Neighborhood Kids family fun in bellingham & whatcom county

Get Creative with Your Pumpkins This Fall

Now that you’ve made your trek to a Whatcom County farm for a u-pick pumpkin, what are you going to do with your bountiful harvest? If you’re looking for ideas, here are a few creative suggestions of pumpkin uses for your Halloween celebrations!

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

What creative plans do you have your pumpkins?
Photo by Theresa Carpine

Pie, bread, muffins, cookies, scones, soup—there are limitless tasty treats to enjoy with the yummy flesh of America’s favorite autumn squash. Halve pumpkins, scoop out the seeds and pulp, roast (cut side down) at 350˚ F in an ¼ inch of water for at least 60 minutes, scoop out pumpkin from shells, mash in a food processer, strain excess liquid, and use the result for all your baking needs this fall.

Pumpkin Painting

Carving jack-o-lanterns can be a lackluster activity for little kids who can’t yet wield a knife. Instead of carving pumpkins, get a few small pumpkins and use acrylic paint to make fun faces and designs on the pumpkins. Make sure the pumpkin’s surface is clean, but don’t let the blossom end get wet or the pumpkin will rot quickly. Another idea is to use a black Sharpie, after the paint has dried, to outline your faces for a cartoon-like look.

Jack-o-Lantern Man

Building a man out of pumpkins might not be quite as fun as rolling snow, but a Jack-o-Lantern Man will make your Halloween porch display a little more memorable. You’ll need a large, a medium, and a small pumpkin to stack; cut holes in the top and bottom of the large and medium pumpkins and secure them together by putting them over a stake in a bale of straw. You can just carve the face on the top pumpkin and dress the rest of the pumpkins like a scarecrow, or carve clothes and shoes on the lower pumpkins too. Use a strand of white holiday lights in each pumpkin, rather than a candle, to light it up.

What are your plans for pumpkins this fall? Leave a comment and let us know?

Whatcom County U-Pick Farms

Living in Bellingham makes it easy for families to access products grown right here in our own county. With a weekly farmers market and plenty of local grocers and restaurants purchasing produce directly from local farmers, it’s easy to incorporate fresh, seasonal foods into your child’s diet.

Cloud Mountain Farm
Photo by Megan Taft

And what’s more fun than simply purchasing locally grown fruits and vegetables? Picking it yourself! A family trip to a local farm allows kids to get up close and personal with their food, and it might make them more willing to try different vegetables.

Lots of Whatcom County farms have “u-pick” options for fall favorites during the autumn season. Check out this list from Sustainable Connections of Whatcom County U-Pick Farms.

Apple Creek Orchard: U-pick Jonagold, Melrose, and Mutsu apples. Farm-fresh eggs, honey and organic Armes Farms garlic also for sale.

Bellingham Country Gardens: U-pick vegetables. This is a no spray farm.

BelleWood Acres: U-pick pumpkins, stream walk, watch apples being harvested, packed, and fresh cider being pressed. Apples, pears, cider, peanut butter and more BelleWood products available at the store.

Boxx Berry Farm: U-pick pumpkins. Corn, peaches, squash, frozen berries, carrots, potatoes, garlic, onions, and other no-spray veggies are also for sale.

Cloud Mountain Farm
Photo by Megan Taft

Cloud Mountain Farm: U-pick pumpkins. Asian pears, hazelnuts, aronia, quince, table and wine grapes, heirloom and beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, melons, squash, pumpkins, gourds, apple cider, and fruit and ornamental plants also for sale.

Stoney Ridge Farm: U-pick pumpkins and apples. Enjoy wagon rides, a corn-maze, seeing farm animals, and ready-made treats like cider and caramel apple pie during your visit as well!

What’s your favorite “u-pick” farm? Leave a comment to let us know!

Fun in Whatcom County for Labor Day

Ah, Labor Day. The last hurrah of summer. If you’re staying in town for the last holiday weekend of the season, take a look at some of the diverse events in Bellingham and Whatcom County that will entertain the whole family!

Friday, September 3, 2010 – Downtown Art Walk

Take an evening stroll through downtown Bellingham to see work by local artists. Participating businesses keep their doors open late from 6 to 10 PM to display artwork that the community can enjoy. Maps are available at the Downtown Bellingham Partnership and participating venues. Make sure to stop by Center for Expressive Arts to see a living art installation!

Saturday, September 4, 2010 – Float Your Model Boat Show

Bellingham International Maritime Museum presents a remote control and scale model boat show. Here’s a chance to display your own model boats or just come to see models by others! Admission is by donation, $5 per person or $10 per family suggested. This show is open on Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and on Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM.

Sunday, September 5, 2010 – Community Pancake Breakfast

The Rome Grange’s monthly community breakfast is back! Every Sunday from 8 AM to 1 PM, families are invited to enjoy made-from-scratch pancakes, French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee for just $5 for adults and $2 for kids ages 6 to 10; kids under five eat for free! To get more information, call (360) 671-7862.

Monday, September 6, 2010 – Lynden FFA Corn Maze

Head to Lynden to journey through a corn maze, sponsored by the Lynden High School FFA. Special Labor Day hours are 2 to 6 PM. Cost is $6 for adults, $4 for students K-6th, free for preschoolers, or $18 for two adults and three kids. Bring a flashlight after dark! For details, call Lynden High School at (360) 354-4401.

For more local fun, visit Neighborhood-Kids.com Activities!