Pumpkin Picking at the Museum

From the October 13 issue of The New Yorker:

With the price of gas being what it is, a quick trip to the country for, say, a Halloween pumpkin and some fresh air requires much consideration. So what’s an urbanite to do? Head to the Queens County Farm Museum, the oldest patch of continuously farmed land in New York State, where visitors can pick their own pumpkins. Wandering the field is free; the pumpkins’ prices are determined by weight.

The Queens County Farm Museum dates back to 1697; it occupies New York City's largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland, and is the only working historical farm in the city. The 47-acre parcel encompasses a historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, farm vehicles and implements, planting fields, an orchard, and an herb garden. Read more.

Until last year, I looked at pumpkin with disgust followed by an audible "ick!" The orange-brown mush summoned memories of bland pies and soups that lacked the kick of comparable sweet potato recipes. This Chocolate Chunk Pumpkin Bread completely changed my perspective. If you're going to use a fresh pumpkin in this recipe and the Queens Country Farm Museum is out of the way, visit Pumpkin Patches and More for a global list of pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other farms.

Illustration above by Daniela Schütt Pozzo for "The New Yorker."