One of our neighbors suggested McGarrah Farms, just down the road in Pea Ridge. We had picked some berries there in the summer. Such a nice farm in a natural setting. We headed over a bit earlier than our neighbors were planning on going and had a few hours more fun.
On the way to the farm, we spy what I think is wild elderberries growing within reach of the car. I make Bryan slow down enough to grab some. I'm on a no fruit diet (thanks Dr Cowan) so I can't try it myself. So I convinced Bryan to be the guinea pig of the family. He's not impressed with the wild elderberry, even if it does have medicinal qualities. He even jokes with me describing it having a pea taste and later calls it tomacco. We confirm later that pesky weed is, in fact, wild elderberry and they can't get rid of it. Not a bad weed to have!
At the farm, we are armed with big cutters and a garden cart (just like ours at home) and we head out in search of some good pumpkins. Ben pulls Edie and Sam in the cart. Edie begins with a handful of his outfit at the back collar to "keep him safe". Sam doesn't really love this. We stop to climb the mountain of hay. Then onto the hay tunnel.
After we picked our first few pumpkins, we discovered that Sam loves pumpkins. Being the nature boy that he is, no one was overly surprised. No need to give him a toy, just a cart full of pumpkins and that boy sure is happy! Oh and thanks for the hay too!
Out in the field where the pumpkins grow, Bryan, our family biologist, noticed a familiar plant growing amongst the pumpkins. Upon closer inspection, Bryan found physalis which always reminds me of Germany, where we first tasted it. Much later, we found it growing at Slide Ranch so we tried to grow it our yard in San Francisco. At first, we had some fruit. Edie loved that fruit so she picked it all before it was ready. Worse, Bryan made a rule that the fruit was only ripe once it falls to the ground. Edie, my rule follower to the edge of the law, shook the plant to death trying to make the each of the fruit fall to the ground so she could continue eating them...(phew, I got lost...)
So we picked pumpkin and physalis. The kids snacked on the physalis as we headed back to the front to buy our cart full of pumpkins. We shared our little knowledge of physalis with the farmers and they let us take all the weeds we wanted. Lucky for us, we love eating this weed!
The kids wanted to try the $2 "mule train," cute homespun train made of recycled water jugs pulled by a small tractor. Ben held Sam while Edie sat in her own car. They pulled out with grins ear to ear. In a moment of guilt, I thought Ben might enjoy the ride a bit less since he was responsible for his little brother for the ride. Upon return, Ben said "That was the best ride ever!"
Ben and Edie took turns driving each other around the lot of pumpkins. Ben remarking, "Mama, I made a figure 8 around the pumpkins!"
When we got on the tractor for the hay ride (complementary with a pumpkin purchase), our neighbors showed up just in time. So glad to have caught them and shared the hayride! Mr McGarrah introduced himself to us and gave us a tour of his farm. Very sweet! Over dinner later, Ben remarked about Oscar the alligator, "why did he drive so close to the pond?" This after a story about Oscar liking to eat small children who got lost from their parents. Good parent humor that was well over all of the children's heads.
The G Court gang took a ride together on the mule train. This time Edie and Ben shared a seat and I took Sam. I can see why the kids love it. Bumpy and loopy. Lots of giggles! Sam loved waving at everyone.
We said goodbye to our friends and hit the trail for dinner at home. Kids to sleep quickly after such a big day of harvesting.
On the way to the farm, we spy what I think is wild elderberries growing within reach of the car. I make Bryan slow down enough to grab some. I'm on a no fruit diet (thanks Dr Cowan) so I can't try it myself. So I convinced Bryan to be the guinea pig of the family. He's not impressed with the wild elderberry, even if it does have medicinal qualities. He even jokes with me describing it having a pea taste and later calls it tomacco. We confirm later that pesky weed is, in fact, wild elderberry and they can't get rid of it. Not a bad weed to have!
At the farm, we are armed with big cutters and a garden cart (just like ours at home) and we head out in search of some good pumpkins. Ben pulls Edie and Sam in the cart. Edie begins with a handful of his outfit at the back collar to "keep him safe". Sam doesn't really love this. We stop to climb the mountain of hay. Then onto the hay tunnel.
After we picked our first few pumpkins, we discovered that Sam loves pumpkins. Being the nature boy that he is, no one was overly surprised. No need to give him a toy, just a cart full of pumpkins and that boy sure is happy! Oh and thanks for the hay too!
Out in the field where the pumpkins grow, Bryan, our family biologist, noticed a familiar plant growing amongst the pumpkins. Upon closer inspection, Bryan found physalis which always reminds me of Germany, where we first tasted it. Much later, we found it growing at Slide Ranch so we tried to grow it our yard in San Francisco. At first, we had some fruit. Edie loved that fruit so she picked it all before it was ready. Worse, Bryan made a rule that the fruit was only ripe once it falls to the ground. Edie, my rule follower to the edge of the law, shook the plant to death trying to make the each of the fruit fall to the ground so she could continue eating them...(phew, I got lost...)
So we picked pumpkin and physalis. The kids snacked on the physalis as we headed back to the front to buy our cart full of pumpkins. We shared our little knowledge of physalis with the farmers and they let us take all the weeds we wanted. Lucky for us, we love eating this weed!
The kids wanted to try the $2 "mule train," cute homespun train made of recycled water jugs pulled by a small tractor. Ben held Sam while Edie sat in her own car. They pulled out with grins ear to ear. In a moment of guilt, I thought Ben might enjoy the ride a bit less since he was responsible for his little brother for the ride. Upon return, Ben said "That was the best ride ever!"
Ben and Edie took turns driving each other around the lot of pumpkins. Ben remarking, "Mama, I made a figure 8 around the pumpkins!"
When we got on the tractor for the hay ride (complementary with a pumpkin purchase), our neighbors showed up just in time. So glad to have caught them and shared the hayride! Mr McGarrah introduced himself to us and gave us a tour of his farm. Very sweet! Over dinner later, Ben remarked about Oscar the alligator, "why did he drive so close to the pond?" This after a story about Oscar liking to eat small children who got lost from their parents. Good parent humor that was well over all of the children's heads.
The G Court gang took a ride together on the mule train. This time Edie and Ben shared a seat and I took Sam. I can see why the kids love it. Bumpy and loopy. Lots of giggles! Sam loved waving at everyone.
We said goodbye to our friends and hit the trail for dinner at home. Kids to sleep quickly after such a big day of harvesting.
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