October launched into South Valley this year bringing with it the mother of all Indian summers. The first days produced August-like temperatures, and nobody around here was talking about frost on the pumpkin!
In 1965, when I moved to the Bay Area, I knew little about this countryside south of San Jose; it was simply a section we drove through going to Los Angeles on our young, adventurous road trips. Little did I know I’d live a large portion of my life here.
In the early 1970s I made my first visit to southern Santa Clara County. One of my work friends had a gathering at his family’s home in Morgan Hill, which was situated on several acres. It was then I realized how lovely the area was.
Later that day, thanks to my non-existent sense of direction (and my friend’s father’s homemade wine), I drove several miles feeling completely lost, unable to find the highway back to my apartment in Sunnyvale.
I was enchanted by the quiet farms and peaceful hillsides on that late afternoon so long ago. In Sunnyvale we still enjoyed acres of beautiful fruit orchards, but it was in Morgan Hill that I found a purely beautiful country environment. Away from the hustle and bustle of what would soon enough be busy Silicon Valley, Morgan Hill’s serene landscape remained in my memory for years.
I’m glad it did because in 1983, Morgan Hill became our home. We raised our two daughters here and they, in turn, returned to Morgan Hill and are raising their children here, too.
As my grandbabies grew into toddlers, one of the early traditions we adopted was meeting in the fall at one of the local pumpkin farms that South Valley enjoys in abundance. Photo ops are plentiful as pumpkins at these colorful locales, and there’s nothing like launching the holiday season with a fun afternoon visit to the pumpkin patch.
Those bright orange globes are hard to miss from the roadside, and every fall they beckon a visit. When I first took my granddaughters to play amongst the pumpkins, they burst out of the car and ran joyfully into the thick of it. I barely kept up with them.
Soon, two little grandsons came along, and my daughters and I continued our tradition at the South Valley farms so all four little ones could enjoy those pumpkins that are such an iconic part of fall and Halloween. I, of course, enjoy taking scores of pictures to add to the annual photo calendars I produce for everyone at Christmas—another Hammond family tradition.
If you haven’t visited one of our great South Valley pumpkin patches in a while, here’s some info to get you started. There’s fun waiting close to you wherever you live in the South Valley. Some big and grandiose, some smaller and more intimate, you’ll discover fall in colorful autumn abandon at these wonderful farms.
In Hollister, check out corn mazes and other ghostly pursuits at Swank Farms, 2600 San Felipe Road. Call them at (831) 637-4704 or click on their website at swankfarms.com/index.php.
In San Martin, Uesugi Farms is the familiar giant pumpkin field on the west side of Monterey Road between Morgan Hill and Gilroy. Train rides, hayrides and more are waiting for you in the giant pumpkin field at 14485 Monterey Road. Contact them at (408) 778-7225 or visit uesugifarms.com/.
Technically in south San Jose but close to northern Morgan Hill you’ll find Spina Farms at the intersection of Santa Teresa Boulevard and Bailey Avenue. In October, Spina Farms offers hayrides, train rides and a petting zoo—irresistible for kiddos. Reach them at (408) 463-0125 or check out spinafarmspumpkinpatch.com/index.html .
For a small, friendly venue with tons of photo ops, visit LJB Farms in San Martin. Located off Santa Teresa between Morgan Hill and Gilroy, at 585 Fitzgerald, call them at (408) 842-9755 or visit ljbfarms.com/.
Our quiet farms come alive in the autumn, so visit them soon. It’s when South Valley’s small farms shine!
