11/03/2025
ROTTEN "PUMPKINS"
At the end of each season we let everyone come out and take what the want and donate what they can. The past 2 years we have been able to donate to Second Chance Animal Rescue and Toby Keith's Kids Corral. This year we planned on giving to Jamaica relief and/or helping members in our community struggling to feed their families.
It was extremely disappointing when we showed up this morning to clean up and clear out everything from the pumpkin patch to find that not only did some rotten "pumpkins" not only cleared out 3 separate bins that were clearly labeled "SOLD" in red paint but that they also rummaged through our supplies tub that contained paint and carving kits we let kids use for free. Not to mention being told by the owner of Showplace Market that one of her employees had to cleanup all the trash that one family threw out of their car to make room to fill up with as many pumpkins that would fit.
Mind you when I say "take what you want...donate what you can" that does NOT mean take as much as you can fit and leave a $5 bill. I wanted as many children whose parents can't afford pumpkins right now to all get some. So now going forward I will likely have to pay to keep someone on deck to monitor things because of the few who ruin it for everyone else as well as place a minimum donation and a limit on what can take.
So now because some people don't know how to behave it ruins it for others. A majority of that money now has to be used to replenish supplies as well as refund customers who had pre-purchased items that were to be used today. I'm able to look past removing the several layers of stuff I placed on top of those bins to keep people from accidentally rummaging through those bins (despite there being hundreds of pumpkins in the field) but to remove over 60 metal signs that were on top of a tub distinctly labeled "SUPPLIES" and steal not just whatever you felt should be yours. The part that pi**es me off the most is that some of those items were little 3D printed ghosts/decor that my young nephew had printed with his own money for his 3D printer business he is so excited about.
Running this pumpkin patch takes a huge toll on me mentally, physically, and for the past 2 years financially. I invest $25,000 with no idea if I'll make a profit let alone break even. Between last year with the worry about economy around election and now this year with the government shutdown/SNAP going on made it especially hard. Despite that I've kept it going for the kids. But if this type of behavior continues I'm not sure how much longer I will be able to keep the patch going.
Thank you and God bless...
Mum'kins & Moore
