Autumn Prairie Pumpkins

Autumn Prairie Pumpkins

September 2, 2026 | Member features

Though growing and seed saving came first, Autumn Prairie Pumpkins LLC started in Newton, Kansas, by the Snow family in 2025. This little backyard micro-farm grows 30+ heirloom and hybrid pumpkins, along with Cucurbita moschata (winter) squash.

“My day job is information security, so my working life is screens and incidents, and the garden is the opposite of that. Dirt, patience, and problems that cannot be solved by typing faster,” Christopher Snow says. “We also offer coffee we hand-pack in Newton, cold-processed soap, and fresh-baked goods at the farmer’s market. Seeds, coffee, and soap all ship nationwide,” says Christopher.

Trying to keep the business as local as possible, Autumn Prairie Pumpkins partner with a local bean roaster called Harvest. The business also makes cold-processed soap that comes in many different scents, like pumpkin spice, lavender lemongrass, oatmeal milk, and honey depending on the season. Christopher and his wife, Maggie, also use many of their products in their home and garden, showcasing the quality and dependability of their products.

The company is a human-first company, meaning real hands touch the seeds, real soil is dug through, and real people are on both ends of the envelope. Christopher says, “The best part is getting a message from someone in another state whose pumpkins finally beat the insects.” Autumn Prairie Pumpkins chooses its seeds carefully to ensure the highest quality.

At their farm, they practice permaculture principles to grow heirloom seeds without additives. They implement companion planting, which uses plant pairings that naturally deter pests, increase pollination, and create healthier soil. In the off season, they plant cover crops to create healthier soil and prevent erosion. Lastly, they try to mitigate the number of pests by keeping the heirlooms planted diversely and releasing beneficial insects.

Autumn Prairie Pumpkins is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. This means that their patch is used for human consumption while also encouraging wildlife to use it as shelter.

They can also be found at the Newton Farmers Market and on their website https://autumnprairiepumpkins.com/ where you can place product orders and learn more about their story. Look out for their upcoming cookbook, The Pumpkin Bakery: Farmhouse Recipes for Market Mornings from the Kansas Plains, which releases on September 1. It will include 40 recipes based on the pie pumpkins they grow.

 

Written by Ainsley Pecenka (From the Land of Kansas Intern)

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