June 17th, 2010
“To Our Neighbors, Customers, Friends…
Lovely To See You Again!”
We have had such a super spring time here at The Great Pumpkin Patch [TGPP] and The Homestead Bakery [THB], and we know why. . . it’s because of all of you – our treasured neighbors, our valued customers, our on-the-road friends. Even though the Patch is in pre-season, we’ve had the privilege of seeing you all around this Central Illinois community.
Thank you for joining us at the following nearby places: here at the Bakery as our retail doors sprang open this season, as well as for our annual Open House; here at the Patch for our annual Great Gourd Gathering; and here in downtown Arthur IL for the village’s annual Strawberry Jam.
We also thank you for looking us up each week at the not-so-nearby places. We at THB have such a terrific time catching up with our steadfast regulars who show up throughout our spring and summer Farmers’ Market gigs. And all the new faces we see are quickly becoming part of our regulars – those caramel-iced cinnamon rolls and those “mile-high” angel food cakes are truly hard to resist, huh?!
We’ve settled right back into our groove at Urbana’s “Market at the Square” {Lincoln Square Mall parking lot at 400 South Vine) and the “Sullivan Farmers’ Market” {corner of Rts 121 and 32), both with welcoming ease. At the Urbana market every Saturday from 7am-noon, we’re now using more space to better accommodate your shopping needs. And due to popular demand, at the Sullivan market every Friday afternoon, we’re happy to say its hours have been extended now from noon to 6pm.
This year, THB is going for a triple play! We feel very fortunate to be included in on the launching of Decatur’s “Saturday Produce Market”[SPM], so conveniently located at the Shilling parking lot of Richland Community College {corner of College Park and Brush College Road). We’re now covering two markets at the same time – this, too, is every Saturday from 7am-noon. All of us SPM vendors are off to a grand start, aptly excited about seeing new faces, greeting new customers and making new friends.
It’s always lovely seeing you! So keep walking in at our Bakery store, and be sure to catch up with us at any of these ideal market locales! And look for something new onsite when you come back to The Patch this fall for our 22nd year from Sept 15th through Oct 31st. Visiting The Great Pumpkin Patch here in Arthur IL is always something to look forward to!
June 1st, 2010
June 5th 2010 FESTIVITIES
Sat, June 5th – Only days Away!
Here we are – just days away from all the Great activities here on the TGPP farm, as well as all around the village of Arthur IL!
Visit The Homestead Bakery booth at the 
Springtime “Strawberry Jam” fest in downtown Arthur, and also walk through our Open House doors on the farm just 2 miles south and 1/2 mile west of
Arthur. Bring your kitchen pantry list, plus a bit of an appetite for the yummy samples.
Then mosey about through all the gourd vendor 
tents to knock a few items off your gift list and your home décor list.
Be sure to catch up with us
sometime, somewhere this weekend!!
The Homestead Bakery Open House
on The Great Pumpkin Patch farm
from 9:00am – 3:00pm on Saturday, June 5th
– right along with –
on The Great Pumpkin Patch farm
from 10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday, June 5th
ùùù Come See Us! ùùù
May 14th, 2010
Open House, Gourd Gathering & Strawberry Jam
Sat, June 5th – that’s the big day!
It’s getting closer. We’re only weeks away from the pinnacle of Arthur Springtime events . . . the Arthur village “Strawberry Jam” fest, The Homestead Bakery Open House and The 2010 Great Gourd Gathering. The Homestead Bakery will be defying the laws of physics – Yes, we will be in two places at one time!!!
The Homestead Bakery booth will be set up in downtown Arthur with a magnificent array of made-from-scratch Amish baked goods. We will also be showcasing some awesome gourd creations from some of the award-winning gourd artists who will be displaying and vending at The Great Gourd Gathering.
The Homestead Bakery Open House will be serving up plenty of samples at The Great Pumpkin Patch farm, while the gourd artists will be offering exquisite art pieces that mustn’t be missed. There may even be an open seat or two at one of the gourd art workshops.
The Homestead Bakery Open House
on The Great Pumpkin Patch farm
from 9:00am – 3:00pm on Saturday, June 5th
– right along with –
on The Great Pumpkin Patch farm
from 10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday, June 5th
ùùù See You Around Town! ùùù
April 16th, 2010
THB Open House & TGPP Gourd Gathering
Hey! What are you doing on Saturday, June 5th?
There’s always something happening here in Arthur IL. Springtime melts away all of winter’s cold, snowy days, and welcomes in all the outdoor community fun. All the local March, April and May activities get us warmed up for the pinnacle of Arthur Springtime events!
Early Spring finds us enjoying a schedule filled with local auctions, improv jam sessions, Easter celebrations, fish fries, consignment and livestock sales. Mid-Spring boosts up that schedule with local benefits, expos, grand openings, community garage sales, a circus, quilt and craft shows.
Then, it is with bold grandeur that those final days are punched up with that famous pinnacle of Arthur springtime events. It’s a Cushman Scooters Daze show on Thursday, June 3rd that starts us off. And segues us right into . . . that’s right, right into Arthur’s Annual Spring “Strawberry Jam” Festival all day Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th. These two days include spectacular events like the Bluegrass Jam, the Strawberry Social, the Homestead Bakery Booth, the Miss Arthur Pageant, more Scooters Daze, vendors galore and above all . . .
The Homestead Bakery Open House
on The Great Pumpkin Patch farm
from 9:00am – 3:00pm on Saturday, June 5th
– right along with –
The Great Gourd Gathering
on The Great Pumpkin Patch farm
from 10:00am – 4:00pm on Saturday, June 5th
ùùù Mark Your Calendar! ùùù
April 14th, 2010
The Great Gourd Gathering of 2010!!
It’s that “gourd”geous time of year again in Arthur IL . . .
. . . so gather ‘round at The Great
Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, June 5th!
The Great Pumpkin Patch [TGPP] in Arthur IL opens up its historic landmark buildings and luscious garden paths as a simply gorgeous springtime backdrop for the Illinois Gourd Society [ILGS] to host their 7th annual Great Gourd Gathering festival.
Call it a seven-year itch or just the lucky number 7, but this ILGS 7th annual gourd fest is rumored to be the greatest gourd event to hit Central Illinois in years!! Whether you’ve been a hardcore gourd fan
nearly all your life, or you’ve just recently embarked on the fascinating world of gourd-mania, you’ll kick yourself if you miss this spectacular event.
The ILGS has gathered award-winning artists and workshop instructors from both far and near to set up their innovative, creative and functional wares to admire, inspire and purchase. Not only can you view and buy these beautiful works of art, you can also try your hand at being an artist-in-training by signing up with Bev for one of the workshops being offered. You’ll enjoy an entertaining and enriching day at The Great Gourd Gathering, taking home your very own personally handmade souvenir. You’ll also walk away with priceless know-how for breathing life into another artful treasure by your very own hand at home!
Be prepared to rediscover all of the charming and practical uses of gourd products, and to tap even deeper into that creative power of yours. While the artists and workshop instructors keep you delighted and spellbound, we’ll keep you refueled and rehydrated with a delicious li’l somethin’-somethin’ to munch on. We challenge you to find a more fun and relaxing way to spend your June 5th this year!
Come for the gourds! Stay for the fun!
Leave with the treasures!