Pumpkins Need Picking and You are Just Right for the Job
Yesterday the Owl braved certain death by finding and bringing down the Halloween decorations from the attic. Yeah, one of those pull-down staircases that should nicknamed “Death Eaters” except then one would be sued by the Rowling bunch. So officially, it’s Halloween “season” and from the looks of some of our neighboring towns (Saugus and Hingham have leveled up), we are positively late. So fire up those inflatable orange dragons (somewhat sketchy on the Halloweeniness) and humongous skeletons and let’s go.
If you are looking for a more natural look and less power loss, it’s time to go pick a pumpkin. Or two or three. Sure you can buy one too (at Viles Farm perhaps or Land’s Sake) but how are you going to get a cute photo of your kid dropping a pumpkin on their toe if you do that?
Here are some local places:
Best kept secret: Matlock Farm in Lincoln. Currently owned by the 11th generation of the Flint family (!!!). Matlock Farm is hosting pick-your-own pumpkins today, October 10, in the field adjacent to 28 Lexington Rd in Lincoln from 12-4 pm, as well as every Saturday and Sunday following until the end of the month (or until they run out of pumpkins). Apparently, there are hay rides too. Good fun.
Also:
Shelburne Farm, Stow: Pumpkin and apple picking open today, October 10 from 9 am to 6 pm. Also WARM APPLE CIDER DONUTS. Sorry, got excited there for a second. Plus Hay Rides, Farm Animals, Food Trucks, Live Music, John Deere Gator and Harvester Combine Dump Truck Playgrounds. This is the big time.
Verrill Farm, Concord: Pumpkin picking open on weekends 10 am-4 pm and probably today but call first. Stop by the farm “stand” for pies, veggies, etc. as well.
Belkin Lookout Farm in Natick. Open today from 10 am to later on which I am too lazy to check. Food options and live music. Consider pre-booking. You can read about this farm in the Owl here.
Happy Pumpkin Hunting!
Did you know Throeau tried, and failed, to convince the Flint Family to let him build a cabin beside Flint’s Pond in Lincoln? The failure of the negotiation resulted in this quote from Thoreau (who of course later, and now famously, built his cabin at Walden Pond: “Flint’s pond! Such is the poverty of our nomenclature. What right had the unclean and stupid farmer, whose farm abutted on this sky water, whose shores he has ruthlessly laid bare, to give his name to it? Some skin-flint, who loved better the reflecting surface of a dollar, or a bright cent, in which he could see his own brazen face; who regarded even the wild ducks which settled in it as trespassers; his fingers grown into crooked and bony talons from the long habit of grasping harpy-like. . . .”
Moral of the story? Never anger a writer or be forever memorialized with bony talons… hahaha. Love it. Thanks for sharing!