New for 2009: Pick 'Yer Own Punkin Patch

Not since the first few years of Papa's Pumpkin Patch have visitors been able to "pick 'yer own punkin." I guess we always thought people like it better when they come to Papa's and are greeted by a sea of orange in the yards around the log house. As I think about it now, maybe WE like it better when there is a sea of orange to greet our guests.

At any rate, we planted about two acres of Baby Bears and Neons -- mid-sized pumpkins that are the perfect size for little hands to carry. We figure that's room for about 500 plants to produce or the potential for about 2,000+ pumpkins for folks to pick. Potential is the key word.

You see, we planted four seeds per hole...on purpose. One seed is for Mother Nature. One seed is for the turkeys. One seed is for the deer, and one seed is for Papa's. There's a LOT of wildlife in the Missouri River bottoms, and it's foolish for us to think we get to keep the whole crop to ourselves. 

Pumpkins are popping

up all over the patch, and so far, it's a good-looking crop. Mother Nature has taken her share, and the turkeys haven't seemed real interested. That leaves us to negotiate with the deer. Currently they are more interested in the oats we planted as a cover crop near where the Special Olympics Trebuchet shoots its ammunition each season. 

Keep checking back, and you'll be the first to see Papa's Pick 'Yer Own Punkin Patch for 2009!

Papa

We really liked our mostly used stuff

This has been a difficult week. We were awakened Wednesday morning (April 29) about 4 am and found a fire building in the main structure of Papa's Pumpkin Patch. Within a few short hours, the large brown shop at the main entrance to the Patch -- we called it the quonset -- along with the two-story deck on its west side were smoldering rubble. 

The good news is that our family, our animals and our homes are safe. The good news is that no one was hurt. The good news is that we remain committed to opening Papa's Pumpkin Patch on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009.

Perhaps our greatest challenge is the smallest of things: one of the horses crawled through the fence yesterday, and we have no tools to repair it. They were lost in the fire. Several straw bales that framed and insulated the deck are still smoldering and we had no equipment to manage it well. (We are most grateful to Bobcat for letting us use one of their track loaders to assist in this critical effort.) 

Of course we can get these things, it's just the transition we need to make from running to the quonset to grab the fence stretcher, post pounder and fence pliers, to the recognition we need to running to town and buying these things. And you know what? We really liked our "mostly used" stuff. 

I'll keep you updated on how we plan to rebuild,

Papa

Up to Your Plow in Water

Record snow fall in North Dakota created a unique set of circumstances this spring. Earlier this week, our entire state was under a flood watch. Here in Bismarck, we were also under a blizzard warning. The worst appears behind us however, Mr. Antique is up to his three-bottom plow in water. 

Mr. Antique -- as we call him at Papa's Pumpkin Patch -- sits right inside the entrance and in a lower spot of the front yard. I say lower because when you live in a flood plain, low is a relative term. 

Most years, Mr. Antique sits in his lower spot untouched by the waters of the spring thaw. After the 50-degree temps last weekend, followed by eight inches of snow, he looks better prepared to plow his way through way through the ice than a field. 

Not to worry. Even though Mr. Antique is up to his plow in water and ice, the rest of Papa's is doing well and looking forward to spring!

Check back with you later,

Papa

When Everyone's Happy -- Even the Cattle

When a 500-pound bale sits in one spot long enough, it actually kills everything underneath it. So moving the Bale Maze, along with the numerous other bales placed here and there at Papa's is serious business. Fortunately, we've landed on another win-win relationship that puts the bales to use and saves the yards at Papa's Pumpkin Patch.

At its core, a bale of straw is roughage, and animals need roughage to get through the winter. Within a two-mile radius of Papa's there are two rather large feedlots in need of roughage over which they can pour calorically intense mixtures of liquid feed that sustain the cattle during harsh weather. 

It strikes me a lot like dressing on my salad. Lettuce by itself is pretty uneventful -- even if it's good for me. But add a squirt of ranch dressing, and now we're talking! It's the same for the cattle. Straw is not the menu of choice for most animals, but add a good doze of "dressing" and everyone's happy. 

That's what we like at Papa's -- when everyone's happy, even the cattle.

Talk to you soon,

Papa

 

Fun with car hoods?

It began years ago when the roads were blocked because of the heavy snow. The best way to get feed to the animals was hauling it on upside down hoods pulled behind snowmobiles. That's where we first learned how fun a ride on a car hood could be.

I suppose that's why the old-fashioned sled rides at Papa's Polar Patch are such a hit. Parents and grandparents "remember when..." and today's kids can't believe their elders actually want them to engage in risk-taking behavior!

"Dad, can I go for a ride on one of those things?"

"Sure, I used to do that all the time when I was a kid!"

And on the side to one of the drivers fathers frequently say, "there's a tip in it for you if you dump 'em!"

It's so simple: old car hoods with just the right curves from Johnson's Wrecking. Some carpet padding and carpet. Heavy-duty, leftover baling twine woven together for the tow ropes of varying lengths, depending on which vehicle is being used. Finally a moving blanket to sit on and cover up with...just in case the drivers get a little wild.

Add some great trails plowed to the correct width, a few easy banks and gentle slopes -- we're ready for riders!

Who said you can't have fun with car hoods?

See you over President's Day weekend!

Papa

Leftovers at Papa's

Lots of guests at Papa's Pumpkin Patch ask us what we do with the leftover pumpkins. Truth is, the last few years we've had less than a wagon load of leftovers. It's hard to believe. In 2008, we had well over 10,000 pumpkins in the yard. Add to that, a few thousand squash and an equal number of decorate gourds.

So what DOES HAPPEN with any leftovers? One of three things:

1. First we make sure that Mrs. P has her perfect pumpkin picked out for Thanksgiving. She likes to have about a 10-pound pumpkin to hollow out, fill with pumpkin and raisins and spices, and then bake for a special thanksgiving treat.
2. We offer the extra squash to the local food pantries.
3. We haul any remaining leftovers out to the field for the deer, turkey and other wild life.

On extra snowy winters like the one we're having this year, a few of the leftovers may still be available for "fine dining" for our furry friends well into the spring. They will freeze beneath the snow and be waiting until warmer days and sunshine to make their appearance in the field.

That's one of the beauties of perishable products like pumpkins, squash and gourds. Whatever doesn't make it home with our guests will find a home somewhere, even if that home is our field just east of Papa's.

Happy New Year! Talk to you soon,

Papa

The Circle of Life

We lost a dear friend this week. Al Dauenhauer -- most of us called him Grandpa Al -- completed his circle of life and now has the pick of the pasture as he chooses teams to pull his hay rides up in heaven.

I hardly remember when Al started offering horse-drawn hayrides during Papa's Pumpkin Patch. It just seemed natural to invite him to join our weekend festivities. He brought such a gentle, friendly spirit to Papa's and loved sharing his passion for horses and the outdoors with everyone who climbed on board his hay ride.

Al and his wife, Elaine, live just north of Papa's, and he'd often come over during the weeks before we opened to help unload pumpkins or put up tents or fix wagons. The work didn't matter to him, helping out did.

Al leaves a long legacy with his children and grandchildren. In fact, it is his son, Alden, and grandson, Chase, who will carry on his legacy at Papa's when they return for Papa's Polar Patch to provide horse-drawn sleigh rides.

The circle of life can be hard and it often leaves a gap. In Grandpa Al's case, we miss him deeply but we trust his spirit and family legacy will continue with Papa's.

Talk to you soon,

Papa