A pumpkin patch that pays the mortgage

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Bonnyville, Alta. (Rural Roots Canada) — What started as a small passion project has grown into one of the biggest attractions—and revenue generators—at Charlotte Lake Farms.

Known for its farm-fresh beef and participation in Alberta Open Farm Days, the family-run farm has transformed its pumpkin patch into a thriving fall destination. Since launching the project in 2020, Guy and Leona Bonneau have expanded production to approximately 3,000 pumpkins each season, offering more than 50 edible and decorative varieties for visitors to pick.

“It turned into an addiction,” says Leona. “While online, I’d see all these different varieties and thought it would be cool to try growing them,” she says. After this, she began experimenting to determine which would be most popular in the community.

The pumpkin patch is open to the public for four weeks each September and features a family-friendly u-pick experience, complete with a bale maze for the younger attendees. The event extends the farm’s busy season beyond summer and draws roughly 2,000 visitors from the local community and surrounding areas each year.

Now entering its sixth season, the pumpkin patch has become much more than a fall attraction. The Bonneaus say it’s not only a fun project but has helped them to pay off their mortgage.

Beyond the financial benefits, the Bonneaus say the event has strengthened connections with the community while introducing visitors to other aspects of the farm. People come for the day, fill their baskets or wagons with pumpkins, visit the cows, and enjoy the farm.

“We get people coming in who say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you sold beef, ‘ or ‘I didn’t know you sold pumpkins,” says Guy.

Leona says that diversification on the farm has become increasingly important as farmers face unpredictable weather and fluctuating income. She believes that many businesses and farms, including their own, are inventing new strategies, such as the pumpkin patch, to succeed.

“To be able to change and try to survive on the farm is the biggest thing,” she says.

After the fall season wraps up, nothing goes to waste. Leftover pumpkins are broken up with a tractor and fed to the farm’s cattle. The Bonneaus say the pumpkin seeds also act as a natural dewormer.

Looking ahead, the family hopes to continue balancing long-standing farming traditions with new growth opportunities. Leona plans to keep experimenting with new pumpkin varieties and growing techniques, giving returning visitors something new to discover each fall.

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