Down Home on Peterson's Farm Pumpkin Patch

We thought we had our favorite local pumpkin patch, but I think after visiting Peterson's Farm in Petaluma yesterday we have a new pumpkin patch champion. Not that the old one is bad or anything; far from it. Our experience at Peterson's was just magical and I hope that our review will encourage you to give it a visit.

Peterson's Farm is located in rural northern Petaluma. To get there, take 101 to the last Petaluma/Penngrove exit. Go left and head over the freeway onto Petaluma Boulevard North. Follow it until you reach Gossage Avenue—it's your first right after the Cinnabar Theater. If you see the Petaluma outlet mall on your left then you've gone too far. Follow Gossage up the hill until you see the small sign for Peterson's pumpkins. They're at 636 Gossage. Turn right into the driveway. Now, at first it will seem like you're driving up someone's driveway, and actually, you are. Peterson's is a real working farm, which is part of what makes it special. When you turn the corner, you see the big old barn as well as plenty of parking around back.

From there, you're free to wander the farm grounds and investigate. It's not really big, so it's perfect for families with small children. When we arrived, we were told that there was a brand new calf out in the field who had just been born about an hour before we arrived. Of course we had to go take a look, so we trekked over the cow pasture and visited mom and new baby out in their enclosure. Mom and baby in the case were shaggy Scottish Highland cattle, which were a kind we had never seen in person before. There are a number of other cows and calves on site, as well as chickens, ducks, geese, a pony, a tom turkey, and a friendly farm dog. Children are able to visit and even feed many of the animals.

Of course we were here for the pumpkins. There are two large fields of pumpkins that you choose and pick yourself. Wagons are available at the barn to haul back your load. Many of the pumpkins were large, and there were some really nice specimens available. The standard orange jack-o-lantern kind were prevalent, but there were also many of the dark orange and flat rouge vif d'etampes "Cinderalla" pumpkins, as well as white and green ones. The barn area also had mini pumpkins for sale. One of the other nice things about Peterson's pumpkins is the price. Honestly, we were a little worried when our son chose a big monster pumpkin. Given the price of pumpkins at all the other pumpkin patches we visited, we weren't sure if the single $20 bill in my husband's wallet was going to cover it. When Mrs. Peterson sized the pumpkin at the barn, we were relieved when she told us it was only $6! That is not a misprint. We promptly went back to the field and got a giant Cinderella pumpkin, and got a dozen farm-fresh eggs and a couple of the mini pumpkins, too.

Inside the barn, you'll probably find Mrs. Ettamarie Peterson or her daughter, both of whom succeed in making you feel like family. They've got award-winning honey for sale, as well as t-shirts, beeswax items, and the eggs mentioned previously, which were a steal at $3 a dozen (we're talking farm-fresh, free range, California state fair-winning, amazing eggs here, not your standard supermarket variety). You can check out a demonstration beehive, too, as well as touch bee and honey related items on the touching table. Mrs. Peterson is a retired schoolteacher, and she's really good with kids.

Anyhow, that's pretty much it. No Halloween trinkets and geegaws. No jumpy houses or slides or plywood cutouts of cartoon characters. Just pumpkins and animals and farm stuff, which is all you really need for a great day out.