Note: This is a continuation of Adventures in Pumpkin Patching. If you missed the first part, click here to read it.
On my first day working at Country Harvest Pumpkin Patch, I was taught the basics of pumpkin patch employment.
At Country Harvest, there are six attractions that families can enjoy while waiting for the next hayrack ride to the patch.
Training consisted of going from attraction to attraction and learning the do’s and don’ts of them.
The first attraction, I was trained to manage was the big trikes. At the patch, there is a dirt track that customers can ride adult trikes on.
For this attraction I was told to make sure riders don’t run into each other and to help younger kids with adjusting their seats and helping them up the little hills. The trikes are very fragile and if people run into each other too much the chain may come disengaged. In the event that this happens, I am supposed to lift the left tire and wiggle the pedal until the chain reengages.
After being trained on how to run the big trikes, I was instructed on how to work the mini-golf course. The mini-golf course at Country Harvest is not your typical mini-golf set up. Instead of clubs, customers use croquet mallets and billiard balls.
My job while running the mini-golf course is to make sure people don’t cause harm to any of the decorations lining the holes. I’m also supposed to hand out the mallets and balls to the golfers.
Another attraction I was taught how to operate was the “merry-go-round.” The owner of the pumpkin patch converted an old horse walker into a merry-go-round. He did this by chaining used tires that were crafted to look like horses to the walker and wiring it up to a switch.
All I have to do while working this attraction is help little kids mount their rubber horse and flip a switch. It’s pretty simple stuff.
The next stop on my training was the two jump pillows. For the uninformed, a jump pillow is pretty much a bounce house minus the walls.
My objective when working the jump pillows is to make sure no one gets hurt so that Country Harvest doesn’t get sued. I do this by yelling at people to not do flips or cartwheels.
I also make sure people are getting on the appropriate jump pillow. One pillow is for people taller than 4 feet and the other is for people who are shorter than 4 feet.
My last bit of training was on the zip line. It is probably my favorite attraction to run.
The zip line requires two people to operate. One person is located at the top of the zip line and the other is at the bottom.
The person at the top is tasked with helping children get into the chair and making sure the safety bar is secure and braking properly.
The unlucky person at the bottom is required to grab the chain of the chair as it reaches the bottom and stop it.
After going through all this training I was ready to tackle my first day.
My boss had me stationed at the top of the zip line for the majority of the day. Working the zip line is probably the least boring, due to the amount of movement and focus required to operate it.
On my first day working the zip line, I messed up my first couple of runs. I would brake too much or too little and the person at the bottom would not be too happy with me.
After an hour or so, I got the hang of it and was running the zip line like a pro.
Working at a pumpkin patch is such a great experience. I’ve learned a lot and had a lot of fun doing it.
