BONNYVILLE – The Bonneau family is third generation farmers running Charlotte Lake Farms, and they recently hosted another annual U-Pick Pumpkin Paradise Patch on Sept. 7. The event was the opening day for the season, with more dates on the horizon.
Sunflowers lined the side of the pumpkin patch brimming with a large variety of pumpkins both colourful, delicious, and peculiar. The farm is located south of Fort Kent and northeast of Bonnyville.
Leona Bonneau tells of how the idea for the pumpkin patch got started.
“We started participating in Open Farm Days five years ago. A committee was put together that included a lovely lady named Tracy Wasylow. She was awesome to share her idea and she said, 'We get asked a lot for a pumpkin patch in this area',” explained Bonneau.
Bonneau admits it initially sounded like a lot of work, but the more she thought about it, the more interested she became. So the following year she gave it a try with 500 plants.
“It was a hit,” said Bonneau. “We sold out within three to four days. Everything was gone.”
The experience also offered insight into what people were looking for at the pumpkin patch.
“I was learning what people liked and what they enjoyed. For me, I like pumpkin pie and was thinking people like pumpkin pie too and that's why they come and get pumpkins - but that wasn't the case. They were here to decorate their home,” said Bonneau.
She has continued to explore new varieties of pumpkins with unique looks and tastes.
“I figured I would try more varieties - expand the patch. So we went to 1,300 plants and I had 26 varieties. Then year three we expanded to 2,000 plants, and this year it was 2,200.”
Bonneau says the project keeps growing and more staff keep coming on board.
This year, the event offered wagon rides from a 1930’s antique tractor as well as mini John Deere pedal tractors and children's activities including a giant Connect Four game.
The Charlotte Lake Farms pumpkin patch also offers many photo opportunities, with a large pumpkin display.
