Pumpkin Eats

It’s Fall and most of us are busting out our crockpots and casserole dishes to start serving up that cold-weather comfort food! Pumpkins aren’t just for pumpkin pie. You can make wonderful stews, souffle, curry, and more! Here are some great pumpkin varieties 

Pumpkin Varieties
We’re going to bypass the big carving pumpkins (think Jack-O-Lanterns) all together as they are the worst pumpkins for cooking. Their meat is very stringy and their flavor is extremely bland. Instead, go for varieties that are sweet, uber flavorful, and have a smoother flesh. Look for pumpkins that are labeled as ‘sugar pumpkins’ or ‘pie pumpkins’. We grow several varieties of cooking pumpkins including Long Island Cheese, Cinderella, and Jarrahdale. 

Pumpkin Size
The best cooking pumpkins should be between 4-8 pounds. Be sure to check for bruising or spots as this can be a sign of rot. 

Storage
Keep your pumpkins longer by placing them in a cool temperature. When stored properly, pumpkins can last up to 90 days! You could be making pumpkin pies well past Christmas!

We look forward to seeing y’all here at the farm for loads of Fall fun!

Carving Pumpkins

Fall and Halloween are just around the corner! It’s almost time to decorate the house in fake spider webs (or simply leave the REAL ones up), pick out a spooky costume and carve some pumpkins! Here are a few tips for aMAZEing Jack O’ Lanterns.

Tip 1. Choose the right pumpkin.
The right pumpkin has a flat bottom so that it doesn’t roll all over the front porch. Select a fresh pumpkin with a solid stem and no bruising. We grow several varieties of carving pumpkins including Orange Sunrise, Kratos, Gladiator and Early King. We also grow some really great white carving varieties including Polar Bear and New Moon.

Tip 2: Cut at an angle.
Have you ever cut the top off your pumpkin only to have to drop into the sticky, gooey mess? Avoid this nonsense by cutting your lid off at an angle.

Tip 3: Have the right tools.
One of the best tools for cutting the lid off a pumpkin is a keyhole saw. The sharp teeth on this saw can easily slice through a pumpkin’s thick shell, and the flexible blade is awesome for making curved cuts. Other useful carving tools include hole cutters, wood gauges and a power drill. Melon ballers or ice cream scoops are perfect for getting all that goopy pulp out. 

Tip 4: Keep it fresh.
Nothing stinks more than spending oodles of time on a pumpkin only to have it rot away a few days later. To keep your carved masterpiece daisy fresh for Halloween, spread petroleum jelly on the cut edges. If it shrivels up, you can freshen it up by soaking it in cold water for up to 8 hours. 

Visit us on Pinterest for loads of fun carving ideas!

Come on out to the farm this Fall for heaps of fun on the farm!

Get Crafty!

Painting pumpkins instead of carving them has several perks. For one, painted pumpkins last way longer than carved ones do. You don’t have to worry about the kids hurting themselves with sharp objects. Also, you can be as creative as you want to be with glitter, stickers, or whatever else your inner Picasso craves!

Picking the Right Pumpkin
The perfect painting pumpkin has a smooth, even surface. Be sure to choose one without bruises, scratches, and lumps. We have Early Kings and Gladiators if you want BIG pumpkins. We also have Munchkins if you want tiny pumpkins for your tiny toddlers. If lumpy is what you’re going for, we have Warty Goblins which look really cool!

A Good Cleaning
To clean your pumpkin, you can use a damp cloth or paper towel to gently remove the dirt and grime. Avoid using items like rough kitchen scrubbers as these can damage your pumpkin’s skin. Use a soft cloth to thoroughly dry your pumpkin and be sure to keep the stem area dry. A wet stem or blossom (the bottom of your pumpkin) can cause your pumpkin to rot. 

Let Your Fancy Flow!
When it comes to pumpkin painting, the creative options endless! Stencils, markers and stickers are easy options for younger kids. 

Pumpkin Painting Tools
Acrylic paint is a great option for painting pumpkins as it dries quickly and allows you to paint over the first layer in a short time period. Go-to painting tools include cheap paint brushes, cotton swabs, sponges, and cotton balls.

Mom Tip: Put down a cheap vinyl table cloth or some newspapers to protect your furniture from paint spills.

Gussy ’em Up!
Make your pumpkin shine with fun embellishments like glitter, sequins, pom poms, or rhinestones. Add googly eyes to create faces! Incorporate glow-in-the-dark paint to make your pumpkin stand out at night!

Check out our Pinterest boards for creative inspiration!

We look forward to seeing you here at the farm for all of our Fall fun!

Repurposing Pumpkins

Halloween is over and it’s time to put that Jack-O-Lantern that guarded your front porch to better use. Here are some great ways to reuse your holiday pumpkins!

Incredible Compost
Did you know that your wilting Jack-O-Lantern could be used as awesome plant-loving compost? Before putting your pumpkin in the pile, remove all candles and battery-operated tea lights along with any other decorations attached to the pumpkin (ribbons, googly eyes, etc.). Be sure to remove all the pumpkin seeds as well. No need to start a pumpkin patch in your compost bin!

Note: Pumpkins that have been painted, coated in sealant, or covered in glitter cannot be composted. Be sure to remove all the pumpkin seeds as well. No need to start a pumpkin patch in your compost bin!

Fall Feeder
Hollow out one side of your leftover pumpkin and fill with birdseed. If you have a bunch of baby pumpkins, you can tie a bit of cord at the top and hang the small feeders from trees in your yard. The neighborhood birds will have a field day!

Critter Treats
Do you have cows, goats, pigs? Maybe just wild birds and squirrels? All kinds of animals would be very happy to munch on your leftover pumpkins. Pumpkins are an excellent source of vitamin E, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and essential fatty acids making them excellent treats for nature’s critters!

Come meet our furry farm animals here at the farm this Fall!