"Pumpkin picking" WTF

[HauntedGusset]

Driving home from a visit to family today there was an absolutely massive traffic jam caused by cars entering/leaving a farm shop that also has a small events centre attached. I last passed the farm shop a few weeks ago and they had some other event on with cars parked all over the field nearest the road. Anyway today the same field was covered in huge pumpkins with families trudging round in the mud "picking" them - but they didn't grow there, they can't have done as the same field was a car park last month They've just been plonked there. Someone tell me why this is a thing?

(And no, I don't have small DC anymore so I suppose I've missed this becoming popular, I was vaguely aware people pick pumpkins but imagined it to be like picking strawberries where you actually pick them fresh from the plant, not like a crapper muddier version of just buying one from Lidl!)

Oh good Lord, the online pumpkin picking was clearly a joke!

I think it's the "for the making memories crowd" remarks that indicate it's horrifically working class. Have to be careful not to be deleted, but make it clear we're above That Sort Of Thing all the same

I would never associate this type of activity with the working classes, quite the opposite!

Well if we are bringing class into it I would hazard a guess from the types of car (newish, at least 60% of them 4x4s) and colours of wellie (mainly green) that were in abundance that it's a solidly middle class activity

Mind you it's a farm shop, accessible only by car, in a solidly middle class rural area so perhaps the clientele just reflected the environs.

Someone needs to go and take notes on the names of the children and the brands of waterproof clothing at a variety of pumpkin picking venues for us to truly be sure.

LIGHTHEARTED before anyone comes for me!!

I don't give a fuck what class of person goes pumpkin picking, I think it's weird because it's fake and why pay to get muddy when mud is freely available not because I think it's lower class

I took DD and her friend to an event at our local garden centre. They have a 'pumpkin barn' with different sized pumpkins stacked on straw bales with decorations like ghosts and witches. We also had a Halloween afternoon tea. Just a bit of fun!

We did it in 2020, due to be able to be outside and actually have a reason to be out! But I won't go now as a waste of money and difficult with sn daughter, but understand why families would go as a day out

I think pumpkins aren't that easy to pick off the bush. It wasn't a thing when mine were little but I can see how it would be fun for little kids. Some have other fun stuff there for kids and food and drink. I'm sorry you were in a traffic jam but never mind.

🤣

Going into the garden centre is free and we paid £2.99 for a massive pumpkin and were given 3 small pumpkins for free as part of our afternoon tea. Pretty cheap afternoon out in half term.

I obviously missed the memo on that! 😉

I honestly don't understand why taking photos is sneered so much about on MN. People have been taking photos for generations. So what if they then share them with friends and family on SM? I like seeing photos. Beats going to a relatives and then getting the photos out that you have to look at for an hour 😂

It’s SUCH a lazy argument to say “everything is for social media these days”. It happens on threads where someone is going to spend more than 19p on their wedding “must be for likes!!”

We used to grow ours when DS was young, doesn't anyone do that anymore, of course its a bit hit and miss with what you get but nice to watch them growing.

Each to their own but it’s not for me.

It does make me laugh that you pay 2-3 x as much for a pumpkin that has been driven to a muddy field on a trailer.

‘Making memories’ is just code for ‘getting photos for instagram/facebook’ isn’t it?

YANBU. It’s totally mad.

If it was picking real pumpkins that’d be one thing though still grumbling loudly about how Hallowe’en is a load of twaddle but selecting a pumpkin from a field it hasn’t grown in? Mad.

And I say that as a woman with a 4 year old who does go strawberry picking.

So true!! Nothing like sneering at anyone enjoying their life and inviting others to enjoy it with them!

Agreed and with the constant pressure on mums (too little time outside, too much time inside, too many pictures, too few pictures, feeling like you've done too little to fill half term, feeling like you've had to balance out-of-the-home work and child care and feeling crap about both, spending too much money on activities, not having enough money to spend on activities) who gives a damn whether they do take a few pictures and post them to show they had a lovely time. Sounds fab to me - everyone gets some fresh air, a bit of fun and a pumpkin to carve.

It's like the slating that the pumpkin spice latte loving people get - it's a bit of joy in a fecking miserable world at the moment.

Snobbery is a sad way to parent.

I hope your children have a blast, and end up with memories of a lovely, happy childhood.

My local ones are all picking the pumpkins where they've grown and they are reasonably priced. £3 entry and I got 3 pumpkins (1 x large traditional, 1 large x white and 1 x med Green) for £10. Kids love it and we carve them that day.

Why would people go pumpkin picking just for the sole purpose of taking photos? They share photos because they are having a nice time and want to share that with friends and family.

Yesterday I posted a selfie of myself with a medal after finishing a 10K race, beating my previous 10K time. I was very proud of myself (and I think I absolutely should be!) so I wanted to share that moment with my friends and family on social media.

I haven't done it myself, but surely it's just a bit of fun particularly for kids? They don't pick them in the sense of getting them off the plan - but select one. I don't see a problem myself - gets everyone out the house and having some fun provided wellies and coats are worn.

Our local one is very good and picturesque and reasonably priced.

Quite honestly, being from an agricultural community myself, I'd rather pay a decent amount direct to the farmer than a pittance to a supermarket which keeps half (being generous) and has beaten the farmers down to the lowest possible price.

Cos people do it cos they think they "it's Halloween and the marketing says I need to do some activity to keep up with the Joneses' and to be insta perfect".

They don't just engage their brains and do something with their kids cos it's the 2nd Tuesday that falls on a wet day. No it's cos they are robots who aren't able to think of something fun to do without it being flogged to them.

It's manufactured forced fun. It's not spontaneous or real.