Bay Area’s best pumpkin patches

I adore autumn. The sunlight becomes more precious, fruits and vegetables are abundant, and I savor those mini-vacations, i.e. trips to the pumpkin patch.

I have to find ways to savor the season even more ardently on the West Coast since I can’t count on those plenteous oaks and maples to blush crimson rainbows and whisper leaves to the ground. Thus I find myself saving up as much free time as I can to visit farms and pumpkin patches around my home in the Bay Area.

Here are some of the most memorable ones I’ve been to:

Stanly Lane Pumpkin Patch, Napa

This friendly pumpkin patch is open year round as a produce stand, so when it comes pumpkin there are dozens of varieties to be found. Stanly Lane sits at the gateway to Napa at the turn off to head into Sonoma Valley as well. It is easy to get to from points south without having to comitt to a full day in wine country.

 

 

Did I mention the varieties? I haven’t found such a good selection paired with the know-how of which are best for different eating purposes and which are really best for show. It’s a very photogenic place with pigs to pet, corns rows, and a pumpkin-themed derby car for good measure. There are a great variety of pumpkins grown here – probably the best I’ve seen. I’ve made several worth-while discoveries. There are a number of just-for-show types, typically those have very thick and shiny skin.

Here are my picks for not just prettyiness but yumminess: Pink Banana and Blue Hubbard for general baking, Winter Luxury or Cheese pumpkins for pies, Kabocha and Cinderella for soups, Turban, Orange Minikin (easiest to grow yourself) and Sweet Dumpling for stuffing, Delicata and Carnival for roasting (just a dash of salt and a pat of butter is all you really need).

Perhaps my most exhilarating discovery has been the Marina Di Chioggia. I’ve bought these from Stanly Lane three years in a row now – this blue-green warty pumpkin makes the best pasta. The best. And the color inside is simply stunning. (At the end of this post there are more pictures of the varieties mentioned above.) 3100 Golden Gate Dr., Napa, open daily call ahead 707.253.7512

Pumkin Patch of Timothy Murphy School at St. Vincent’s School for Boys, Marinwood

This farm might not be as well known, but it is one of the very best places to get your pumpkins and take a tractor-driven hayride. It is run by the friendliest folks – all volunteers – and all the proceeds go to this live-in school for 70 boys who are orphans. I’m so happy to support a cause like this. In my humble opinion having people to trust and rely on in your childhood is so crucial to gaining the confidence to go out into the world and succeed. I don’t know of any other charitable pumpkin patch like this that operates as a learning farm for the boys when it’s not covered with neon orange orbs.

There are grazing cows and a picturesque backdrop of the Marin hills, dotted with windswept live oaks. There’s a jumpy house, room for birthday parties, and a table reserved for coloring – I relish the opportunity to sketch these gourds elbow to elbow with giddy kids. Take home as many pumpkins as you can, one hundred percent of the proceeds go to charity. St. Vincent’s Field at Marinwood/St. Vincent exit off Hwy 101, Mon-Sun 10a-5p, 415.785.3264

J.E. Perry Farms, Fremont

The gem of Alameda County’s pumpkin patches – J.E. Perry Farms grows in accordance with strict organic practices. You can gather produce at the farm stand or pick yourself – including pumpkins right off the vine. There are several varieties grown in addition to the classic orange Sugar Pie, Orange Magic and Jack-o-Lantern types – find a lustrous gray-blue Ironbark or a vermillion tear-drop shaped Red Kuri (great for pumpkin soup). When you’re spent pumpkin-picking, use one of the provided stencils and do your carving right there – or chase up the hay pyramid.

Ardenwood is a protected farm area that’s heaped with history located in the Fremont area – not far from walking trails views of the South Bay salt flats. 34600 Adrenwood Blvd., Fremont, Mon-Sun 9a-7p

Enos Family Farms, Brentwood

It is harder to find a patch these days where you can pick pumpkins off the vine yourself. Most pick them for you and lay them in colorful collages on beds of hay for you to choose from – Enos Family Farms gives you the chance to wrangle the vines themselves. Farm founder Ron Enos is intent on growing organically (although they haven’t yet plunked down the huge certification fee) to ensure the best produce and also longevity of good, grow-able soil.

Other times of year there are marvelous cherries, stone fruit, heirloom tomatoes and strawberries – most of which you can pick yourself if you’d like. But come autumn the pumpkins are in full swing, as are hayrides. Brentwood is a lush and abundant growing region that’s very close to the cities of the Bay Area. A must-go at least once a year, there’s almost always something in season “over the hill.” Marshall Creek Rd and Walnut Blvd, Brentwood. Wed-Sun 9a-5p

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Next year I’m going to check out Mill Valley’s Tam Junction Pumpkins, part of Marin’s Prooflab project. Looks very enticing.

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