Pumpkin Time is Here!!

Source: http://my-indiana-home.com/pumpkins-from-patches-to-pies/

 

 

We're finally getting some of that crisp fall air under blue skies...instant nostalgia for drinking apple cider on haybales bumping along in pumpkin patches on the back of a tractor.  Hues of orange, yellow, and red warm our fall memories.  This particular cultural tradition presents a great opportunity to start building those fond memories for your child while at the same time exploring local farms to make that farm-food-table connection. 

 

At a recent meeting about expanding environmental education in urban communities, we were reminded that even adults can have this "information gap" about where food comes from.  We were told a story of a boy who went to his local butcher to ask where the meat comes from.  Surprised by his question, the butcher responded, "From the truck that comes once a week, of course."  Perhaps the most striking anectodote of this misconception came from a high school student asking a teacher, "So what if the fish in the sea are endangered? We still have that fish in a can from the grocery store."  

 

Source: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=15673

Back to the pumpkins...Next time you are facing the orange barage at the grocery store, consider taking a family excurision to a nearby farm where your child can see them still attached to the vine!  There are many things North Carolina is good at, and growing pumpkins is certainly one of them.  There is no shortage of pumpkin farms across the state and a quick google search "pumpkin farms in north carolina" turns up a beaucoup of options.

 

If you aren't pumpkined out after that, there are pumpkin events on our calender:

 

Fall Harvest: Pumpkins

Thursday, Oct 18, 2012 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM at Greystone Community Center, Raleigh

Have you ever wondered where pumpkins come from? We get them from a grocery store but they are plants we can grow in our yards. We will learn about seeds, decorate a pot, plant a seed and take it home to watch it grow. Seeds will be provided but you can bring your own if you prefer.

Ages 2-5yr; $5 per participant

Complete Details

 

Pumpkinpalooza

Thursday, October 25, 2pm – 3pm at Historic Yates Mill County Park, Raleigh
There’s something about a pumpkin that is absolutely magical! Come discover the story of our favorite autumn gourds. Paint your own pumpkin to take home and discover what lies beneath the rind. Please bring comfortable shoes for walking, as we will go on a pumpkin hunt! For ages 7-9: fee: $4/Child. Pre-registration is required.

Admission: $4/Child

 

Complete Details
 

For more fall events, see our calender.

 

Stay tuned for more about pumpkins!