Peter, Peter pumpkin reader

Sale of gourds at Arlington farm buys books for area children

By Theresa Goffredo

Herald Writer

ARLINGTON — You don’t get much for free these days. But at the Smokey Point Plant Farm’s pumpkin patch, you can get a hayride, a train ride and the chance to pet farm animals all at no charge.

If you want pumpkins for carving or cooking, however, you’ll have to pay. Just remember: You’re not really buying pumpkins. You’re buying books.

That’s because the money from each pumpkin you buy or each cup of hot cider you drink goes to buy books for elementary school kids.

The program is called Pumpkins for Literacy, and it’s operated by the Marysville Noon Rotary on a two-acre patch of land donated by the Smokey Point Plant Farm. Last year, Pumpkins for Literacy raised $12,000 for books.

The Pumpkins for Literacy program grew out of an idea Smokey Point Plant Farm owner Joel Hylback had in 1997 when he decided to grow a pumpkin patch and sell the pumpkins to raise money for a good cause. As a Rotarian, Hylback put that organization on the top of his list, knowing the club had an education foundation that gives scholarships to students.

To get there

The Pumpkins for Literacy Pumpkin Patch is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. this weekend and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. To get there, take Exit 206, then go west from I-5 and south on 27th Avenue NE. Turn left on 169th Place NE to Twin Lakes Avenue.

In 1999, the pumpkin program raised $6,000 for an adult literacy program at Liberty Elementary School in Marysville. Last year, the proceeds bought books for elementary kids in Lakewood and Marysville, and this year the money raised is also earmarked for elementary kids.

"I like kids," Hylback said. "And any thoughts I have for donating or helping, I typically go toward the children. And I saw something that could be done that would provide a good quality event that families could have fun at, and I saw it as a good opportunity for the community."

The community has been coming to the patch in droves. Some days, up to 300 kids are crawling over the place looking for the perfect pumpkin.

The pumpkin patch is a favorite field-trip spot where teachers take their students. Students who are part of a field trip pay $3 to get in and get to enjoy the rides and the petting zoo and take home whatever pumpkin they can pack out of the field. The fee is waived for students unable to pay.

If you’re not part of school field trip, entering the pumpkin patch is free. But Hylback wants to encourage patrons to the patch to leave with a big, orange gourd.

"The biggest message is what we’re trying to do with the proceeds, and we want to let people know all the proceeds go to buy books," Hylback said. "We’re wanting to see this grow."

You can call Herald Writer Theresa Goffredo at 425-339-3097

or send e-mail to goffredo@heraldnet.com.

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