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Greater Victoria farms are ready for pumpkin season

A variety of different attractions at both farms will appeal to everyone
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Nicole and Arlo Verhagen from Michell’s farm, hold a pumpkin, on Oct. 10 (Tom Eley/News Staff)

Halloween is just a few weeks away and Galey Farms in Saanich will be ready to welcome people of all ages starting Oct. 13.

The farm at 4150 Blenkinsop Rd. will have a variety of attractions that will appeal to everyone, said Rob Galey.

“Only CarnEvil is to a level where it will scare you, and that is 13 plus,” he said.

There is a corn maze that is about 5,000 square feet and is the complete experience, with special effects lighting, animation and many actors, said Galey.

But for the next few weeks, it is Pumpkinfest, which is more family-friendly, that will be the main attraction, he said.

The best place to buy tickets for either Pumpkinfest or CarnEvil is at Galeyfarm.net.

According to Nicole Verhagen from Michell’s Farms on the Saanich Peninsula, the pumpkins have not suffered despite a dry summer.

It has been great for the pumpkins as they prefer the hot and dry weather and should last another six weeks, she said.

“They get a nice, hard shell if it is sunny, which means they should last.”

The farm grows a variety of pumpkins, she said, but the main ones are sweet and carving pumpkins.

The farm has been around since 1860 and welcomes families throughout Greater Victoria.

Brennan Crabb and his family try to come down once a year to get pumpkins, with three in their wheelbarrow this time around.

“We carve them but also roast the seeds,” he said.

They usually only get two, but this time, Charlotte, their daughter, got to pick out her pumpkin.

Andy Gallow and his family try to come down at least once a week during pumpkin season, as their son loves to carve pumpkins.

“He loves the pumpkins and the corn maze at the farm,” said Gallow.

Verhagen is part of an extended family tradition at the farm and is the sixth generation at the farm, and her son Arlo will be the seventh.

The planting of the pumpkins usually happens around spring, she said, and the crop will depend on whether or not they can get everything planted in time.

The farm usually moves over 900,000 pounds of pumpkins and does not include their u-pick patch, which sells more than 200,000 pounds.

Sean Michell-Jones, pumpkin slinger, said the 20 C-plus days over the spring and summer have resulted in an excellent harvest season.

For Galey, the attractions on the farm have been a great way for the community to connect with the farm and vice versa, he said.

“It helped the farm thrive.”