Scorton Road Farm, in South Cowton, North Yorkshire, is home to a herd of 60 pedigree Holstein and Ayrshire cows who produce 2,000 litres of milk everyday.
Earlier this year, third generation farmers David and Anne Alderson along with their son, William, 23, embarked on a new venture to help keep their business afloat, selling raw milk direct from a self-service vending machine at the gates.
But with Halloween approaching, they have come up with what they hope will be another money spinner – pick your own pumpkins.
They have set aside three acres next to the B1263 to grow the giant vegetables ready for families to come and collect.
William Alderson said he was inspired to create a pumpkin patch at their Richmondshire farm during the four years he studied agriculture at Harper Adams University in Shropshire.
During his studies, he worked on a farm near Stafford where pumpkins were grown and which proved popular.
He said: “The farm where I was working grew ten acres of pumpkins. It worked really well for them.
“Last year we did a six-metre strip down one hedge. We ended up with 450 pumpkins. They sold out in a day and a half. We had everyone here.
“We have gone from a third of an acre to three acres.”
About 27,000 Jack O’Lantern seeds were precision-drilled into the ground in June.
Despite imperfect weather conditions for growing the native American crop, the farm began selling pumpkins to the public last weekend, with a variety of sizes on offer.
Mrs Alderson said: “The pumpkins take a lot of looking after.
“The first time we did it we enjoyed meeting the public. It was really good because we got a cross section of people in.
“This year we haven’t had quite enough sunshine. They also rely on bees to pollinate and there is a shortage of bees this year.”
The pumpkin patch will be open to the public everyday until October 31 or until they sell out.
Pumpkins are priced depending on their size and weight and range between £1 and £5. Entry is free.
The biggest pumpkin grown this year was two-foot wide and was reserved in advance of the opening.
Mr Alderson Jnr said: “We said if half the plants live we have done well. Ninety per cent of them have grown.
“If we had put them a bit thinner we might have got more. We are just learning. It is a new venture and an extra source of income. It is extra diversification.
“They are dearer than the ones you get in the supermarket but families see where they have been grown and they get to pick the one they want. They can be at one with nature. It is a whole experience.”
Following on from the success of the raw milk venture, the Aldersons are constantly looking at ways of diversifying the business which has been in the family for almost 100 years.
Mrs Alderson said: “William is always full of new ideas. We never know what is going to happen next. It was his brainwave last year and we went with it again this year.
“Since about the third month in, custom for the raw milk has stagnated. Instead of growing we have stabilised.
“We are looking at expanding into different areas again. We have thought about turning the milk room into a shop because people want to use it as a base for selling their goods but it would need someone there to man it.”
The family has also looked into the possibility of making their own cheese or yoghurt on site.
Mr Alderson Jnr said: “We have questioned environmental health about what we would have to do to jump through the next hurdle. We would need a fully covered sterile room and that is a lot of capital investment. It is something we might look at in the future.”
Meanwhile, a challenging two-and-a-half acre maize maze has attracted large numbers to the farm over recent weeks.
The Alderson family and Catterick Young Farmers Club are joining together this Friday, October 27, to offer a maize maze fright night.
For those who are brave enough, zombies and ghouls will be unleashed into the maze offering a frightening experience for all ages. Entry costs £8 on the night. Under 12s are free.
Mr Alderson Jnr added: “When the milk price was low I was working away. At some point the milk market will crash again. At the minute milk is paying fairly well but at some point when the market becomes saturated it will crash again.
“I’m always on the lookout for side lines.”
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