Looking for pumpkins, blooms and fall produce around Astoria and Clatsop County? Many local farms offer stunning autumn harvests without the crowds. The lower Columbia River area is rich with hidden gems offering varying opportunities for kids and families. Take a look at the compiled list for a few examples of where stunning Astoria-area fall favorites can be sourced locally.
Warrenton “Willener” Pumpkin Patch Tradition Continues
Keeping alive a long lived tradition of providing Halloween pumpkins for school children to carve. Henry Willener a lifelong Warrenton resident began growing pumpkins for his son which grew into a tradition surviving over fifty years. This year with help from Warrenton Fiber,PacificCoast Seafoods,Skipanon Brand Seafoods and generous help from Sonny at Warrenton Main Street Market , as welll as Ray Bergerson of Warrenton Mission Church. Pumpkins will be distributed to Warrenton School children Friday October 26 on the grounds of Warrenton Mission Church. The public is invited on the following Monday throughout the day, to drop by as well. Warrenton resident Martin McMaster is the organizer of this event for the second year in a row and plans to keep the tradition going as long as he is able.
Blackberry Bog Farm
Thriving in Svensen, Oregon just outside of Astoria, the Blackberry Bog Farm offers a variety of flowers, produce, and poultry that vary by the season. This revitalized 1880s homestead provides small amounts of pumpkins they ripen throughout October, winter squash and flowers. As the season winds down, they are now taking orders for plant starts and special requests for 2018 vegetables, flowers, and herbs. For more about their story and seasonal offerings be sure to visit the Blackberry Bog Farm website.
Jim Dandy Farm Market
A short drive and coast range away is the Jim Dandy Farm Market in Banks, Oregon. Located at 45770 NW Sunset Hwy adjacent to Highway 26, this farm and market offers award winning corn that is hand-picked daily, fall produce, and pumpkins. Now open from 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily, visitors can enjoy a free corn maze while they pick out a pumpkin.
Melville Farms
While not offering produce, Melville Farms nestled in the Lewis and Clark River Valley just south of Astoria is offering pasture-raised meats and eggs. As the summer comes to a close be sure to reserve pork shares and whole-chickens. For more information on their available free-to-forage meats visit the Melville Farms website.
Spring Up Farm
As a regular vendor at the Astoria Sunday Market and River People Farmers Market, this Knappa, Oregon based farm has a plethora of seasonal produce! While offering only a small amount of pie pumpkins this year, be sure to stop by the Spring Up Farm through October to stock up on local vegetables.
Barefoot Farm and Flowers
Located in Clatskanie, Oregon just across the eastern Clatsop County border is a 17-acre mixed produce and specialty cut flower farm. Now selling harvests from their new storefront Sweet Boutique Flower Barn located at 350 W Columbia River Highway, folks can find late-summer flowers, heirloom tomatoes, squash, and more. “This is where families can find our pumpkins, seasonal produce and my specialty flowers. I opened July 5 and on the same day purchased Clatskanie Floral,” explained Barefoot Farm and Flowers owner, Linda DePersis. “I only sell produce that I grow myself, on my farm. I’ve been steadily increasing the specialty cut flowers that I grow to keep our shop stocked with the blooms that are quickly developing a local following.” Also offering a variety of pumpkins and “winter squash by the truck load” more information about seasonal produce can be found on the Barefoot Farm and Flowers Facebook page.
