Mellano Farm Stand, Oceanside
High on top of a hill sits a tiny farm stand amid fields of corn, pumpkins and brilliant flowers. This is the Mellano Farm Stand off Highway 76 in Oceanside. Farm stand manager Delila Wiedenhhoffer and I sat gazing at the fields of corn, pumpkins and flowers that will delight all visitors to the farm.
Delila shared a new feature this year, a marigold and zinnia U-pick field. Customers purchase a flower bucket and can borrow clippers to fill their pails with their favorite flowers.
“This might be the first time many customers have been in a flower field before, and the joy of picking your own flowers is an exciting new adventure,” she said. “Of course, most people come for the pumpkins, which are U-Pick as well and just a tractor-ride away from the parking lot.”
She added: “The quarter-acre corn maze is fun for the whole family, and challenges everyone’s sense of direction.”
The Pumpkin and Marigold Harvest Festival is open and runs every weekend through Nov. 1. Call 760-517-8383 for directions and pricing for individual events and farm classes.
The Mellano Farm Stand is located at 5714 N. River Road in Oceanside and is open weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Weekend food trucks provide a wide selection of homemade goods, beer and wine.
Bates Nut Farm, Valley Center
This historic farm has been in the Bates family for over 90 years, starting out as the premier grower of walnuts for the region and beyond. Although the family no longer maintains the walnut groves, the farm is bustling with activities every day.
The trip to Valley Center not only provides a chance to purchase pumpkins and a wide variety of nuts and sweet treats, but plenty of educational activities are available as well.
This year, activities for children and adults include two classes, “The Life of a Pumpkin,” and “Nuts for You,” which take place on the weekends with free registration. Call 760-749-3333 for directions, free educational activities and fees for tours.
If your family loves animals, children and adults both will love to interact with farm animals in the petting zoo. Goats, sheep, alpaca, emu, pigs and donkeys are child-friendly, as well as a learning experience for city slickers!
Bates Nut Farm is at 15954 Woods Valley Road in Valley Center.
Carlsbad Strawberry Company Pumpkin Patch
The Carlsbad Pumpkin Patch has always been a sure sign of fall as the pumpkins emerge from the fields, as seen off Interstate 5 in Carlsbad.
The daily activities include tractor rides to the pumpkin field, a trip through the quarter-acre corn maze and a children’s petting zoo to introduce kids to farm animals. There many perfect setups for photo shoots and family pictures.
The favorite annual activity for adults is a weekend trip to the Haunted Corn Maze. Volunteers do their best to scare any grown-up, with a finale ending at the Spirit Room with grown-up party fun.
A new addition to the family corn maze is “Jurassic Park Animated Dinosaurs,” which will scare the youngsters just enough for a good laugh.
The Carlsbad Strawberry Company is at 1050 Cannon Road in Carlsbad. Call 760-603-9608 for directions and activity pricing. Open every day, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and weekend evenings, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Visit them on Facebook for special activities and more information.
Jano Nightingale is a Master Gardener and horticulturist who teaches gardening in Carlsbad. Contact her at [email protected].
