The small New England town of Cohasset, MA had something unexpected happen. A little idea about selling pumpkins way back in 2003 morphed into an event which has served a non-profit, inspired artistic endeavors and created community involvement ever since – continuing now for 23 years!
The Cohasset Chapter of the Appalachia Service Project (CASP) was founded in 1989 by the Reverend Gary Ritts and his wife Judy. Teens and adults traveled to some of the poorest rural counties in the country to help repair family homes and experience relationships there. Money is needed for the trip and supplies so one year a fundraising idea was proposed: the sale of pumpkins in October.
This would not be simply pumpkins tossed into a field to pick up and buy. Rather, there was a creative aspect that led to its success year after year. Phil Lehr & David Bigley began by laying out a pumpkin patch design on the ground. Teens and adult volunteers helped to unload an 18 wheeler delivery of pumpkins from New Mexico, where the farmer supplies non-profits with a “handshake” (on consignment) and the honor system. Being a pilot and aerial photographer, I would then fly over the field to photograph the pattern, revealing the design not seen from the ground.
Ever since that first year of the pumpkin patch, creative ideas for new designs sprang forth! A new design was produced every year with the accompanying aerial photograph. The designer, Phil Lehr (often with the help of daughter Samantha) would create the design, keeping it a secret even from me, until I flew overhead to photograph it!
There was always something fun about the patch that made buying a pumpkin an adventure, a place to be… be it a family photo shoot, a high school picture or even as there was on one occasion, a marriage proposal! At the end of October any left over pumpkins went to compost or to feed farm animals. Each purchase was supporting the nonprofit Cohasset Appalachia Service Project and their program of service.
Here I present to you the 2025 Pumpkin Patch design!