Bushue's Family Farm: Pumpkin Patch

Another fun pumpkin patch near Portland, OR is the Bushue's Family Farm.  We were so lucky to get to go here several years in a row for a private boyscout event, because it is tremendously fun to make a dirt baby.  I don't understand why, but kids love to make dirt babies.  In addition to making dirt babies you can go on hay rides, cow train rides, hay maze, see the farm animals play on their big slide, and more.

How to Make a Dirt Baby

• panty hose (You will only need the feet and enough to tie off.  The part you tie off needs to be able to reach down into the cup and absorb water.)
• dirt
• grass seed
• plastic cup
• glue gun
• decorative items to make the face

Put a small amount of grass seed into the hose first and then add dirt.  Tie off the hose and then decorate the face.  Put water in a cup.  Set dirt baby onto the cup (not down in the cup) so that the tied off hose is dipping into the water.  In a short time your baby's hair will grow!

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Portland

Liepold Farm's Pumpkin Patch

Liepold Farm is located in Boring, OR about 20 minutes SE of Portland, OR.  It is one of my favorite pumpkin patches.  They have tons of family activities.
 
They always have an area set up where you can snap some family pictures.  There is a hay ride, corn maze, petting zoo, and pumpkin catapult.
 

Instead of a sand box they have a box full of kernel corn for the kids to dig in. They have a hay maze that the kids can go through.  They have to use a flashlight to see through it.
  

There is a fun area that is perfect for younger kids.

Tanner Apple

Lost in the Corn Maze

Pumpkin Catapult

Hay Maze

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Portland

Making your own Pumpkin Puree

I have been getting the Organic food boxes from OfftheVine.org now for a few weeks. I am splitting them with my neighbor. Here is how much half is.

In one of the boxes was a pumpkin and I wasn't sure what to do with it at first but here is what I figured out. First I scooped out the pumpkin seeds with an ice cream scooper. Then I washed the off in a colander. Once they were cleaned off I spread them out on a baking stone and sprinkled them with salt. I baked them at 325 for about twenty minutes. My kids enjoyed their roasted pumpkin seeds snack.Next I wash off the outside of the pumpkin and placed it in a baking dish with quite a bit of water. I put the lid on (even though it didn't actually sit right until half way through cooking it) and microwaved it for twenty minutes. Once it was soft I basically squished it out of the shell and into a mixing bowl were I then mixed it for about five minutes with a mixer. With the puree we then made bread maker Pumpkin bread.

Bread Maker Pumpkin Bread
1/3 cup Vegetable oil, 3 large eggs, 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree, 1 cup sugar, 1.5 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 3/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ginger, 3 cups flour, 1/2 cup nuts if you like.
Spray bread maker pan with PAM.
In a bowl, mix the 1st 4 ingredients together until well blended; stir in the baking powder, soda, salt, spices and flour until mixed. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and use the quick bread cycle. Add nuts at the beep. Carefully loosen the loaf and put on rack to cool.

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