October 31st 2024.
In Manchester, the autumn season at Boundary Farm in Dunham Massey has always been a busy time, with their pumpkin crop being the main attraction. However, this year was different. For the first time in 30 years, the farm was unable to produce their usual 120,000 pumpkins due to the cold and wet spring weather. This unfortunate turn of events has caused the farm to rethink their plans and find alternative ways to sustain their business.
Chris Hewitt, the owner of Boundary Farm, explained that the cold and wet spring conditions were not suitable for the pumpkin seeds to germinate, resulting in a much lower yield of only 600 pumpkins. This was a significant decrease compared to their usual output and came as a shock to the farm. The sudden loss of their main source of income prompted them to search for other options to help pay rent for the winter months.
Unfortunately, the wet weather not only affected the pumpkin crop, but it also increased the risk of diseases in the harvest. Chris stated that this meant having to invest more money in chemicals to control the diseases, which was a significant financial burden for the farm. As a result, Boundary Farm decided to shift their focus to their 30 acres of apple orchards and hold their first-ever Apple Festival.
Using their 6,500 apple trees, the farm allowed visitors to pick their own apples and enjoy fresh apple juice and cider. This change in direction has been a success, with the public responding positively to the new experience. Chris mentioned that they have been fully booked every day and received fantastic feedback. Despite the failure of their pumpkin crop, the farm has been able to benefit from the increased footfall through their Apple Festival and boost their sales of apple juice.
While many people in the UK are busy preparing for Halloween, Boundary Farm has been making the most of their apple orchards and finding new ways to sustain their business. As the day approaches, people are looking for inspiration for their pumpkin carvings and Halloween traditions. But did you know that other countries have their own unique and fascinating Halloween traditions? From dressing up as ghosts and demons to carving turnips and potatoes, Halloween is celebrated in many different ways around the world.
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