Under clear blue skies, more than 100 volunteers cleared 14 acres of brush, hauled away tree limbs and tore down an old barn to transform the undeveloped land at Mingo Road and Nottingham Drive into a large community garden.

Organizers of the Nov. 14 event have some big plans for the garden: to help feed Denton’s hungry and provide a place for people to grow food.

Taking it all in was project leader Gene Gumfory, who at times fought for his instructions to be heard over the buzzing and beeping sounds of the haulers, tree branch mulchers and an occasional train rushing by on tracks that run next to the site.

Gumfory quoted Genesis 2:8 — “And God had planted a garden in the east …” — as he discussed the property’s location.

“A garden is important to God,” he said. “This is the east side [of Denton]. There has to be a correlation.”

This stage of the project is a key step in a vision that began simply as a prayer.

“Lord, I just need a piece of ground and some water,” Gumfory, a longtime member of Denton Bible Church and a businessman, remembered thinking when the idea first came to him.

The land was donated by someone who wishes to remain unnamed. In September, Denton Bible Church received authorization from Denton’s Planning and Development Department to proceed.

“It’s so exciting and quite humbling to be a part of something like this,” Gumfory said.

His dad always grew radishes and onions. “I learned from him,” Gumfory said. “I just have a love for gardening.”

Gumfory became a Denton County Master Gardener in 1993. He said this project “is my way of giving back to the community.”

In addition to a large row garden and 80 15-by-15-foot plots that will be tended by individual gardeners, there are also plans for a pecan orchard and rows of blackberry bushes.

The abundance that is produced will be donated to the Denton soup kitchen Our Daily Bread.

Volunteers who participated in the cleanup included Denton Bible Church members as well as groups from the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University.

Two church members, Linda Bone and Kim Seville, were working side by side.

“It’s such a great opportunity to give back,” Seville said of the experience. “I think it’s going to be a great ministry.”

Bone added, “Our goal is to work alongside the community.”

That’s the message Gumfory wants to spread.

“This is a community project,” he said.  “Everyone has just been so excited. It is something the entire community can get a hold of.”

No experience is required to participate. To register for a free gardening space, e-mail gardening@dentonbible.org.

BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY GARDENS

* Build neighborliness and sense of ownership in the community

* Make productive use of vacant land

* Grow flowers and ornamental vegetables that beautify the neighborhood

* Provide low-cost organic vegetables and herbs

* Create a sense of pride and accomplishment and the empowerment of food self-sufficiency

* Make a place for outdoor activities, exercise, recreation and therapy to alleviate stress

* Teach children about the environment and plants and about working with others.

* Provide the opportunities for everyone in a neighborhood to be able to interact and work together and learn about each other

* Save money for people growing their own food

* Help homeless people, and others in difficult situations, to regain their pride and sense of belonging to a community, learn skills and be productive for their own sake and the sake of the community.

SOURCE: Powell Center for Construction and Environment