Pumpkin Farm

One of the things we missed most while we were in Okinawa was fall.  Stevie missed the cool weather and football and I missed the pumpkin farms and apple picking.  I mean Halloween itself was ultra cool on Okinawa with all the kids and decorations, but you just can't replace picking your own pumpkin at a farm with buying one out of a big box at the commissary.  So this year I was determined to get back to traditions and visit a farm.

Last weekend while we were driving to the swim meet, the kids and I spotted a HUGE field of pumpkins, followed by another HUGE field of pumpkins, followed by a field of corn and then a sign that said "Pick your own pumpkins".  I found my farm!  But since we were on our way from dropping Stevie off at the airport and on our way to a swim meet we couldn't stop last weekend.  But this Saturday the pumpkin farm was #1 on our to-do list.

This place was quite the operation and it was packed with people.  First you passed the piles of gourds, mini-pumpkins, pre-picked pumpkins and pie-pumpkins.

But we bee-lined passed those to get to the big pumpkins first.  We picked up our wheel barrow (these are BIG pumpkins) and headed out to the fields. 

That's a funny looking pumpkin?

There were thousands of pumpkins (and I don't think I exagerate) so it was impossible to go wrong with selection.  Of course, I always feel like I see a better one once my selection is made, but fortunately the kids only changed their mind once.  I opted for a green square-ish pumpkin - just for a change!

We told the kids they had to be able to lift their pumpkin in order to get it!  London's trying hard to lift this one!

The final selections - that's 80 pounds worth of pumpkin!

After coming in from the field, we revisited those stalls of mini-pumpkins and selected a few.  You then wheel your barrow over to the scales where they weigh everything and give you the total.  I think those pumpkins cost more than a Christmas tree!

But then there was the fruit and veggie stand which had me drooling too.  All kinds of neat finds like Brussel sprouts on the stalk, giant leeks and different kinds of squash (including Japanese kabocha squash!)  Even fresh apples for $1.00 a pound (unheard of in Okinawa where they cost at least $3.50 a pound for tasteless apples).

Our take home stash!

This was a great time - and we didn't even hit up the corn maze or hay rides.  I guess we'll save those treats for next year...