We think ABC Teach has some great  learning projects for kids — and lots with a Fall theme!  There are word scramble exercises, word games, craft projects and more — and they include worksheets that you can download and print.

Visit ABC Teach website now …

We just love all the pumpkin crafts that are described on the KABOOSE website for kids!

They have pumpkin carving ideas, how to make a pumpkin turkey, pumpkin blockheads,  window pumpkin faces … and lots more!

If you try any of the fun craft projects from this site, send us a photo!  We’ll post the best ones here in our blog.

Yep, pumpkins and kids.  They sure go together, don’t they?!

We are soo excited about coming!! Thanks for helping us out this year!!
See you soon,

Amy Pendergrass
Ravenscroft School

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On behalf of Durham Rehabilitation Institute, I want to thank Ganyard Hill Farm for recently donating pumpkins to our unit. Our patients have been decorating, painting and carving the pumpkins in preparation for Halloween. It has been a great activity for them to engage in while they are recovering from their surgeries and illnesses. Thanks again for your generosity!

Betsy Roy
Recreation Therapist
Durham Rehab Institute

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Thank you for the guided tour of Ganyard Hill Farm. Wow, what an incredible place. My personal favorite was being able to touch all of the animals. You have an atmosphere unlike any I’ve seen and I will be happy to refer your farm to our guests.

Susan Scott-Yancey
Museum of Life and Science

Thank you for donating the dried gourds that were used with great enjoyment at our event, “She’s Crafty”, last Saturday. Your support of Planned Parenthood is greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,
Emma Seymour
Planned Parenthood of Central NC

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Thank you so much for a wonderful outing for our Playgroup. Everyone had a terrific time and we couldn’t have asked for anything more. What a fun way to introduce a family tradition to our young children and celebrate the beginning of a beautiful Fall season! Everyone from your staff that we came in contact with was courteous, friendly and helpful. I have heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone in the group. We hope to join you again next year!

Sincerely,
Dara Meyer
Cary Playgroup

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I just wanted you to know that we celebrated my daughter’s 2nd birthday at your farm on Saturday and we had a wonderful time!!! We had children of all ages and I feel like there was something there to keep all of them interested. Thank you and your staff for making my daughters birthday so memorable!

Tameka Henderson

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Thank you so much for a wonderful field trip experience! We came to your farm on Wednesday and had a great time. Our group of 3-4 year old’s especially liked riding the hay ride and visiting the animals. You have a beautiful farm and you and your staff run an excellent program.
Thank you very much from Ephesus Elementary Pre-K/Head Start program (in Chapel Hill). VERY FUN!

Hallie Montgomery
P.S. We loved the roosters!

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Can’t wait to see the new location and look forward to “another location” in Durham!!! Yeah!!
thanks for all the fun.

Elizabeth Foust, Staff Asst.
Duke Clinical Research Institute

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Yippee, yippee, yippee. I’m so glad to hear that you relocated close by!!! We’re thrilled to know that we can enjoy your special farm again. I’ll be sure to pass your info along to the preschools that I deal with. Looking forward to seeing you in the Fall. Thanks for the announcement (you’ll recognize us when you see us!)

Beth Lucas

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Today, as baseball season winds down, and it is not yet time for football season to start, my son and I were looking for something different to do. I decided to get on the internet and check out local attractions. How ecstatic I was to see the name Ganyard’s Farm!! I had no idea that you were merely relocating! And, though you are a bit further away, we are already making plans for when we will be able to stop by! We wanted to let you know how thrilled we were to find you again and can’t wait for our next visit! Best of luck opening the new farm and we look forward to visiting! Happy Farming!!

The Rhoden Family
Lisa, Hank, Kelly, Jack and Mary

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Here’s a slideshow of photos taken by visitors to Ganyard Hill Farms.

While we have reviewed most of these images, we can not guarantee that all would be appropriate for viewing by all ages.  We are not responsible for the content of these photos.

If you could see the date on this photo, you’d know that it was taken 14 years ago. It’s the most memorable photo I’ve ever taken on my farm!

This little boy’s two older sisters were running around the Pumpkin Patch chattering away, looking at every pumpkin they could find — trying to find the perfect one. Meanwhile, he quietly walked up to one of the prettiest pumpkins in the patch and simply stood there like you see him in this picture. Without a word, he waited for someone to come help.

My camera was on the tractor on the other side of the field, and I had to go get it! When I came back, he was still in the same pose, waiting for help. He’s about 17 or 18 years old now, and he still comes to the farm with his grandpa. His grandpa has an 8″x10″ of this photo — which he greatly treasures.

Thought you’d enjoy this story and the photo!
Farmer Ganyard

Hi, folks!

Fall fun at Ganyard Hill Farm is just around the corner.  We’ll open the farm to the public on Sept 26 for our 14th all season in the Triangle.  I’ve been busy growing the crops, including pumpkins, corn mazes, cotton, sorghum and sunflowers for you to enjoy this fall.  The weather has been good to us so far this season, plenty of rain and not too hot.

A typical day for me now includes scheduling and confirming school field trips, irrigating the pumpkin and cotton crops, checking my new deer fence to be sure deer aren’t getting the pumpkins before you do, weeding the crops and protecting them from insects and diseases, feeding and watering the farm animals and mowing grass.

The honey bees are busy every day pollinating the pumpkin flowers and the pumpkin plants are busy making thousands of pumpkins.  In my spare time I’m dreaming up new farm fun for this year!  I’m looking forward to seeing ya’ll real soon!!

Farmer Ganyard

Grandma Ganyard is here visiting and says this is the easiest way to cook that pumpkin!

1. Take one well scrubbed pumpkin and cut deep slits (about 6-8) around the top of the pumpkin.

2. Sit pumpkin on saran wrap and pull it around to the top like a sack.

3. Microwave until soft.  Let cool, and then remove seeds and skin.

4. Put pulp in food processor and pulse until smooth.

Pumpkin seeds can be roasted and make a fun snack. Separate the fiber from the pumpkin seed and place the seeds in a colander and rinse thoroughly with water.

Place the seeds in a saucepan and cover with salted water using 1/4 cup salt to 2 quarts water. Bring the seeds to a boil and simmer about 2 hours. Drain the seeds and dry them on absorbent paper.

To roast, place seeds in a shallow pan in a 300 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Stir occasionally.

Remove the seeds from the oven and add one teaspoon of melted butter or margarine to each cup of seeds. Salt to taste. When cool, store in an airtight container. If they will be stored longer than 10 to 14 days, place in the freezer.

Salt may be omitted in the cooking water and other seasonings can be used. Simply sprinkle the cooked, drained seeds with onion or garlic salt before roasting.

Hulled seeds may be mixed with vegetable oil (two teaspoons oil to each cup of seeds) and seasonings and then roasted. Place in a 300 degree oven for five to ten minutes.

Pumpkin Puree

Making your own puree is really an easy task. It is surprising that more people do not do this. If you have ever made fresh squash from a butternut, hubbard or other squash, you can follow the same process.

Here is our recommendation for making pumpkin puree(or pulp as some call it):

1. Select a ripe and firm medium pumpkin. Larger pumpkins can be used, but they begin to take on a grainy texture the larger they get.
2. Cut open the pumpkin and remove the seeds and fibrous strings.(We call them pumpkin brains)
3. Cut the pumpkin into four to eight pieces.
4. Line a large baking pan aluminum foil. This will minimize the cleanup task.
5. Place the pumpkin pieces onto the baking pan.
6. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for one to 1 1/2 hours, or until pulp is soft.
7. Remove the pulp from the rind with a spoon and discard the rind.
8. Blend the pulp until smooth using a blender, food processor or mixer.
9. To create a really thick puree, put the pulp into a cheesecloth and squeeze out excess water.

Make and use fresh puree whenever possible for the best taste and freshness. Leftover puree can be frozen for a short period of time. Canning of pumpkin puree is not recommended by the USDA.

BUTTERSCOTCH HAYSTACKS

These are easy, fun, and oh-so-sweet for children to make!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes

Cool Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

11 oz package Nestle Toll-house Butterscotch Morsels

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 can (8.5 oz.) or 2 cans (5 oz.) chow mein noodles

3 1/2 cups miniature mashmallows

DIRECTIONS:

Line trays with wax paper.

In microwave safe bowl, melt butterscotch morsels on medium-high (power level 7) for 1 minute.  STIR WELL. If morsels are not completely melted, continue microwaving on medium-high for 10 second intervals followed by stirring, until melted.

Stir in peanut butter until well blended.  Stir in noodles and marshmallows until coated thoroughly. Drop by rounded Tablespoons onto tray. Cool in refrigerator until hardened – approximately 30 minutes.

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!!