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Today’s the Day!

29 Sep

Today is the kick-off of the pumpkin patch season for Grammy’s Pumpkin Patch at Johnstown Farm, nestled in the Smoky Valley between McPherson and Lindsborg.There is a beautiful selection of pumpkins and gourds from which to choose. The perfect jack-o-lantern is waiting inside of one of those pumpkins just for you!

Sundance Farm will be with us today from 1-4:00. Horse drawn wagon rides with Scotty in the lead!

Come out to enjoy a beautiful autumn day with your family and play all day. We’ve got plenty of Grammy’s famous cinnamon rolls and cookies fresh from the oven. We are excited to see old friends and make new friends this season!

Grammy’s Pumpkin Patch 2012, McPherson, KS
 
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Posted by on September 29, 2012 in Grammy's Pumpkin Patch

 

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Is It That Time Already?

15 Aug

Last evening, the first of our highway billboards made it to the highway with a little help from the tractor. This year, we mounted the sign on one of the “retired” trucks. Papa and Justin enjoyed tinkering with it in valiant attempt to have it run. I think this entailed pouring fuel in the various parts of the engine; I know for sure that it made for a LOT of smoke and engine revving. In the end, the truck/sign was towed out to the hay meadow that overlooks the highway in between McPherson and Johnstown Farm.  It is crazy to think that the season kicks off in about 5 weeks!

   As you can see, Ben had a great time helping the men tow the sign through the fields.

 

 

Grammy’s Pumpkin Patch 2012, McPherson, KS

 
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Posted by on August 15, 2012 in Grammy's Pumpkin Patch

 

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Mini Pumpkin Patch

07 Aug

I visited the patch today for the first time since the cows visited it yesterday. Man, I am so disappointed. This was a patch where we planted our giants and minis. Before the cows frolicked in it, it was our best looking patch as we had babied it along during the tough conditions this summer. Some plants survived and are looking great. I guess I need to concentrate on them!

The first plant was a Dill’s Atlantic Giant that the cows topped off. These are supposed to be grass-fed cattle, not pumpkin-fed! The second picture is some of the “carnage”. Number three are some survivors, and the last picture is of a Jack-Be-Little that Flicka, the cow, picked. Sigh!

Grammy’s Pumpkin Patch 2012 in McPherson, KS
 
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Posted by on August 7, 2012 in Grammy's Pumpkin Patch

 

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Johnstown Giant

24 Jul

If you are on our mailing list, or if you live in the Johnstown area, you are aware of the 2nd annual Johnstown Giant Pumpkin contest.  Last year we hosted the event for the first time. We invited neighbors from the Johnstown area to try their hand at growing a giant pumpkin. On the evening of the contest, we weighed and measured all the entries. There were prizes for everyone (thanks to Kola Johnson). My favorite part came over supper when stories were shared of relatives and friends “back in the day” Johnstown.  Leland brought his guitar and closed out our night with some singing. What a great time to enjoy neighbors and reflect on my heritage and the work, tears, and yes, laughter that went into building up a homestead and small country community.

Well, as a sneak peek, here is our plant that is growing this year’s Johnstown Giant. I admit with this year’s season, our giant could have been planted earlier, but we are still holding out hope for a GREAT BIG entry!

This year’s Johnstown Giant hopeful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grammy’s Pumpkin Patch 2012, McPherson, KS
 
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Posted by on July 24, 2012 in Grammy's Pumpkin Patch

 

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Project “Save the Pumpkins”

22 Jul

It is the same at Johnstown Farm as it is in all of Kansas – HOT and DRY.  Many weeks ago we began our “Save the Pumpkin” campaign.  Johnstown Farm has always been dryland farmed (no irrigation systems required). However, these past two summers have gone beyond what any poor seed/sprout/plant can be expected to survive. We began this summer using flood irrigation to get to the pumpkin field, but this past weekend, Kansas conditions beat us, and we installed a drip system irrigation on the field. Hard work, but worth it!  Someone joked at an agriculture meeting, “If you want to feel like a successful gardener, grow a pumpkin.”  I think they were correct “grow A pumpkin” – not acres of pumpkins. One can be babied, in fact a small crop of them can be babied, but acres of pumpkins….  Right when we think we’ve got a handle on the water, there are bugs, then heat, then weeds….

We are thankful for the irrigation system!

Grammy’s Pumpkin Patch 2012
 
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Posted by on July 22, 2012 in Grammy's Pumpkin Patch

 

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