It’s October and pumpkin season! Join us on a virtual field trip to The Little Green Wagon Farm in Mankato, MN. We will explore their pumpkin patch and learn about how pumpkins grow. The Little Green Wagon grows many varieties of pumpkins that will be highlighted. We will also find out what happens after pumpkin season and how they care for their fields to prepare for the next year.
About the Little Green Wagon Farm
Located in Mankato, MN, Little Green Wagon Farm is a diverse farm, run by Rich and his wife Lucie. In the past five years, the 28-acre farm has grown to be a fun space for families to gather and learn about agricultural systems. The farm dedicates 11.5 acres to growing a wide variety of produce, and the remainder to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grassland, pastures for their pastured pigs, and bee habitats.
Growing Pumpkins
The farm specializes in a market garden model, with pumpkins being a signature crop. Rich and Lucie grow 57 varieties of pumpkins, offering both pre-picked and "you-pick" options each fall. Their pumpkin patch is a destination for families, creating a fun, seasonal space for gatherings. Pumpkins are planted in May, and it takes 14-20 days for the plants to sprout. The harvest begins in early September and can take up to 115 days to fully mature, depending on the variety. The Little Green Wagon Farm is careful to create low waste, and they commonly recycle the old pumpkins and squash.
Companion Cropping & Pumpkin Recycling
Beyond pumpkins, the farm raises pastured pigs that roam freely in pastures, supplementing their diet with fresh produce scraps from the farm. They also care for around 150 chickens, which live alongside the pigs and eat the food scraps that the pigs do not eat. Rich refers to keeping animals together like this as companion cropping, as the pigs and the chickens work together!
To learn more about the Little Green Wagon Farm, check out the virtual field trip video.
