Fall Love Letters
Gourd Gear imagined by Farmer Joe.
Happy September.
This is the first of what we’re calling our Fall Love Letters—a way to share the heart behind our farm with you. We want to begin by saying we are endlessly thankful to walk this journey with you. Every bit of support you’ve given has nurtured not just our pumpkins but our family’s dream.
The pumpkins are growing beautifully!! This year’s mild summer has made for prime pumpkin growing conditions. It’s funny… most of my life I hardly paid attention to the weather. That’s the California girl in me: flip-flops work rain or shine! But marrying Joe has changed that. Now, the weather is part of our daily conversation. Rain means water for our crops. In winter, we pray for rain to nourish our rye grass hay, and in summer we pray it holds off until the hay is sold. That’s farmer logic. I even prayed for rain on our wedding day and was gifted a soft morning shower before the festivities began. I guess Joe is making a farm girl of me after all.
We are mere weeks away from delivering pumpkin goodness to your porch. Here’s a little history of your pumpkin’s life span. On Mother’s Day weekend, after the rye grass hay was swathed and baled, we spent the majority of the time tilling the land. Our toddler rode along in the tractor with only the radio and a toy tractor for entertainment.. it felt like a glimpse of a simpler time before technology (though I’ll admit, I do love technology).
By Memorial Day weekend, the first of our pumpkin varieties were in the ground. Thankfully, my sister.. our “unpaid employee of the year”... walked all six acres of the field alongside us. Our longest-growing pumpkins take around 125 days to mature, these are the Atlantic giants, fairytale pumpkins, and dinosaur gourds. While the smallest, miniature pumpkins, are ready in about 77 days. In order to harvest all of the pumpkins at the same time, we succession-plant (stagger planting different varieties).
To irrigate the field, we use an old-fashioned method called siphon pipe. That first irrigation night, Joe’s whole family came out: his dad manned the water valves, while Joe and his brother set the pipe! The boys graciously covered all six acres… while I proudly fumbled with my one siphon pipe. Four months later, I’m still not the best at it but I can get the job done, and that’s enough to make my farmer husband proud.
Expanding our pumpkin operation from 2,000 square feet last year to 6 acres this year was ambitious to put it kindly. But it’s given us grit, courage, and countless lessons. My dad always said, “a little bit of pain but a whole lot of beauty,” and that feels like the motto of this season. We’ve stretched ourselves, our business, and yes… our budget… further than we imagined. And yet, we’re still dreaming up new ideas to add and improve for the future. When Joe created Gourd Gear (our farm merchandise), it didn’t take much convincing to launch it this year. This season may always be remembered as the hardest and the most rewarding year for our farm… I am sure we will say that until next season, more farmer logic.
As we wait for the pumpkins to finish growing, we’ll be “popping up” around town this September!
Sutter’s Sidewalk Farmers Market – September 4th, 5-8pm.
Brood Coffee Shop, Lincoln – September 13th, 9am-12pm
We’re reaching out to a few more events, so keep an eye on our Instagram for updates.
Until then, thank you for cheering us on and supporting our dream.
All our love and a truck full of pumpkins,
Your local farmers - the Bishop family
