Hi, I’m Lisa and I run The Pumpkin Patch!
As a mother to five enthusiastic young cooks (three girls and two boys – equally as enthusiastic!) I thought it would be great idea to share the cookery experience with other local children.
As I watched my own children picking blackberries and apples in late Summer and Autumn, and then help me produce jams and jellies with enthusiasm … The Pumpkin Patch was born!
The Pumpkin Patch is a kitchen and garden school that links the growing and cooking of our food, bringing a real understanding of where the food comes from and what we can do with it.
Learning the basic skills of growing vegetables and cooking traditional wholesome food is a great start in life – one that is rarely passed on since families have become busier and the extended family are not always at hand to help.
Why Pumpkins? Because I just love them – the colour, shape, size and texture of the big friendly pumpkin.
I love to plant them and watch them grow – twisting and climbing, transforming the veg patch into an amazing, enchanted and beautiful lush garden. I thought that if I love them so much, then kids must love them too, not just the big ones but the strange and weird squashes, that make the most fantastic soups! Just wait and see!!
As a qualified teacher, an enthusiastic cook, gardener and an experienced mother, I love the opportunity of being able to share these skills with some willing and keen young cooks and gardeners! Hopefully in years to come they too will find delight and relaxation, enjoyment and excitement in the kitchen and garden.
Two years on….
The Pumpkin Patch was well received by many parents in the area and classes were soon filled. Within weeks I introduced an additional class to cater for the overflow! This was a sure sign that parents thought cookery and gardening were important life skills for their children to learn. As the children I taught got older and their ability and confidence in the kitchen increased, they became The Pumpkin Patch – Teens. We now have three weekly classes, two for the 8+ and one for secondary age.
Pumpkin Patch – Adults
Parents had always thought that they were missing out! They read each weekly recipe sheet with enthusiasm and began asking for adult classes … the seed was sown! It took two years for The Pumpkin Patch to finally offer bespoke adult classes for groups of up to 12 friends. The classes can be tailored to suit the group, but the general themes are Bread Making, Fuss Free Super Party! Cup Cakes and Tray Bakes, Soups and Starters, and The Italian Feast.
Groups and Organisations
As groups and organisation got to hear about the Pumpkin Patch, we started working for Communities First, Carmarthenshire County Council and Carmarthenshire Youth and Children’s Association (CYCA) offering cookery workshops within schools and community events. We now work regularly with them teaching both adults and children about healthy eating and how to eat well on a budget.
It’s been exciting to work with a number of Urdd groups (the Welsh youth organisation) during their after school activities. Some groups visit me here at my home whilst other times I travel to them. We’ve had some fun bonfire parties and barbecues as well as the more usual cookery parties!
Food Festivals and Events
The Pumpkin Patch is now an experienced traveller and frequently attends Food Festivals and community events around the county, offering children’s activities and workshops and demonstrations. Healthy eating is always high on our agenda, but our aim is to have fun in the kitchen whilst passing on important skills in a safe and happy environment. Although we can’t take the veg patches with us, we always talk about the food we cook and about where it comes from and how it’s good for us, which is an important part of The Pumpkin Patch Workshops.
Television and Radio
During the past year it’s been an exiting opportunity for me to cook on S4C’s live daytime programme Wedi 3. This is great fun and gives me an opportunity to spread the importance of cooking with children and using seasonal produce in a fun and wholesome way.
What’s next?
We’ll keep doing what we do best and the rest … you’ll have to wait and see!
