Fall is here! My family looks forward to visiting an area u-pick farm every year, it's become a simple tradition for us and the kids start asking about it as soon as school starts. There are several in the Louisville/Southern Indiana area to choose from and many offer more than just pumpkins.
If you've never been to a family farm to pick your own pumpkin or to see the joy kids have in finding the right one, it is a treat. Many farms offer hay rides out to the pumpkin patch as well as corn mazes, petting zoos and some have a play area for kids. You also have endless photo ops.
Concessions and a store or market are generally available too. The markets usually carry mums, asters, gourds, pumpkins (so you don't have to ride out and pick one), home made goods such as crafts, clothing, breads, apple butter, a little bit of everything, you get the idea. Many welcome school field trips and other groups.
Here are some of the area's u-pick locations, you may also check out: http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/KYpumpkins.php AND
http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/INpsouth.php
- http://www.foxhollow.com/ - Oldham County
- http://gallreinfarms.com/ - Shelby County
- http://www.huberwinery.com/ - Clark Co. IN
- http://www.joehubers.com/index.php - Clark Co. IN
- http://www.deerefarms.com/ - Harrison Co. IN
- http://www.montgomery-farms.com/ - Scoot Co. IN
I have not located an actual "u-pick" farm in Jefferson County (Louisville) but there are some "gathered patches" available:
- Gagel Truck Farm (447-6809)
- Hidden Hollow Orchard and Wildlife Sanctuary (897-0719)
- Jeffersontown Farmers Market (Under the J-Town Pavillion, on Saturdays 7:30a-sold out & Tuesdays 3p-sold out)
- Old Louisville FarmWorks Market (Walnut St. Baptist Church parking lot, Wed 3p-6p)
- Sunny Acres Farm (727-9536)
- Tower View Farm and Nursery 267-2066)
Plan a trip, a few hours or all day. It is a good time. Remember to wear shoes that you don't mind getting a little dirty. Enjoy.
Photo credit: stock xchng
