Every autumn, I look forward to seeing the leaves change to bright oranges and reds, and going on our annual pumpkin picking tradition. As a couple, Niu and I have always enjoyed making a trip to our local pumpkin patch, but after having kids we enjoy it so much more. From the hayride to the open pumpkin patch, where you can pick your own pumpkins to take home, the whole experience is a lot of fun. It also makes for great fall pictures! There are a lot of great orchards near us, so we like to rotate which location we go to each year.
Linvilla, 2017 (left) + Johnson Corner Farm, 2018 (right)
This year we took the family to Shadybrook Farms. Their pumpkin patch has hundreds of pumpkins in various sizes and colors that you can choose from. The kids loved searching for their perfect pumpkins and we went home with a cart full! We came during their Pumpkinfest event (going on now through Halloween), which included a lot of fun activities like a corn maze, petting zoo, inflatable attractions, and live music on the weekends.
Pumpkin Cleaning and Preserving
After bringing pumpkins home, I always clean and preserve them with a soap and bleach bath composed of 1 gallon of water, 2 tablespoons of bleach, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. This will kill some of the microorganisms that cause pumpkins to rot and dry out. I soak the pumpkins for 15 minutes in the kitchen sink, then rinse and dry them well. If you’re carving pumpkins, this step can be done after it’s been hollowed out and carved.
We love carving pumpkins, but it can take a long time, so we found some quick and easy activities we could do with the kids. Below are this year’s family favorites.
Monogram Pumpkin Painting
This is a fun activity for the kids. Start by using blue painter’s tape to shape out the first letters of their names (L and H for us). Since Lea and Haden are younger, I gave them washable paint and foam brushes because they provide more coverage than a regular brush. Before the paint dries, carefully remove the tape and let the pumpkin dry completely before displaying.
Pumpkin Planter
I love having fresh flowers in the house and this is perfect way to incorporate fall decorations into your home. Start by selecting a vase that will fit inside your pumpkin – it can be a vase or any container (i.e., a can, cup, or shot glass for smaller pumpkins). Cut a hole on the top of the pumpkin to the size of your vase, then hollow it out. To keep your pumpkin planter fresh for as long as possible, put the pumpkin in a soap and bleach bath described above. When it’s completely dry, insert your vase with water and fresh floral arrangement – Lea helped me arrange the flowers.
Pumpkin Foliage Decoupage
This is a simple and beautiful way to add some character to an ordinary pumpkin. All you need is some Mod Podge, a brush, and some leaves or flowers from outside (flat ones will work best) – Haden picked the foliage. Using your brush, completely cover the bottom side of a leaf with Mod Podge and place it on the pumpkin. Brush more Mod Podge on top and around the leaf to make sure that it’s sealed securely to the pumpkin. Repeat with as many leaves and flowers of your choice and let it dry for 24 hours.
What are your favorite ways to decorate with pumpkins?
