~~~Check out our FALL PHOTO GALLERY~~~

Hello and thank you for considering a trip to Holly Fork Pumpkin Patch~We would love to celebrate fall with your group…

 Holly Fork Pumpkin Patch in Barhamsville, Va.   We wanted to let you know that we would love to accommodate your school students,  youth group, homeschool group, senior group, daycare, special needs group, or any organization or group variety to visit our farm.  We truly have something for EVERYONE! 

Holly Fork Pumpkin Patch opens on The third Saturday in September @ 10:00 a.m.  We welcome all!

  The fee is $10.00 child/group member. The cost for chaperones is $5.00 each-  Each paid student receives a small pumpkin to take home (they may pick these from the patch), a hay ride, use of a tire straw-fun maze, play/game area, corn boxes, and includes an educational lesson.  

 You may choose a lesson about animal life/care - (We have chickens, pigs, horses, donkeys, sheep, and rabbits at the farm). 

 The other choice is about the life cycle of a pumpkin.

We offer a very family-friendly patch (no scary stuff).   There will be hay rides/trolley rides, a game area, a tire-fun maze area, pumpkins, homemade jams, sweet potatoes, mums, a large covered picnic area, and, of course, FUN!    Call, or email me today, so we can schedule your group. Our calendar fills quickly and we want to accommodate you and your group!

                        ~~~~ FUN FARM ADD ONS~~~~~~

 **Remember you can add the JUMP PAD for each group member at a discounted rate of 5.00 per jumper ** As long as your entire group participates the discount is offered. 

** add a bag of corn to toss to the chickens to any field trip package at a discounted price of .75 EACH- * As long as your entire group participates the discounted bag is offered. 

**Add on an ice cream treat from the ice cream shop**One Generous scoop of ice cream with sprinkles for a discounted price of 4.00 each***** This discount is only offered if the ENTIRE group participates. 

** Field trip group number must be 20 or more participants**

** Note field trip payments are accepted by business check or cash ** If you pay via credit card there will be a fee 5.00 % added - since the package is already at a discounted price we prefer not to incur credit card fees-Thank you!  

We are happy to invoice you as long as we know this ahead of time and it is APPROVED !!

* Your group will rotate through stations when you visit .. it will be fun and organized * we can provide you with a list of those stations upon your arrival   **Each station is approx.. 15 minutes  in length

We book trips Mid September through early November...

Happy Fall,  

Your Farmers Stephanie & Michael Ripchick

On your field trip to Holly Fork Farm you will receive ONE of the two educational lessons, pick pumpkins, take a hayride/trolley ride, visit the tire fun zone, visit our play area-this includes the well-coved corn sensory box, and explore all the things that fall has to offer!  Our patch includes a large, clean picnic area and handicap assessable portable restroom units for use, and sinks for handwashing. Helpful employees will be on-site during your visit and a certificate of insurance can also be provided to you as we are fully insured.   

• Educational lesson choice one will include information on the life cycle of a pumpkin.  Students will meet in our covered educational area with pumpkins/gourds/pumpkin vines, etc.. to view and discuss. They will be presented with the life cycle and it will include the stages-seed, sprout, plant, flower, green pumpkin, and finally, orange pumpkin.  The seeds will be on hand for students to explore, and pumpkins will be cut open we will discuss the parts of a pumpkin and that it has one of the longest growing seasons of any vegetable (120 days).  The blooms, vines, etc. will all also be on hand for students to explore and we will discuss the different types of pumpkins that we grow.  This station lasts approximately 15—20 minutes.. Students/chaperones/teachers may all ask questions at end of the lesson.   

                                                               OR

Educational lesson two will include animal adaptations of a chicken.  In this lesson, chickens will be at the farm/on-site.  The students will have the lesson by the coop and in the chicken area. The lesson will include much discussion that adaptation is the idea that animals/chickens have developed features to help them survive and thrive in the environment where they live.  For example, we will discuss the specific traits that help them survive in their environment.  One part of the discussion will be about chickens’ feet and which like the feet of other birds reveal much about their ecology and behavior.  They allow them to scratch, turn up leaves, and dirt and find bugs/seeds to eat.  Their feet along with strong flexor tendons in their legs, allow chickens to perch on roosts, a behavior that protects the birds from predators.  We will be able to look at these traits as the chickens that are on hand at the farm will display some of the behaviors which will be very helpful in the learning process.  There will be a discussion on weak and strong chickens and the pecking order of the hens. Another part of the discussion will be about a chicken’s beak and the highly efficient/lightweight digestive system that meets the needs of its high metabolism. Again, it will be very helpful to students that we have the chickens on hand so we can watch them peck, eat, etc. We will also stop by and have a small discussion about our pot-bellied pigs and rabbits too.. and explore how they live.  This station will last 15 – 18 minutes.

** comfortable clothes/shoes are strongly encouraged

**We encourage  & welcome questions on our field study/tour

**your lesson will be tailored to your groups' age level

** We also encourage you to bring a sharpie marker  for placing names on pumpkins and/or a  paper bag with the students name on it. This helps a lot when we go to pick in the pumpkin patch.  Our farm is not able to provide bags or sharpie markers.