Penner's Lake

On Friday I decided to go and pick some snake gourds for Saturday. My first error was going at 9 pm at night. So I get to the patch and what do I see….water. I see patches of water every where’s. Not a problem as I have rubber boots along. So I get onto the garden and I start walking. The rows are 300 feet long and I get ¼ down the row when I stop and I ask myself how much do I want to pick these snakes. I’m like keep going. I’m sinking mid calf, tripping over vines, and I can’t see a thing. Also there are hills and dips that I have to navigate in the dark. ½ down the row I have to give myself another pep talk, but I’m finding this to be quite the adventure and finding this to be quite funny. I finally found my snakes and I decided wading through a ditch was easier than going through the garden again.

It rained and rained on Thursday. Penner Pumpkins got over 2 ½ inches. The garden is so saturated that the water just sits on top.

Penner Pumpkins had picked 90 % of our pumpkins the previous week, but there was a few left on the field. After seeing the garden Friday I decided those pumpkins had to come off. I thought we might get an ATV trailer full, but not more than that. The best pumpkins had already been picked.

On Saturday, in the evening, John, Shirley, and I went pumpkin picking on Penner’s Lake. We waded through mud and picked and picked. We needed to have a video camera out there because that was hilarious picking pumpkins in the mud. Somebody had asked me Saturday if they could go pick a pumpkin at the patch. I said it’s a little muddy and wet (really it was very wet and very muddy). When the ATV needed to move forward Shirley and I had to push so it wouldn’t get stuck. Shirley and I ended up not doing any face plants in the mud so that was one bonus. We ended up filling two ATV trailers with our pumpkins. I have to say that was a work out: wading through mud up to my calves, lifting a 20 pound pumpkin, and carrying it

through the mud. A new Penner Pumpkins work-out. I’m happy to say that all the pumpkins are picked, now the gourds need to be picked and the squash. Penner Pumpkins will be selling pumpkins Mon-Friday from 11 am to 7 pm, Sat from 11 am to 5 pm, and Sun 1-5 pm.

Bring a Flashligh Event

Every Friday in October, from 6:30 pm to 10 pm, you can come and trick or treat down the Scarecrow Forest Path. After you can zip down the zip line and warm up by the fire with a hot chocolate. This is a kid friendly event. Make sure to bring a flashlight. It will happen every October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. The cost is $10.00 per person. For more information please phone Shirley at 371-5556.

Description of squashs Penner Pumpkins sell

SQUASH

Sweet dumpling-Has orange flesh and is very sweet and tender. Has orange flesh.

Carnival (multicolor sweet dumpling) -The delicious yellow meat is reminiscent of sweet potatoes and butternut squash and can be baked or steamed then combined with butter and fresh herbs. Also great in soups.

Vegetable Spaghetti-has a noodle like texture. Eat it with your favorite pasta sauce.

Sunshine -Bright orange flesh. Tender stringless flesh, and provides a sweet nutty flavor. Good for pies, soups, or baking,

Grey Ghost -Sweet, thick, and dry.

Buttercup- Has a rich, creamy and sweet flavor. Flesh is orange.

Butternut- sweet, nutty taste. Has orange fleshy pulp. Butternut is a common squash used in making soup because it tends not to be stringy.

Acorn- sweet, yellow-orange flesh. Good for winter storage, keeping several months in a cool dry location such as a cellar.

Red Kuri -Smooth textured flesh. Good for pies. It's meatier than most of the other squashes as it has less water content. Less water content makes the taste that much more rich.

Blue Hubbard-medium dry and sweet. Yellow flesh. Stores well. The extra-hard skins make them one of the best keeping winter squashes. The yellow flesh of these tends to be very moist and longer cooking times in the oven are needed. They are generally peeled and boiled, cut up and roasted, or cut small and steamed or sautéed. It's perfect for pies.

Open Farm Day

On Sunday September 19 Open Farm Day is happening. This is the first year that this event is happening. Over 35 different agritourism businesses, farms, and greenhouses will open their doors to the public. At the bottom I have included the link to the guide so you know where you can go and the hours of operation. Penner Pumpkins will be part of Open Farm Day. Free special activities include: market garden tour (weather permitting), antique tractor display, pet the goats and cats, and we will have vegetables and fall decorations for purchase. The Scarecrow Forest will cost $7.00 and the extras (zip line, pumpkin/onion sling shot, tractor train ride, and face painting) are $1.50 per activity.

Across the road from Penner Pumpkins is Benner Holsteins Ltd. They have a robotic dairy barn which houses 300 dairy cows. I have included a link at the bottom that gives a brief description of the barn and shows some pictures. I have toured the barn and it is pretty cool to see. My two favorite parts of the barn was the cow back scratchers and seeing the cows lined up to be milked. Also you will be able to pet some calves and play with more cats.

I have included three links at the bottom which gives more information. Hope to see you at the Scarecrow Forest.

www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/financial/agribus/pdf/openfarm2010.pdf

www.pennerpumpkins.com

www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18604&Itemid=395

Odds and ends

Gift Shop

Penner Pumpkins has a gift shop for you to browse through. We sell wooden deck chairs, neck laces, lazy patio cats, fall decorations, crocheted purses, and wooden bear tables. We also have Christmas wreaths and birch log center pieces for sale. We currently have pie and Cinderella pumpkins for sale. In the next week or two we will pick all of the squashes and they will be available for sale. Come and check it out.

Gazebo rentals

We have a gazebo that can be rented. The price is $50.00 for 1 hour and 45 minutes and we have three different time slots: 11-12:45pm, 1-2:45pm, or 3-4:45pm. Admission to the forest is extra. Groups of 20+ is $7.00 plus you get one free activity (zip line or train ride). Penner Pumpkins currently has two families that are having a family gathering in the forest this fall.

Fire pits

We have private fire pits that can be used. Groups of 20+ can rent it for free and groups under 20 can rent it for $15.00 (no outside food allowed), wood is provided. Reservations are required, phone 371-5556.

Daycare and School groups.

On Tuesday September 7 we had approximately 54 children and 10 adults come out from a daycare in Winnipeg. They had a ton of fun in the Scarecrow Forest. I think the biggest hit was all of our cats. The price is $7.00 per person and includes one activity (train ride or zip line), extra activities are $1.50 each.

Youth Groups

Penner Pumpkins loves having youth groups come and visit the forest. We hide a live scarecrow in the forest and the youth have to try and find this scarecrow. The price also includes a zip line ride. Step off the platform into complete darkness as you zip down the line. After you wander the path and try the zip line sit around the fire pit and roast some marshmallows and sip some hot chocolate. Cost is $8.00 per person and make sure to bring a flash light. To reserve your youth group phone Shirley at 371-5556.

Coloring Contest and Photo Contest

Penner Pumpkins has a coloring contest. The deadline is fast approaching (September 25), make sure you hand in or mail in your entry. Check our website for more details. Another contest we have going on is a photo contest. Submit three of your best photos for a chance to win a prize. Check our website for complete information and rules.

For more information please check out our website at www.pennerpumpkins.com or phone Shirley at 371-5556.

Lorissa

Birthday Parties

Birthday Parties

Is your children's special day coming up? Come and have their birthday party in the Scarecrow Forest.

The cost is $10.00 per person. This includes admission and three activities which options include: a zip line ride, a tractor train ride, hot dog, chip, and drink, or a craft (example: you could do 3 zip line rides, or two zip line rides and a tractor train ride, etc). Extra activities cost $1.50 per item per person

Included in the price is the forest which has 21 different scarecrow scenes set up along a ½ mile winding trail through the forest. Off of the trail is the farm animal maze (look for the bright red barn) where you can learn interesting facts about different farm animals. At the end of the trail is our huge play structure with four slides and mega sandbox or take a left and find many more things to entertain you such as the Dancing Scarecrow Corn Trail. Also there is the bale maze and pyramid, another mega sandbox, tire structures, and almost everyone’s favorite, the petting farm. Come and meet Blue and Billy the goats or meet Jack and Jill the two very adorable black kittens.

Come and celebrate your birthday in the Scarecrow Forest.

We do allow birthday cakes, but please no other outside food.

For more information or to book you party please check out www.pennerpumpkins.com or phone Shirley at 371-5556.

The Rock Ridge Pickers

Country Gospel Concert with

The Rock Ridge Pickers

The Scarecrow Forest is proud to host the Rock Ridge Pickers on Sunday August 29th for a country gospel concert. The local rising talent of Rockford Penner will have your toes tapping in no time. Bring your own lawn chairs and relax and enjoy the music while your children enjoy the free face painting and balloons. Whether you are a country fan or you are just looking for something upbeat and interactive for your family, this is the event for you.

The concert is included in the price of your general admission of only $7 each, and all children three and younger enter free. The concert will begin at 2:00 in the afternoon, and there is plenty to entertain you until then. The Scarecrow Forest is a half mile gravel trail winding through acres of bush. The child friendly scarecrow scenes waiting around each corner make it an amusing journey. A shaded picnic area is a great place to enjoy food from the Snack Shack canteen. Zipline rides, tractor train rides, a farm animal maze, play structures, mega sandboxes, bale maze, a petting farm, and a corn trail will entertain you all day. You can even try your hand at Blue-eyed Betsy the simulated milking cow!

The country atmosphere at the Scarecrow forest is the perfect venue for the Rock Ridge Pickers lively music. Come on out and get a dose of the homegrown talent of Rockford Penner, Rhonda Koop, Lyonel Penner, Andy Friesen, and Joel Doerksen. Visit www.pennerpumpkins.com for more information on the Scarecrow Forest or www.therockridgepickers.com for more information about the band.

Amanda