Pumpkin Patch Memories and Patch Set Up

In this episode, we dive into the delightful, sometimes chaotic, but always memorable life of running a pumpkin patch at Foxes Farm Produce. It’s a family-run business with heartfelt anecdotes, funny moments, and reflections on how the patch has grown over the years.

The Foxes Farm pumpkin team recall early memories, like Guy’s mother-in-law running the Colchester patch single-handedly, greeting visitors like old friends. They also share amusing tales of people trying to steal pumpkins, even under the cover of darkness, and how they once caught thieves hiding their children under pumpkins in a wheelbarrow!

The discussion moves on to the expansion of the patch, which has now become a major family event with activities for children. They recount a particularly wet season where they ended up pushing cars out of muddy fields and collapsing with exhaustion afterward.

Amidst the humour, they reflect on the stress of managing large crowds, especially the chaotic early days. Despite the hard work, the hosts express excitement for the upcoming season, sharing how they’re setting up signs and preparing to make the pumpkin patch an unforgettable experience for visitors.

Highlights:

• Family memories of the Colchester patch
• Humorous stories of attempted pumpkin thefts
• The expansion and transformation of the patch
• The challenges of managing large crowds and wet weather
• Preparing for the new season with excitement

www.foxesfarmproduce.co.uk

Transcript

Episode 4

Hello and welcome to the pumpkin patch. Mum, this is a heartwarming and down to Earth podcast where we dive into the vibrant, busy and sometimes messy life of me and mum who also happens to be a passionate pumpkin farmer. Got approximately an hour in the car together. So we thought. That we would share some of our favourite or funny moments from pumpkin. Much in years gone past, so Gary and I were just talking about one of the first memories we have at the pumpkin patches, which was, gosh, guy, how many years ago.

But they're all good memories. Right.

All good memories, but one of the memories that we have was when a guys mother, my mother-in-law, used to run the Colchester Pumpkin patch almost single handedly on her own, not even using a a check in list or anything. She just literally used to turn up almost with a hand. Like and greet people as if they were her long lost friends and people used to love it. So that's one memory. I have close because for a long time many memories. You can share.

I don't know. I I thought. I think my favourite thing about the patch is I think a lot of people don't actually realise it's a family run business like a family farm, a lot of other stuff goes on on the air. Probably one of my funniest moments is on pause now, just in case I have to get taken out. But it's a couple of years ago when the people tried to steal all those pumpkins and hit their children on top and tried to get out the wheelbarrow, and so they hadn't got any and we we.

Managed to catch them, which is quite funny actually. That is one thing that is funny. Might be the word, but lots of people do try and steal pumpkins. We've even had people try and steal pumpkins in the dark. The night and being the losers we are, we have CCTV on our pumpkins because we value them that much and guy has been known with Chris as well to go to the pumpkin field at gone midnight to speak to some people in balaclavas trying to steal some pumpkins. Yes, yes.

With Santa Claus. No.

Yeah, they weren't in balaclavas. They were the heroes. And now, have you got any? So you've been with us for a few years now. What was it like when you started? Have you seen the growth or change or what?

I've seen a huge growth. Actually, it's been really nicely part of this journey to see the growth and the expansion and the shift in it from a simple pumpkin patch. We came to pick pink where you come to pick pumpkins. Also such a family event. Now there's so much that the kids do. I bring mine along and they really, really love it. They love playing on all the toys. And choosing their favourite pumpkin and and pushing the wheelbarrows, they just have a lovely time.

There. I mean, we have had some really as a team we've. Had some really good, funny moments. I mean, Chris, I do remember when.

Ohh the wet do you? Remember the wet? Year and we. Were actually yeah, it was like, I don't know, probably how many cars had to push out, but yeah, we had everything pushing out. My wife, she had her high heels on and she had to change her boots into.

Pushing cars out.

She had to come down now, yeah.

I do remember that one photo of the four of us pushing a car out at the end and then almost just collapsing.

Afterwards, and the press will be. Friends. It's probably my stress.

Another thing during Patch season is I think post November all of us never want to see a burger again as we end up eating rag marsh, which is delicious but not everyday for. A month. Sorry. Sorry. We love pumpkins.

Hey.

Actually, this year we are doing pumpkin soup that. Is gonna be different. I'm pumpkin.

And latte.

Come on. Yeah, we've got loads going on. Ohh, I remember when we first started the pumpkins, the first of the year, we decided to do it. We opened at Upminster, which was totally ran because we never done it. And since and the first day we were inundated with people that by the second day we had to start and I spent six hours on a potato box turning people away with one bottle of water. That's the first thing we ever did it. It was so stressful that she had one bottle of water for six hours.

Yeah, the. We had all. The rain and then we didn't take. Went all those. We literally filled the car park up, which was like 10 acres in about 15 minutes. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, I do remember that, Chris. That was not a highlight of my life. That was pretty stressful. So, Katie, you excited for this year? Yeah.

Right.

Another first week.

Yeah, I'm first start the pumpkin, but. It's gonna be good. It's gonna be. A good year.

Wheelbarrows and toilets.

Yeah, I have had wine.

It is the beginning of September and you would honestly be forgiven for thinking it is middle or end of October. It's absolutely freezing today, so it is making me feel really autumnal and actually excited about the upcoming pumpkin season, especially because today's job. Is starting the grand setup of the pumpkin patch now. As you can imagine, if you've. Been for that. Before or if you're thinking of coming to us this year, this is not a 5 minute job and so much, you know, love. Attention goes into making these events the best that we possibly can. So one of my jobs today is just to well, basically to start the set up. So I have got a team of people that help me. So I'm looking making sure the signs are going in the right places. So we've got, you know, welcome signs where we need to welcome you in. And also we have lots of, I'd call them almost like prop signs. So for example, we have things like an Instagram frame, we have scary, crazy. With we have an an A lot, lots and lots of different things like that. We've also got signs for the bar because we have a bar signs. For the fox. Box where we sell freshmen so as you can imagine lots of lots of things and every year it's slightly different. So it keeps us. On our toes. Like what we need and what we don't. Need and what's? Going where? And so yeah, so today it's very exciting.