Pumpkin Patches

Because it's become a bit popular I think MN has a problem with it. If you like anything too mainstream then the implication from some is that you're a bit chavvy or dim. Which is sad in this case because it's a really fun day, in the fresh air that will lead to a family activity (carving pumpkins) and maybe even a healthy meal with the remnants. I mean what could possibly be bad about that? Even if people do choose to go in impractical designer clothes and take lots of photos.

"Utter bollox. There are no poor farmers anywhere!!!"

Yeah you're right. It's a licence to print money and an absolute doddle. Must be why all the careers teachers in school are pushing all the kids to go to agricultural college and rent land to farm.

Tell you what, why don't you have a go? It's not a closed shop. Farmland comes up at public auction all the time and anyone is free to buy it. Since you can turn such a vast profit, you won't need to do any actual farming, just hire a farm manager, a crew of farm labourers with all their tractor handling experience and sprayer certs and whatnot, and go for it. If there aren't decent existing sheds you'll have to get some built- just think house extension costs but scaled up+++ and of course you'll need to buy some machinery that wouldn't be out of place at an army base or an airport. But yeah. The cash will fall into your hands.

They grow on the ground, not under it!

There's a post on this every year it's so joyless! Our local one is 3.50 a ticket so cheaper than soft play and you get some fresh air and a nice picture. My toddler loved the wheel barrows.

Also it's more money for farmers who've had a shocking harvest year.

I do think social media has made everything a bit bonkers at this time of year with so many experiences. But still nice to have something autumny to do.

My children love the War-BOO!-tons bread wrappers 😀

You’re the one talking bollox sweetie !!

Exactly!
Customers wanting cheap food and the big supermarkets price wars which reduces the price they pay the farmers for their produce !! Most dairy farmers are operating at a loss ! !

We have one locally, they do grow their own and have carts/wagons that the kids can pull around/ride on, and some small fairground rides as well as a couple of photo op set ups. It only costs a fiver per car and the pumpkins are cheaper than the supermarket

I think they've spoilt it a bit in the last couple of years though, the first time we went about 3 years ago they had all the pumpkins on the patch including all the weird and wonderful little funny shaped interesting ones, we had great fun finding them. The last couple of years they seem to have gone through and taken all the small ones out and put them in big crates instead so the only ones on the patch are the standard type of pumpkins. Spoilt the fun a bit

That's the problem, people want cheapish food but someone in the supply chain sacrifices this. This is usually the farmers.

If you want farmers a fairer deal, expect to pay more.

Our local pumpkin patch definitely grow the pumpkins there, you have to literally cut them off if the stalks etc.

The one near us charges entry but they have a bit of an autumn festival with rides, games, stalls, food and bars etc and then you can go pick some pumpkins. I went one year and it eas a nice day out. I assumed part of the reason you just pick up the pumpkin was because perhaps they are difficult to get out of the ground without tools but I did no research on which to base the assumption 😂

The flesh in carving pumpkins are edible. DM buys one each year to make soup, muffins, pies - savoury and sweet.

She puts enough for one recipe above in a tuppaware type box and freezes them.

Perhaps like me they grew up in the north in the 70’s and 80’s where we had a swede instead of a pumpkin and are sad at the takeover by the orange monsters.

disclaimer I didn’t see the post just your reply!!

I am all for fun days out but… I don’t get it

Just don't go, then.

HTH.

Farmers need to diversify to survive as they are paid a pittance by the supermarkets ! Good on them if an annual pumpkin patch will help supplement their income !!

There’s a working farm near us and the fake pumpkin patch thing is one of their annual activities. They are open about the fact the pumpkins aren’t grown there and they make it look a bit more authentic. If it helps to supplement their income along with the open air cafe that they’ve done really well with then I don’t see what the issue is. Farmers really struggle as it is.

I wonder if there are any rules around using phrases like pumpkin patch, pumpkin picking etc. as you are choosing a pumpkin but not picking it like you would a strawberry

What? 🫠

We went to one this weekend and really enjoyed it. Very toddler friendly, I didn't think it was hideously expensive, lots to do and yes there were pumpkins actually growing as well as ones that had been shipped in. We spent maybe 15 mins picking pumpkins and then did loads of other stuff, tractor rides, hay bale maze, various little photo ops, cornhole beanbag game, lunch, hot chocolates.

I'd happily go again, it's something a bit different to do that gets us off the usual weekend merry go round of park, softplay, farm, walk in the woods. If you don't want to go to one, just don't go.

"I wonder if there are any rules around using phrases like pumpkin patch, pumpkin picking etc. as you are choosing a pumpkin but not picking it like you would a strawberry"

Well. You pick it up. Off the ground. Yeah it's not real. The Santa at the Winter Wonderland Experience (reindeer food £4, free parking) isn't real either. But anyone creating and enforcing that rule under Trading Standards would have to be some kind of turbo-wanker.

Many companies, especially farms, need to diversify their offer. Many farms operate with financial losses, and climate change, economic issues, etc, will only exacerbate the situation. People want enjoyable experiences with their families; it may not be for everyone, but it is generally wholesome fun!

"It isn't a rip off. You aren't paying for the pumpkin, and it isn't an essential, it's the experience and infrastructure."

This. It's worth what people are willing to pay. There does seem to be a lot of "Have you booked anything for Hallowe'en yet?" "Have you booked anything for Christmas yet" on the whatsapp mum group I'm on.
When I was wee, mum got turnips out of the shop, we carved them if our fingers didn't get too cold and sore and we didn't get too bored, wedge a wonky end of a candle in (tealights weren't really much of a thing) and that was it. At Christmas we might get plonked on the knee of some bloke in a red suit and fake beard in a shopping centre and get given a cheap plasticky present in that cheap wrapping paper you could spit through.

Now the Christmas experience will be driving somewhere they have strung some lights in some clapped out remnants of an old apple orchard and you can pay an extra £4 for a small bag of special reindeer food (ewe breeder pellets or pony nuts with a bit of glitter in) to feed the reindeer the farmer bought off Done Deal.

It's all a bit Father Ted Tunnel of Goats AFAIC, and I'm a tightfisted Scrooge like mummy and don't bother but "for those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing that they like".
And if the children like it, the parents are happy, and the farmer makes a few bob to allleviate being up to his eyeballs in debt and stress, everyone's a winner.