It’s pumpkin season and Venetucci Farm is busy
Last week, the Illinois Agriculture Resource Center reported that the state’s crop – the nation’s largest – will fall around one-third short of its usual yield.
That is not the case at one farm in Southern Colorado, however.
Nestled in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain lies a little slice of paradise – Venetucci Farm.
Over the years, it’s become famous for one thing – pumpkins.
A tradition started by the Venetucci family many years ago.
“Every fall they would invite school kids from all around to come and get a free pumpkin,” said Susan Gordon, the manager of the farm.
And this year, there’s more than enough pumpkins to go around.
Gordon said, “It was a very good crop. I think the spring rains helped.”
Crop rotation helped the pumpkin yield this year as well.
“Previously planted in the pumpkin field was alfalfa and that’s a good crop to put in prior to pumpkins because it’s a nitrogen fixer,” said Gordon.
That’s good news for beer drinkers too. The farm is famous for its pumpkin ale.
But Venetucci Farm is more is more that pumpkins or beer, it’s about something much greater.
Gordon said that some of the other things grown at the farm include “lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, green beans, (and) beets.”
The farm’s garden of vegetables also had a good year, something that’s key to the farm’s education projects.
“We’re trying to say that small, diversified farms play an important role in raising food,” said David Rudin of Venetucci Farm.
So while pumpkins may draw in visitors, it’s the education the farm staff hopes will keep bringing them back.
