After a successful growing season at both garden facilities in the community, Hunger in Moose Jaw is planning to hold their annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival and Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grey Avenue Gardens, marking the end of an outstanding year for the local charity.
“The gardens actually went really well, all of our lots were filled this year, which was really nice because last year so many were empty,” said Suzanne Ramage with Hunger in Moose Jaw. “Last year, lots of people didn’t take their plots because of COVID, so we saved them for the year so they could get back to it. Everyone came back to their plots this year, so everything was full.”
And that means tons of produce, including a bonanza from six plots that Hunger in Moose Jaw themselves worked throughout the summer, leading to special donations to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank and Riverside Mission.
“We had all kinds of vegetables. Then we planted a huge pumpkin patch, which we’ll be selling on Saturday, too,” Ramage said. “It turned out to be a really good season, even with the heat we had.”
Dealing with near-record-setting temperatures for weeks at a time led to things being plenty busy at the gardens, but that dedication paid off come harvest time.
“It was a lot of work, and with the summer we had, it was a lot of watering,” Ramage explained. “Lots of people were watering morning and night when it was hitting 35 there for a few days in a row, but the plants really like the heat as long as you keep them watered.”
The Pumpkin Harvest Festival will continue its annual tradition of having kids' games and a range of activities, including a visit from the always popular Derf the Clown. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a chili feast by donation and, with the farmer’s market part of this year’s festivities, purchase all sorts of fresh-from-the-garden vegetables, baking and recently canned goods.
All told, it promises to be a busy morning and early afternoon if supporters turn out like they did the last time the Pumpkin Harvest Festival was held in 2019.
“The last year they did it before COVID there were around 1,500 people, so it’s pretty busy,” Ramage said. “Usually we do our Farmer’s Market in August and the Pumpkin Festival is later, but because the restrictions were lifted so late, we just decided to combine them into one big event.. So we’re hoping to see a lot of people come out.”
For more information on the Pumpkin Harvest Festival and Hunger in Moose Jaw’s activities, be sure to visit them at www.facebook.com/hungerinmoosejaw.
