A Most Spectacular Pumpkin Patch with a Great Cause in Walpole, Mass.
Pumpkin Patch at the Epiphany Parish in Walpole, Mass.
Article submitted by the Epiphany
Parish of Walpole. Photos by Eric Hurwitz --
updated for VisitingNewEngland.com on 10/4/2024 @newenglandinfo
Throughout the Halloween season
the Epiphany Parish of Walpole, located at 62 Front
St. in Walpole,
Mass., will be selling pumpkins, gourds, mums and cornstalks.
This annual sale, first held in 2006, has become a favorite fall event
for the Walpole community and beyond. To make the patch come to life,
the "Little Grey Church on the Common" works with Pumpkin Patch
Fundraisers, which is a company that began in 1974 in North Carolina
with three acres of pumpkins and a partnership with one church.
At that time, they agreed to let the church sell the pumpkins and they
would share the proceeds. There was no contract, no legal proceedings…
just a handshake and trust in each other. It's a wonderful partnership
of trust. The churches and non-profit organizations trust PPF to grow
and deliver great pumpkins and PPF trusts those organizations to be
diligent in selling their pumpkins and honest in reporting their sales.
While it is unusual in the business world, this relationship of trust
has been very effective throughout the years and PPF has been growing
pumpkins and adding non-profit partners ever since.
After being hit by Hurricane Hugo, PPF moved its farming operations to
the Navajo Indian Reservation in Farmington, N.M. In cooperation with
the Navajo Nation, PPF grows 1,200 acres or approximately two square
miles of pumpkins and employs more than 700 Native Americans during our
harvest months of September and October.
We also have full time off-season New Mexico staff comprised entirely
of Native
Americans. This has a positive and lasting impact on a region with 42
percent
unemployment. In addition to benefiting the economy of the Navajo
community in Farmington, where the pumpkins are grown, the proceeds
from Epiphany's pumpkin patch are used to help support the operation,
mission and outreach of the parish.
In turn, Epiphany helps to support a local Walpole business, Pioneer
Farms, by adding mums, hay bales, cornstalks and other fall plants to
the offering of items for sale at the patch. On weekends, we also sell
baked goods and various seasonal decorations that have been
hand-crafted by members of the church.
Pumpkin patch across from the Walpole Town Common.
It really does take a village, from the Walpole High School boys soccer
team that helps unload the pumpkins each year to Southridge Nursery in
Walpole that provides forklift support on delivery days to Elmhurst
Farm in Norfolk, Mass. that takes away bruised or broken pumpkins for
its livestock to the customers, both new and seasoned ones, that have
been coming each year.
Epiphany's Pumpkin Patch success relies on the support of so many in
the Walpole community and beyond, and we couldn't be more thankful for
ALL OF YOU!
HOURS: The patch is open every
day through October 31st. Hours are 12-6 p.m. Monday through Friday,
and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and on Columbus/Indigenous
Peoples' Day. During hours when the patch is not staffed, visitors can
purchase pumpkins using the honor box, which accepts cash, check or
Venmo payment.
Related articles:
'Farmily' Fun at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, Mass.
The epic Pumpkin Wall at Wilson Farm in Lexington,
Mass.
A gourmet five-course meal at Little Red Riding Hood's
Grandmother's
House in the middle of the New Hampshire woods
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