Halloween at Broadgate Farm
Halloween Pumpkin Picking!
Halloween is nearly upon us! We at Broadgate Farm Cottages have been preparing by buying some pumpkins from Tickton Pumpkin patch!
With only days until Halloween we've been getting ready to celebrate with pumpkins tricks and treats. Halloween falls in half term this year so we're trying to make our self-catering cottages as festive as possible, any kids staying this year will have a spooky pumpkin waiting outside for them!
My partner Luke was a good sport as always and came along with me to the Tickton farm pumpkin patch, he was very helpful carrying all the pumpkins while I walked around pointing at the ones I wanted, and even matched the pumpkins with his orange jacket- talk about dedication to the pumpkin vibe!
Tickton pumpkin patch is only 10 minutes drive from our holiday cottages and it was super cute, rows of pumpkins in varying sizes, shades, and shapes, set against the backdrop of a charming farm. It was not only a pumpkin paradise but also a haven for photo enthusiasts: there are plenty of photo opportunities which would be perfect if you’re coming with young children.
They also have a charity stall selling Halloween decorations! The pumpkins range from £1 for a small one to £15 for the large white one we got.
Pumpkin Carving
Now it’s time for the fun part, so I enlisted my most artistic friend, Tara, to help!
First cut a lid in your pumpkin and scoop out the insides. I found a combination of a knife and spoon perfect to get the guts out fastest! Then we used sharpie to mark out our designs and got cutting, watch your fingers!
When you’re done remove any remaining sharpie marks with hand sanitiser and a cloth. After a few hours and a lot of laughs we got them done.
To ensure our creations lasted as long as possible, we focused on drying out the insides. We used kitchen paper to absorb any remaining moisture, a technique that promised to extend the lifespan of our pumpkin creations. To seal the deal, quite literally, we sprayed our designs with hairspray to ensure they look fresh for as long as possible.
Then its photoshoot time! So I carted them around the holiday cottages one morning taking pics. To vote on your favourite pumpkin check out our facebook poll!
No Pumpkins Wasted!
Waste not want not! And so the family set about using up every part of the pumpkin guts possible. Dad took seeds from the white and orange pumpkins to grow for next year, and Mum made our favourite autumnal treat: pumpkin soup.
Mum's Homemade Pumpkin Soup Recipe
1) Dice an onion, cook until soft and translucent
2) Chop pumpkin into chunks and add to onion, cook until soft
3) Add vegetable stock, season and leave to cook for 30 minutes and pumpkin is fully softened
4) Liquidise and add a dash of double cream to create a creamy smooth soup
5) Enjoy!
I'm Lauren, Elaine & Steve's daughter and I've lived on the farm since I was 6. I will be writing more posts about things to do and places to see in the area- watch this space.
