It's Gourd Season / by Lee McKnight

While it's never easy to say goodbye to summer in the Pacific Northwest, the sheer beauty and drama of fall do soften the blow. We have entered the window of calm before the holiday season begins in late November, where rhythms steady and we feel the pull to slow down from the frantic pace we keep in the warmer months. 

And if that's not enough to make you appreciate fall, there are gourds. So many gourds. They come in all shapes and sizes, have numerous aliases–pumpkins, squash, curcubits–and feature prominently in many of our favorite fall activities. We've assembled a list of our favorite gourd-related activities for you. Enjoy!

Visit a pumpkin patch:

Red barn with animals, check. Hayrides to u-pick pumpkins, check. Corn maze, check.

Here are a few popular spots within an hour's drive of central Portland: The Pumpkin Patch and Bella Organic Farm (both on Sauvie Island), Plumper Pumpkin Patch & Tree Farm (Old Cornelius Road), Packer Orchards (Hood River), Liepold Farms (Boring). Check calendars for special events on weekends and pricing!

Carve a masterpiece:

Sometimes it's best to start with the basics like this tutorial that takes you step-by-step from pumpkin selection through to your final cut. If you've been practicing all year or all of your life, then maybe it's time you share your skills with the world in this friendly but fierce competition hosted by the Portland Mercury. 

There are also a couple of Great Pumpkin Events coming up soon, hosted by and located at Portland Farmers Markets.

Make something delicious with squash:

Whether you're shopping at the grocery store or the farmers market these days, you will find a wealth of winter squash varieties. Here are recipes for a few of our favorites: Delicata dinner saladButternut Squash galetteAcorn Squash Thai Spiced soup, and finally, Kabocha squash wedges tossed in olive oil, salt & pepper and roasted until brown and tender might just be our favorite fall dish of all!