Fall is one of the most popular seasons for its cool climate, warm drinks and exciting holidays. Elon University offered students and members of the community a chance to mingle with friends, eat free food, face paint and carve pumpkins at this year’s Fall Pumpkin Festival.
Last Friday, Oct. 25, the Garden Studio class, led by Michael Strickland, partnered with Hillel to present the fifth annual Fall Pumpkin Festival in the Community Garden, located in the garden space and yard behind the Sklut Hillel Center.
“To prepare for the harvest festival, we had to first plan out all of the activities and food we would have,” said senior Andrea Schultz. “After spreading the word about the event, successfully getting funded for it and shopping for supplies, we spent several hours in the Hillel kitchen baking and preparing all of the food for the event.”
Strickland said Hillel was their very supportive next-door neighbor.
Food was free for all who attended and included vegan pumpkin pie and Brunswick stew, vegan and gluten-free chocolate pumpkin oatmeal bars, butternut squash soup, pumpkin cupcakes and hot cocoa and cider.
“It’s hard to tell you about [the Brunswick stew] because you really can’t put into words just how wonderful it is,” Schultz said.
Offering up a taste of home, the pumpkin bread was another clear standout.
“The food is really good and it’s fun to do all of these events here that we can’t do at home,” said freshman Emma Klein as she carved a pumpkin.
Every thing used at the event was compostable and compost receptacles were scattered around the area. Attendees were also able to enjoy music and take a walk through the Community Garden.
The Garden Studio class meets in the garden every day, weather permitting, and performs tasks such as watering the plants, harvesting, planting new plants and patching the fence, said senior Cameron Hawkins.
“I love engaging students with the almost-lost arts of growing your own food, the study of food systems, the joys and benefits of working with your hands to make things and the importance of sustainable practices in agriculture like soil health, organic practices and composting,” Strickland said.
He also said he enjoys keeping the tradition of the garden going and hopes this event will allow people to get more acquainted with the garden and appreciate its year-round importance to the campus.
“The Elon Community Garden to me is a sacred space and one that allows me to de-stress and reflect. This class has, in a way, been therapy for me,” Hawkins said. “I love gardening and am a true supporter of self-sufficiency and sustainability, and this class has given me the opportunity to learn more about gardening.”
Hawkins said she hopes this event raises awareness of the presence and importance of the Community Garden.
Since temperatures have started to drop, the class will soon move into the classroom and learn about preservation techniques, Strickland said.
“We just learned how to make jelly and will be picking [fruits] soon as well as dehydrating and fermenting in November,” Strickland said.
Many students and community members in attendance were very excited to learn about the Community Garden from the students enrolled in the Garden Studio class.
Although it was a rather chilly afternoon, old and young alike enjoyed the warmth of each other’s company and the hot apple cider, of course.
Workdays at the garden are open to all students. The meetings are at Loy Farm on Friday and Saturday afternoons.