(Frequently Asked Questions)

October Fun:

Q.How much do the hayrides cost?    
A.Free!!

Q.When do you start hayrides?    
A. Weekends in October from 10 AM to closing time, and noon Monday-Friday.  

Q.How much is the haymaze?    
A.This of course is always FREE TOO!!!

Q.What all do you offer in October?   
A.It's like a county fair out here! A bountiful produce market full of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as pumpkin carving kits, fall decor (cornstalks, gourds, haybales, and indian corn), and other goodies. The café is open daily and serves hot buttered corn, hot drinks, and Pulled Pork sandwiches and Grilled Fajitas on Saturdays and Sundays. The Pumpkin Cottage giftshop is open daily with "pumpkin" goodies, specialty gifts, Christmas goods, and holiday items galore! The animal barn is full of fun sounds, the one-ton bale haymaze is a fun puzzle, and the cornmaze is ready to enjoy. 

Q.How can I find out more information about fieldtrips for children?    
Fieldtrips run Monday through Friday from 9AM to 2PM. They are both fun and educational for children.  They include a hayride with a live tour of the farm, and a walk through the market, animal barn, haymaze, and cornmaze. The children go home with goodies including their favorite pumpkin, a sticker, a bookmark and an apple. There is picnicing areas available. To make a reservation or inquire more about this service, please call 621-3874 between 10 AM and 4 PM daily.

Farm Facts:

Q.How many acres do you farm?    
A.About 700. The acreage is used for wholesale and retail fresh market produce.  

Q.I've heard the name Delta Farms and have seen it in the grocery stores on certain produce. Is that name related to your farm?    
A.Yes, Delta Farms is the wholesale name we use to sell our products that go to the grocery stores and to produce houses. We are known as The Pumpkin Patch for our retail business.  

Q.Is this a family farm?    
A.Yes, the Pumpkin Patch has been in business for over 40 years and continues its traditions with the second generation of farmers.  

Q.How do I get to Sauvie Island?    
A.From Portland, take HWY 30 West until you come to the Sauvie Island bridge. After going over the bridge, be sure to turn left and loop back under it. Go two miles and you'll see us!  

Q. When do you have animals in the barn?    
A.We get some in as early as June, whereas other animals are here at the farm but in pasture where it is more comfortable for them. You can see them anytime, however. By August we fill up the stalls in the animal barn for everyone to enjoy.  

Q.When do you open and close?    
A.We open in June as soon as strawberries are ready and close the first week of November after we have sold the last of the year's fresh produce. We also are open every holiday between June- October. Our hours are 9-6 daily.  

Q.At the end of the season, where does all your extra produce go?    
A.Surprisingly here at the Pumpkin Patch, surplus is not a problem. Every bit of produce we grow and harvest goes to a good home; either to our customers, to the large varieties of charities we support, or to our animals (if its not consumable).  

Q.Where can I find your coupons?    
A.We advertise weekly in the Tri-County foodguide in the Oregonian.. The Tri-County guide is printed every Tuesday in the Food Day section.

Produce and Crops Grown:

Q.What's the difference in the 3 types of corn you grow?    
A.How Sweet It Is White corn has completely white kernels. It is truly a specialty corn that has the highest sugar content. It is very sweet. Peaches-N-Cream corn has yellow and white kernels. It is a customer favorite and is sweet, but not too sweet. Golden Jubliee Supersweet has all yellow kernels and is a traditional favorite. It, too, is sweet. All three varieties are supersweet varieties, are picked fresh daily, and have a great shelf-life for the customer.  

Q.Are gourds for eating?    
A.No, they are for decoration only. They bring color and fun to the fall table. They are often combined with winter squash, which is edible.  

Q.How do I dry and decorate the birdhouse gourds you sell?
A.It's easy. Just set them outside and let them dry naturally. They will get moldy and ugly, but after about two months, they will become brittle and hollow (except for the seeds you hear rattling around). To decorate or paint, just soak the gourd in a solution of ammonia (a small amount) and water, and then scrub. The grime will scrape away easily. Do this a few times until the gourd is completely clean, then paint or decorate as desired. If you use it for a birdhouse, you may want to drill a hole while the gourd is still fresh for putting bird seed into later. These gourds are also used for instruments, holiday creations, and bowls.  

Q.I forget from year to year when the crops you grow are ready. How will I find out each season?    
A.Here in Oregon if the weather was predictable, so also would be the time frame on all the crops we grow. Your best bet is to study the Produce Availability Guide, so you have an idea of the month of the crop, then call the farm at 621-3874 or email us at info@thepumpkinpatch for exact details. The harvest only varies by a week or two generally.  

Q.How long do strawberries last?     
A.Peak season is usually two weeks from the time they are ready  

Q.How do I freeze strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries,etc?    
A.Always use moisture-resistant materials such as glass jars, plastic containers, heavy-duty foil, and clear plastic bags. Gently wash berries in cold water (and hull the strawberries). Place berries on paper towels and pat dry. Place another sheet of paper toweling on a cookie sheet, then place the berries on top in a single layer; freeze. Repack the frozen berries into freezer containers, shaking them down to remove as much air as possible; return to freezer. Berries remain frozen this way, so you can remove small batches at a time.  

Q.How do I freeze corn?   
A.Most vegetables can be frozen by blanching in boiling water. We think it's best frozen in kernels. Blanch husked corn for 1 minute in boiling water. Cool quickly in ice water; drain. With sharp knife, cut kernels from cob. Spread on cookie sheet in single layer, and freeze until hard. Transfer to airtight containers or self-sealing, freezer-weight plastic bags, and return to freezer immediately. Frozen kernels will keep up to 3 months.  

Q.How do I cook corn?   
A.Remember...the faster the better! Especially with our supersweet varieties of corn! Heat speeds the conversion of sugar into starch; if you leave corn over a flame longer than necessary, it will loose its sweetness. Here are some suggestions:

Q.How do you cook winter squash?   
A. We grow a large amount and variety of winter squash. Most is cooked in a similar manner.

Q.When you can fruits and vegetables, how many pounds does it take to make one quart?  

 

Special Events and Daily Activities:

Q: What's this I hear about THE MAIZE? What is it and when is it?    
A. The Maize is a 6 acre cornfield maze produced right here at the Pumpkin Patch this year as an added attraction. It will be open mid September and October for your challenging enjoyment! The Maize has appeared in 14 different sites across the country. It is made up of 300,000 cornstalks that create a human-size maze. Fieldtrips and special groups are welcome. The Maize hotline is (503)621-7110 for more information.   

Q.When is the Pumpkin Cottage giftshop and the Patio cafe open?    
A. The giftshop is open daily at 10 AM. You'll want to stop in each time you visit the farm to experience all the new items.  We're are constantly changing and adding new items based on customer desires! The cafe is open Friday through Sunday in June and July and adds more days in August until it is open daily by October.

Homepage | Activities | Cafe | Gift Shop | FAQ | Farm Map | The Maize

Produce Market | Wholesale Buyers | U-pick