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 Sasse
said this has been a good year for the pumpkin crop and they are
looking forward to offering more than 60 varieties of pumpkins and
gourds for shoppers this year. The apples are also doing well, and
they will have apples for eating, baking, and applesauce making.
She did say that the apples are running a little behind schedule
this year, and while they do have Gala eating apples on hand now,
the Golden delicious that many prefer for eating raw are about a
week late. She said checking the trees this week, she found that
there is a plentiful supply, but they are still a bit too green for
picking.
In the meantime, Gail’s husband, and business partner
David, was out surveying the fields of pumpkins while visiting with
some of the early worm shoppers who were there for a visit right at
the beginning of the first day of the season. With help from a
forklift, a farm helper was bringing in pallets of pumpkins from the
field, and getting the displays in front of the retail barn all set
up for shoppers.
Pumpkins and gourds are offered in the outside display area, or
visitors may go to the pumpkin fields and choose their own “U-Pick”
pumpkins.
Inside the barn one half of the building is
designated to play and exploring for children, while the other half
is filled with fall and Halloween décor items as well as coolers for
the soon to arrive apple cider and Amish made food products such as
apple and pumpkin butter. The retail area also offers baked items
with, of course, pumpkin being the primary ingredient, and locally
harvested hone from the Sasse Apiary.
Each year hundreds of people come to do their pumpkin and fall
shopping, but also to enjoy the outdoor activities.
Once again this year, children will enjoy the corn
box, the pipe maize, tricycle track, Hillbilly Basketball, the bull
lasso, and the children’s playhouse.
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On Friday, Sasse was happy to point out that this
year there are plenty of kittens to enjoy on the farm, and chickens
are back.
She noted that the chickens had to be taken out of
the public last year due to the bird flu that was circulating. She
said the chickens are happy to be back in the limelight and are busy
laying eggs.
Children can also visit with Browning the bunny, and
can feed Buddy and Bob, the Boer Goats that live on the back side of
the farm with the magnificent boat tower.
The barrel train will be running again this year, and new to the
farm will be tether ball and puppets.
Gail’s Pumpkin Patch is a great place for family
visits and during special weekends will offer beverages and food
that can be enjoyed on one of the many picnic tables. Under the
eaves of the retail barn are board games such as mini-pumpkin
checkers.
Gail’s attracts visitors from far and wide, and one couldn’t help
but notice that even on the first day, one of the vehicles in the
parking lot carried an out of state license plate.
The community is encouraged to make Gail’s a must do on the ‘to do’
list this year. Come on out with the family, grandparents, parents,
children, there is something that everyone will enjoy at Gail’s
Pumpkin Patch.
The patch will be open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday from noon to 5 p.m. daily. The doors will open at 10 a.m. on
Saturdays and close at 5 p.m. The patch is closed on Tuesdays for
cleaning and intense restocking of products.
Gail’s Pumpkin Patch is located just off Illinois State Route 10,
near Beason. Look for signs.
[Nila Smith]
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