Asbury United Methodist’s annual Pumpkin Patch is a family activity that benefits mission
The seasons are changing and pumpkins are back.
Asbury United Methodist Church recently turned its grounds into a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, an annual event designed for fun while raising money to fund church mission efforts. The fall event has become a popular destination over the years for families looking to find the perfect pumpkin for carving and decorating.
Barbara Gaskin of Stonewall watched as her three-year-old great granddaughter, Sydney Amis, excitedly ran from pallet to pallet Monday afternoon at Asbury, inspecting each pumpkin before finally picking one out to take home. For their first trip to a pumpkin patch together, Gaskin said it was one they filled with smiles, laughter and memories.
“It was great to see her face light up when she saw all the pumpkins,” Gaskin said. “Her favorites were the very small [pumpkins] and the wagons used to haul them around.”
Cary Chandler, pumpkin patch coordinator, said seeing children, like Sydney, react to the orange patch of oddly shaped objects is a highlight every year.
“I like seeing the kid's eyes get big when they see it,” he said. “You can just stand there and watch them looking through all of them. It's worth the whole thing.”
The patch offers a wide variety of pumpkins in all different shapes and sizes. Chandler said the price, ranging from 50 cents to $20 or more, depends on the size of the pumpkin.
This year, Asbury brought in more than 3,000 pumpkins from New Mexico to Bossier City. Chandler said people generally go for mid-sized pumpkins to carve, but children typically pick out smaller ones they can easily carry.
Money raised from the pumpkin patch will go to local and country-wide mission efforts through Asbury United Methodist Church. Chandler said the church supports organizations like Bossier's LightHouse, which reaches out to help poor families in the area, and mission trips to other countries.
A perk to sales this year has been the weather change. Chandler said the recent drop in temperatures has already helped pumpkin sales.
With the temperature change comes a season change as well, which Gaskin said is a favorite time of year. She said there are plenty of ways to spend time with family without leaving your own backyard.
“We like to play outside now that it's not so hot,” she said.
Now, they will add pumpkin carving to their family activities this year. Gaskin said this will be the first time she will carve a pumpkin with Sydney, which is something she is really looking forward to.
“I think it will be very unusual since Sydney will be helping with the design,” she said.
Chandler said the pumpkin patch will remain open through the end of the month or until they run out of pumpkins. Chandler believes the patch is a great way to embrace the new season and a chance for the community to fellowship.
Asbury United Methodist Church is located at 3200 Airline Drive in Bossier City. For more information, contact the church at (318) 746-5349 or visit www.asburybossier.org
