We are very excited to be participating in an evening with the Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation & Development organization . . . endorsed as “an exquisite culinary experience in local cuisine.” On Saturday July 16, 2011, Mac Condill will be the featured speaker at this “Field to Fork” presentation which begins at 5:30pm with cocktails and a five-course dinner. This evening also includes live music and a gift auction. Join us for the culinary enjoyment, the entertainment, the environmental awareness, the catching up with friends, as well as the making of new friends. Link into http://www.swircd.org/Field_to_Fork.html to find out all the details. Advance tickets are required so hurry!

Here we are only 30 days away from our spectacular 8th annual Great Gourd Gathering, hosted by the Illinois Gourd Society (www.illinoisgourdsociety.org). And here are two downloads you’ll be interested in checking out:

–Workshop Registration . . . ggg2011-regform

–Information FLYER . . . ggg2011-flyergrdfestopenhousewrkshps

You had a super time when you joined us here last year. Let’s do it again!

See you June 4, Saturday between 9:00am and 4:00pm here on The Great Pumpkin Patch farm. And remember to also stop in at The Homestead Bakery 6th annual OPEN HOUSE for some excellent Amish made-from-scratch baked goods samples.

Wanted: Gardeners to grow enormous pumpkins for fall contest at The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur IL. We will provide genetically superior plant (947-pound parent) and growing tips. Contact us for more information at 217-543-2394 or thepatch@the200acres.com. Act quickly, limited number of participants accepted!

We’ve already got our eye on the 2nd annual TGPWeigh-Off. The Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off will be held here at the farm on Saturday, Oct 1, 2011.

Here’s some info you’ll want to download regarding this contest:

–  weigh-off rules . . . tgpweigh-off2011rules

–  participant interest info . . . tgpweigh-offparticipantinterestltr2011

–  prize info . . . tgpweigh-off2011prizejudgestructure

REMEMBER . . . act very quickly as number of participants is LIMITED!!!

We’re gearing up for another GREAT high-powered celebration of the wonders of the fabulous GOURD. So far, these are the plans for the 8^th annual GATHERING– with more info to follow soon!

v Join ILGS President Bonnie Cox and learn her technique of “Embroidery on a Gourd.” Bonnie will provide a clean, cut gourd, embroidery thread, tapestry needle, written instructions along with the use of an awl (which may be purchased). Student shall bring their own pair of scissors. All skill levels welcome! Workshop Fee: $40

v Enroll with Paul and Karen Wilson of “Wilson’s Gourds” to discover their approach to “Primitive Woodburning.” Paul and Karen will provide their students with all supplies including a woodburning pen and wedge tip and a cleaned gourd. Students shall bring any skill level and lots of enthusiasm! Workshop Fee: $16

v Sign up for Yvonne Miller’s “Vintage Gourd Button Pin” workshop and leave with a “gourdeous” trinket or 2 to share or wear! Yvonne supplies everything you’ll need to embellish your very own prepainted Button Pin. Enthusiastic students from ages 8-88 are welcome! Workshop Fee: $11

New Workshops to be announced as applications are received. We will be posting the final Workshop schedule sometime in May, so you can plan your Great Gourd Gathering visit to The Great Pumpkin Patch farm accordingly!

Be sure to check out the Illinois Gourd Society website at http://www.illinoisgourdsociety.org for all the up-to-date gourd activities, as you plan your spring, summer and fall calendar.

For the fourth consecutive year, The Homestead Bakery is off to this year’s 13^th Annual Illinois Products EXPO at the Orr Building of the state fairgrounds in Springfield. This is a trade fair you don’t ever want to miss. Mark your calendar for Saturday and Sunday, March 5^th and 6^th.

Due to the flawless show-management expertise of the Marketing Division of the Illinois Dept of Ag’s Bureau of Marketing & Promotion, this EXPO is always a delightful and rewarding event for Illinois companies such as ours. Get all the details at http://www.agr.state.il.us/marketing/expo/index.html. Each year, this show always proves to be a genuine Food and Cooking Extravaganza.

Join the thousands of food’n’fun-lovin’-folk who’ve made this trek a highly anticipated part of their annual road trips for the past 12 years. They come from every corner of Illinois, and then some. Be sure to visit The Homestead Bakery booth for yummy samples. Take home plenty of our breads, angel food cakes, cookies and cinnamon rolls to keep your family happy at meal and snack times. All our baked goods are made fresh from scratch, and freeze very well. So be sure to stock up!

See you there!