Gail's Pumpkin Patch
Harvested pumpkins await customers at Gail’s Pumpkin Patch near Beason. Customers may pick their own or select harvested ones from among 60 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds grown on the Logan County farm. (Photo courtesy Gail’s Pumpkin Patch)
David Sasse, left, and his wife, Gail Apel-Sasse, show a 521-pound giant pumpkin they grew on their Logan County farm, Gail’s Pumpkin Patch. The couple placed third in the state 2021 giant pumpkin contest in the first-year grower category. (Photo courtesy of Gail’s Pumpkin Patch)
From the Cultivating Our Communities Stories series BY KAY SHIPMAN FarmWeek
Fall peak season at Logan County pumpkin patch
Pumpkins — in a rainbow of colors giant to small — take the spotlight every fall at Gail’s Pumpkin Patch in Logan County. But the farm’s namesake must share young visitors’ attention with two inquisitive Boer goats and an abundance of cute kittens.
Gail Apel-Sasse and her husband, David Sasse, co-own the specialty farm near Beason. They also farm with family in Logan and DeWitt counties. Gail explained they started growing their specialty crop 16 years ago.
“My husband likes a challenge, and I like pumpkins,” she said with a laugh.
Through Oct. 31, Gail’s Pumpkin Patch is open noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The farm is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Tuesday. Admission is free. Find details online, gailspumpkinpatch.com, or follow the farm on Facebook.
Gail’s Pumpkin Patch grows 60 varieties of pumpkins, squash, and gourds on 8 acres. Visitors may take a wagon to select their own pumpkins, squash, and gourds right off the vines or choose from the harvested ones. While a new variety, Mellow Yellow, is proving popular with fall brides seeking rustic décor, white pumpkins of any size continue to be a fall wedding favorite, according to Gail.
For anyone interested in baking a pumpkin pie from scratch, Gail recommended the farm’s light-colored, smooth Dickinson Field variety and her personal recipe, which uses a blender or food processor to create the pie filling.
David cares for the specialty farm’s orchard with 10 apple varieties for eating and cooking grown on 45 trees. Recently, he started growing trellis apples and will pick his first crop this fall. Apples are available for sale in the on-farm shop.
A half-acre popcorn field gives visitors an opportunity to pick ears of popcorn and hitch a ride to the field in the popcorn wagon. Those less adventuresome will find popcorn for sale in the store.
In addition to the farm’s pumpkins and apples, the on-farm store sells apple cider from Schwartz Orchard in Centralia, Amish apple butter and jams, Sasse’s Apiary honey products, and pumpkin bread, and cinnamon rolls by a local baker.
Along with snuggling kittens, young visitors can ride a barrel train, feed the goats, crawl through an obstacle course or play on a roller slide. Older visitors can take a spin on the adult tricycles. Local church youth groups sell lunch on certain Saturdays. Pets are allowed to visit if kept on a leash, and photography is permitted.
The pumpkin patch offers educational farm field trips as a walking tour for groups. Gail noted the field trips are nearly booked for the season, but those interested may check for availability.
The biggest addition this fall? Giant pumpkins.
On Sept. 25, Gail and David took third place honors for first-year growers at the Illinois Giant Pumpkin Grower’s Association contest held at Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm, Minooka. Their pumpkin tipped the scales at 521 pounds. It’s large, but not-as-big, sibling rests by the farm’s sign.