With the first decade of this rather trying 21st century behind us, we stretch wide our welcoming arms to greet the onset of 2010. The Great Pumpkin Patch begins its preliminary season preparations for an excellent 22nd year of good, old-fashioned family fun that boasts the blessings of earth’s bountiful harvest. With unexpected natural calamities moving our hearts to answer the call of helping our global neighbors, we push forward to embrace the hope that is sparked by every kind gesture of a caring, worldwide community. It is our goal and our privilege each year to emulate the benevolent side of nature that is peace and beauty, and to share this peace and beauty with all our neighbors far and near.We breathe freshness into
our Idea Alley to inspire the fun and functionality of decorative planning – both indoors and out. Who hasn’t been stumped or even intimidated by the task of a make-over? Or even just a little tweak here and a little twist there? Combine some of your ideas with our ideas to personalize your very own design vision. Come find that “Ah, so that’s how I can make it happen” look that keeps your autumn and harvest season alive and vibrant!
We continue to carry the trendy, and probably more importantly the rare, unique, hard-to-find baubles, keepsakes and décor treasures in our Bridle Gift Shop.
When you enter the shop, you are greeted with a whiff of softly scented candles and the memory-jogging tunes of a vast collection of CDs. You’ll browse through a plethora of gift items perfect for all occasions, spy those must-have season fashions in just your color, thumb through books of many genres, and help your kids pick out that perfect toy or game they’re certain they simply cannot live without. We are committed in our pursuit to bring you the very best!
In 2008, we were excited to share with countless 
spectators the monumental event of lovingly hoisting a donated salvaged school bell, now lodged within its masterfully custom-built tower, atop the historical one-room Center School. This school building is a genuine piece of history that was relocated to our farm in 1999, now serving as an authentic, classic landmark that is shared with our hundreds of thousands of visitors here at TGPP. We continue to marvel at the
dramatic reenactments* of true Center School life as illustrated by the talented folks of the Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society! The school marms have developed a truly enchanting 15-minute interaction with all of our weekday school field trip students – what a vast difference between then and now!! We invite everyone to visit a “class in session” any Tuesday through Friday morning that has any one of the nearly two hundred current-day school classes scheduled for its traditional fall time field trip here at the Patch. [*provided on specified days]
We never tire of hearing the melodic sound of the satisfied response from someone nibbling on a mouthful of yummy, made-from-scratch Homestead Bakery goodness. The year 2006 marks the onset of our daily routine of rising and shining in the wee hours of mornings to eagerly measure, sift, mix, knead, crank up the oven, and draw in those tantalizing home-baked aromas. Special request orders are available for pick-up or mailing. Come on in for a visit starting in May on any Monday through
Saturday from 9am-3pm, or find us at any of the farmers’ markets where we’re set up during the summer (see our On-The-Road schedule). Don’t forget our traditional Open House held every year at the beginning of June. You won’t want to miss the free samples! You can also order via phone (217-543-3700) or e-order from the comfort of your favorite chair, ’cause there’s plenty of yummy goodness for everyone!
Launched in November 2008, we eagerly presented to everyone our Newest Pumpkin on the Vine . . .The Homestead Seeds (THS) company. During our 
winter off-season, we set up our seed retail shelves at The Homestead Bakery to make walk-in seed purchases available by May 2009. We remained motivated to seek out just the perfect spot to house all of our heirloom, rare and common pumpkin, squash and gourd seeds for our TGPP in-season shoppers. Eureka! We found it! The walls of the THS store display some genuine family historic artifacts that cloak the room with a nostalgic 
ambiance. As thrilled as we are to place cucurbit seed ordering at your fingertips online, or even over the phone (217-543-2394), we strongly urge you to experience the sense of rustic days of old, by stopping in our store during each TGPP season (9/15-10/31). Don’t forget to pick up your free instructional literature to have by your side as you experience the fun, satisfaction and nutritional great taste of growing your own!
The Great Pumpkin Patch maintains its position as a genuine Feast For The Eyes. Whether 
you’re wandering through the hundreds and hundreds of Potted Mums that stretch out before you like a vivid rainbow resting on the earth, OR you’re viewing the ripe acres of pumpkins, squash and gourds while you’re perched atop the platform nestled in the
middle of the Maize Maze, OR you’re walking down the Boulevard flanked by a sea of stunning orange pumpkins ranging from tiny to huge,
OR you’re feeling dwarfed while standing in front of the massive Wall o’Squash that houses over 200 cucurbit varieties
, OR you’re gazing with playful wonder at the “cucurbit couples” as they board Noah’s Ark, OR you’re strolling through the rich Conifer Garden, the Willow Maze, the Sunflower Maze, the Broomcorn Maze,
the enchanting Children’s Garden or the secluded Pumpkin Tree Forest…every aspect of this pumpkin patch is truly a sight to behold!
The Great Pumpkin Patch also holds fast to its tradition of sharing the nuances of rural farm life, the daily culture of which is basically the same around the globe, given the inherent differences of climate, soil type, length of growing season,
topography, and such. It is here you can observe uncommon fowl and farm animals taking up temporary residency within their makeshift quarters; you can discover unfamiliar and exotic flora that have been carefully and meticulously nurtured here in a foreign setting to illustrate how they thrive in their native 
environment; you can appreciate the dazzling colors and patterns of worldwide flags that represent the multitude of geographic sources of the heirloom cucurbit seeds; you can reap the mouthwatering 
results of the squash tasting demonstrations [on specified days] that feature various types of homegrown, freshly harvested and easily prepared TGPP and Homestead Seeds squash varieties!
The Great Pumpkin Patch provides outstanding concessions to keep you refreshed and refueled as you make your way through the 11 acres of pumpkin patch attractions. At the Pumpkin Eatery you’re sure to find something delectable to satisfy your hunger and quench that thirst. Pull yourself right up to an available picnic table, take a load off those feet, and dig right in to your delicious 
lunch. Leave room for a Homestead Bakery treat, a quick snack or a specialty dessert item that you’ll find at the Two-Mile Sweet Shop. After putting a few more miles between that dessert or snack and another little something to tide you over until supper, don’t forget to head to the Creamery for a bulging scoop of vanilla, chocolate or our season-special pumpkin ice cream!
The Great Pumpkin Patch features special musical guests, as well as special gourd artists. The music you’ll be tappin’ your toe to is a rich blend of country, gospel, bluegrass and folk. Feel like dancing and singing along
? . . . don’t be shy, have some fun! Another source of wonderful decorating ideas can be found in the booths of our visiting gourd artists and vendors. Be sure to check out their brilliant creations on display to sell, and get their advice for any projects you’d like to take on yourself!
And don’t be surprised if you visit us on a day that a radio station or a television crew chooses to show up . . . it happens! It all happens here at The Great Pumpkin Patch. See you in the Fall!
Oh yeah . . . did we mention the U-Pick Patch? Come ready to pick your very own pumpkin straight off the vine. See the “Midwest’s grandest u-pick pumpkin patch” offering the healthiest and the largest diversity to pick from. No day at The Great Pumpkin Patch is complete without taking home one (or more) of these personally chosen, personally plucked jewels of the harvest season!!