Chance to pick a Cork pumpkin at Killeagh farm

A family-run farm in East Cork is gearing up to host its annual series of pumpkin picking events next month.

Joe’s Farm in Killeagh will bring its pumpkin picking series back to Leeside for the Halloween season, accepting visitors from October 4.

The farm will be open to pumpkin pickers each weekend throughout October from 10am to 3pm.

Visitors to the farm will enjoy a walk around the premises, have the opportunity to pick vegetables, learn about farming and pick their own pumpkin to take home.

The initiative, now in its 8th year, aims to allow adults and children to actively engage in harvesting food and start conversations about eating local produce.

The farm also operates guided pumpkin picking school tours where each child gets an empty potato bag and can pick their own vegetables straight from the earth.

Along the way, children will learn about the business of crisps, from growing, to the finished product.

Joe’s farm is run by Joe Burns and his wife Sandra, together with their three children.

The family diversified their vegetable farm into making crisps from potatoes, carrot, parsnip and beetroot in 2014.

Ms Burns said that each year the family sees people travelling “miles and miles” to attend the patch.

“We recently had a bride come home from America to get married and we were delighted that she chose Joe’s Farm to source pumpkins for her wedding for decoration,” said Ms Burns.

“We are thrilled to see people coming, taking photos and learning about farming and local produce, what's in season and where it comes from.

“We have many autumnal photo opportunities around the farm [too] where people can take photographs.

“I’m always delighted to hear stories about the experience, seeing videos of children washing and preparing the vegetables at home afterwards, and most importantly, eating what they have picked.

“I love hearing from parents who call or write to us afterwards to say their kids wouldn’t eat vegetables until they came to Joe’s Farm - it’s rewarding to see.” 

For more information, or to get in touch regarding school tours, visit: www.joesfarmcrisps.ie or email Sandra at: sandra@joesfarmcrisps.ie.