The January 2025 Pumpkin Harvest

Harvesting Pumpkins: A Journey from Seed to Community

As the first week of January 2025 rolled in, Paul and I decided it was time to harvest the QLD Blue Pumpkins we had so carefully nurtured over the past few months. These pumpkins marked a milestone for us, two retirees who traded in corporate boardrooms for the open fields and soil of a small farm. Our journey from planting to harvesting has been one of hard work, learning, and immense satisfaction.

Planting the Seeds

A few months ago, armed with organic seeds and a handheld seed planter, we set out to sow the future of our small farm. Alongside the QLD Blue Pumpkins, we planted Golden Nugget Pumpkins and Rockmelons. The day was hot, but the task only took a few hours. For a couple of old retirees, that felt like an accomplishment in itself!

Coming from a corporate background, there’s something profoundly refreshing about working with our hands, getting into the dirt, and planting a seed with the hope of watching it grow. The physical labor may be challenging, but it’s fulfilling in a way that office work never quite managed to be.

Nurturing the Crops

Once the seeds were in the ground, it was a cycle of watering and waiting—and then watering some more. We’re fortunate to have a travelator mobile irrigator, which has been a lifesaver during the hotter days. I also have a little Farmboss buggy with an IBC on the back, which I use to manually apply liquid organic fertilizer. It’s a bit of a makeshift system, but it works for us. We know that installing a fertigator could make things easier, but we’re learning to take one step at a time. After all, we’re still new to farming, and every mistake we make becomes a lesson for the future.

The Harvest

There’s nothing quite like the joy of seeing your hard work come to fruition. As we began harvesting the QLD Blue Pumpkins, the sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. These beautiful, robust pumpkins were the result of months of care and attention, and it felt wonderful to see them ready for market.

Giving Back to the Community

One of the most rewarding aspects of this new chapter in our lives is being able to sell our produce to the community at prices much lower than supermarkets. It’s our way of giving back and making fresh, organic food accessible to more people. The work is hard, no doubt about it, but the rewards are immeasurable.

A Life Well-Lived

Reflecting on our journey so far, I often find myself wishing we had left the corporate grind years ago. Farming is not without its challenges, but it’s a beautiful life. Each seed we plant, every drop of water we deliver, and every pumpkin we harvest reminds us of the value of simplicity and hard work. We’re not just growing food; we’re growing a connection to the land and to our community. And for that, we are deeply grateful.