filled, but the group intends to schedule additional sessions later. While current instruction is provided by board members, Wood said the organization plans to invite a nutritionist to lead future classes.
The garden, situated at 1650 Nottingham Drive, spans more than 14 acres and is described as the largest community garden in the country. Because the garden site lacks electrical power, the cooking instruction is held at the nearby church instead.
Friends of Shiloh Garden was established in 2019 after outgrowing its origins as an outreach program from Denton Bible Church. The group distributes all produce, eggs, and honey from the property to approximately 22 local nonprofits, including Our Daily Bread, Freedom Food Pantry, and Krum Community Food Pantry.
