One of my very favorite New England fall destinations is the Annual Pumpkin Patch at the Epiphany Parish of Walpole on Front St. in Walpole, Mass. — this year, held Sun. – Fri., 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sat., 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. through Oct. 31.

Located in the heart of a pleasant downtown with shades of classic New England written all over it, the Pumpkin Patch is home to thousands of pumpkins, consigned from a Navajo reservation in Famington, N.M. Not only does this make for a beautiful New England fall scene — and the place to buy pumpkins, locally — but to help more than 1,000 Native Americans employed for this project in New Mexico. More $2 million dollars nationwide are raised for the reservation’s local economy each pumpkin season! Last year, the Epiphany Parish sent $8,000 back to the reservation from pumpkin sales and, by adding its own mum sales to the pumpkin percentages, raised $9,000 for the Epiphany.

The Pumpkin Patch is a pride and joy of Pam Driscoll, the pumpkin coordinator for the church. We know from conversations through the years that Pam takes on this event with great focus and enthusiasm to help her church, local residents and the New Mexico reservation. It is so nice to see this type of volunteerism. She and other volunteers are there throughout the day and early evening to help you pick the right pumpkin. Hope you can make it there!

For more information on the Pumpkin Patch, contact Pam at  pdriscoll18@comcast.net