Gene the Pumpkin Man

Mom and I went to her friend, Carol Rhodes's home in Kalamazoo. Carol's husband, Gene Rhodes, is known in the area as the "Pumpkin Man". In 2007, Carol wrote a children's book based on the pumpkin farm. It is called "Gene, the Pumpkin Man". It can be bought at Barnes N Noble, Ebay, and Amazon.com

The book is illustrated just like the actual farm. It cost about $7,000 for the illustration. I have always wanted to have a book published, and will be thinking about what I want to write about. It has to be about something that would be different and interest people.

Anyway, their farm was featured on HGTV's "Offbeat America" in 2006. The film crew, along with the host came to their home and spent 9 hours filming. I am trying to obtain a copy of the video. I was able to see Carol's copy, but I want one of my own.

Film crews from Detroit have also come to the farm.

Gene's pumpkin crop didn't do as well this year, so he had to buy a bunch from the Amish farmers. Last year, his crop did well, so he sold some to the Amish farmers. They help each other out each year.

He has had this farm for 51 years. Everything on the property is orange, including the wheel barrels, his Cadillac, his clothes, and socks.

Inside their home, everything is orange, too, from the tea kettle to the candy to the tiles on the floor. It is really neat to see.

There were alot of people at the farm on Saturday. Parents were all taking pictures of their little ones next to the pumpkins. It was really cute to see.

We had a good time at the pumpkin farm this weekend and hope to go again.