This year’s pumpkin crop has been in the news quite a bit lately. Even the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. noticed, and on October 1st, had this to say: “The drought has also hurt growers in western New York, and as much as half of Michigan’s crop has been lost because of hot, dry weather in the north, Michigan State University extension educator Ron Goldy estimates. Heavy rain that left standing water in southern Michigan fields caused much of the crop to rot, a problem Goldy said also affected parts of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.”
This weekend Mary and I headed to the Trabbic Farm Pumpkin Patch, just east of Dixie Highway on Sterns Rd. in Erie, to see what was up. The sign in this picture is located in the northeast part of that intersection, so the pumpkin patch itself becomes that much easier to locate.
What we found was a literal sea of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. I was going to ask Sharon Trabbic if these were all from their own farm, but they weren’t available when we were there. Still, with the number of pumpkins there … I’m thinking those would have been difficult to ship in and still be as fresh as they are.
If you go to Trabbic’s (and we recommend you do), there’s quite a bit going on. Most of it’s geared towards kids, such as the petting zoo and pony rides, fence and corn mazes, and the 3-car pumpkin train with the rotating pumkin-shaped cars.
Pumpkins for sale are sorted by size and price, from tiny decorative ones, through pie pumpkins, and the more popular size seen at the start of this post. The largest pumpkins have been saved in a place for a wonderful photo op with, say, a gorgeous human model.
In one of the buildings on the property is a store filled with all kinds of things — coloring books, pumpkin carving tools, decorative items and crafts, and a wonderful assortment of food items. Donuts are made fresh in the morning, handmade pies with Trabbic labels are laid out for sale, there’s an active popcorn machine in the corner … and next to the popcorn machine is a slushie machine loaded with apple cider. On a hot humid day like the ones we had this weekend, an apple cider slushie really hits the spot! In one of the corners, an active bee colony builds and maintains hives in a glass enclosure, a clear tube going through the wall showing who’s leaving and who’s coming in.
Next to the bee hive, I found this jar of Creamed Honey from J&D Honeybees in Concord, Michigan. I absolutely love creamed honey! No, creamed honey doesn’t contain any cream. It’s whipped in such a way that it crystalizes and becomes granulated. I’ve had the J&D brand many times over the years. I just spread it on toast for an amazing snack.
The other snack shown here is some of Michaelene’s Gourmet Granola, from up in Clarkston, Michigan. Trabbic’s stocks quite a few varieties of Michaelene’s granola. This bag is their Simply Sunny & Honey, with toasted sunflower seeds, wildflower honey and brown sugar. It’s not as dense as a lot of granolas, having a very pleasant lightness and sweetness to it.
Of course, us two kids had to play for a bit …
With all the stuff we picked up at Trabbic’s today, Mary was able to create an outdoor fall display outside the house in no time. If you’re into fall, decorations, great food and great times, get to the Trabbic Farm Pumpkin Patch while the gettin’s good!
Looks like a fun w/e trip! Great photos, too.
To Mary(wife of LunaPierCook)nice display! very festive! I think we will have to check out Trabbics!
I love taking the kids to Trabbic farm. Mary, your display is lovely. I wish I had the time to even put up my Halloween decorations.
Creamed honey? Now THAT would be a project — best left to the professionals, though, and it looks like the folks at J & D know what’s what.
I’m glad that my post gave you a craving for apple butter! I’ve never made it before, but it came off beautifully (just two little arm burns! Not bad). I actually made two batches, two different ways (all part of the fun of trying to recreate something that would have been made on a farmstead around the turn of the last century), and will post the results tomorrow, so do check back!
Well, daggnabbit Nora! I plum forgot the apple butter! Good thing the place is only about six miles away …
So, I guess the real question for you is, what are you going to do after your specified year of cooking is up? The CBC reported yesterday Personal Chefs are getting $15 – $20 per person/per meal. Maybe hire one and report for a year on what they feed you?
Where exactly is this farm located? I think my kids would enjoy it!
-Shawna
Shawna, you had me wondering if I hadn’t included directions!
They’re just east of Dixie Highway on Sterns Rd. in Erie. I know, I know, the pics in this post are such a distraction, aren’t they … 
It’s between Detroit and Suder on Sterns (closer to Detroit Ave.) If you drive up Detroit from Toledo, there is a light at Sterms and there are signs for the farm. Take a right onto Sterms and it comes up on the left.
I love taking my nieces and my daughter to the Trabbic Farm. It is the highlight of our fall and they bug me from the moment pumpkins start coming around to go. Also, I love their frozen apple cider slush. Yummy!!!!!
Thanks for all the great pictures and the information. My mothers group is going soon and now I am excited about taking my kids there.
Kristen, I’m kinda new to the area myself. Having grown up in the Flint area we had pumpkin farms that just had … pumpkins. We’d have been more excited if we’d have had something like Trabbic’s.
Lisa, Mary’s taking all of her high-schoolers later this month. 11th & 12th grade girls … not so sure I want to chaperone that trip!
Your farm is womderful my family and i have been comming their ever since my daughter has been born and it is a tradition now . my daughter is now ten. i have tried your pumpkin seeds for the first time last week they are wonderful . i have tried everything to make them the same way i was wondering if you could give me a hint on how you do them? i bought 7 big pumpkins from you and i am down to two. hopefully you can give me a suggestion before i screw up my last two. thank you for a good ten years.
Hi Nicole … I think you misunderstood! Mary and I aren’t affiliated with Trabbic’s at all, we only visited the farm this year. They don’t have a web site yet, but I believe they’re considering it. Meanwhile, you could give them a call and ask them about their seeds. There’s also a procedure for it on this page. Hope they taste tasty!
Hi! We have gone to Trabbics the last 2 years and had a great time with the kids! We want to go back this year but can’t find any info. on it. Does anyone know when they’re opening, the hours, etc.?
Thanks,
Jen
@Jen, we’re heading out of town within the hour. I think when we get back, I’ll head down there (it’s a 5-mile drive), grab some info and do a new post on this-year’s upcoming happenings. Stay tuned!
I hope you get some info. My little one saw pumpkins today in Ciolino’s and ask when we can go to the pumpkin patch. We always go to Trabbic’s farm.
I suggested to my sisters that we go to trabbic’s with our kids. However my one sister (who is really set in her ways)
said thats fine but not trabbic’s! she said they are (get this)
TOO RELIGIOUS! and they “push their political views”
I was very surprised to hear her say this. ( mostly that she would somehow have a problem with religion, we are Catholic) So just to keep things on even keel I said ok lets go to BJ’s instead. I can’t help but wonder though is my sister
right on or totally off base here? I mean I haven’t ever heard
ANYONE ever say anything bad about this place before. It’s
a PUMPKIN PATCH for crying out loud. If it were not for me wanting a great photo op with my nieces and nephews, I may
have said somthing to her I may regret later. Besides its a
pumpkin patch. Or is it?
Your sister is, in fact, correct. We enjoy it there though, and try to look past this part. I think that’s what most people do since Trabbic’s is such a nice place.
We were just at Trabbic Farm and I wanted to comment on the religious part for anyone who was concerned.
There are about 4 or 5 huge signs (10-15 ft long) around the property that say things like “Jesus I trust you” or something to that effect (I can’t remember the wording exactly). The signs are posted on the barn, on a couple of hay bale displays and a few buildings.
That was up last year, but I think this year is the first year they’ve added anti-abortion signs as well. They are a little smaller but unmissable (5-6 feet long?). Things like “Every life has a right – stop abortions” with a picture of a (healthy) baby. Again, something to that effect, I can’t remember the wording. There’s also a big carved pumpkin in a display that has an anti-abortion message as well.
There were Christian and Catholic brochures for sale in the gift shop.
As for politics, I didn’t see anything but a small McCain- Palin yard sign by the fence as I was leaving.
There you have it! Be forewarned if you’re sensitive.
I just went to visit Trabbic Farm today. My 4 year old daughter went on a field trip. Almost all parents came. The cost per person was $5.50. For all that we eat popcorn, got a donut and apple cider. Got to pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch which we reached by being pulled on a hay wagon. There was so much to do. They even had a big warm fire pit which anyone could add wood to to deep it going.
I had so much fun, and would like to got back, maybe even this year.
We love it there, mainly because it is a wonderful farm and great for the kids, and love that they aren’t afraid in today’s political climate to show they are Christians. Why should someone hide their views when Christ died on the cross for all of us? Who should be offended by Christ, or anyone who promotes Him? I wouldn’t want to be that person at the bema seat.
I’m relatively new to the area but have been going to Trabbic Farm for the past 3 years. I intend to take my sons again next weekend. Yes, the Trabbics have religious and somewhat political messages (anti abortion). But it’s on their personal property. And they have the consitutional right to freedom of expression. (It’s not only for the left wingers, contrary to popular belief!)
I think it’s wonderful that they proudly proclaim their Christian beliefs. It takes courage in this day and age of attacks on Christianity.
If you don’t like it, simply- GO ELSEWHERE!