33 replies to this topic

[POConnor]

If you buy a pumpkin from the supermarket you can be certain that it was not picked the day before you bought it. Zittels gets pumpkins that are fresh picked from local growers. I'm all about spending a buck or 2 more to support the local community.

[Darthvader]

If you buy a pumpkin from the supermarket you can be certain that it was not picked the day before you bought it. Zittels gets pumpkins that are fresh picked from local growers. I'm all about spending a buck or 2 more to support the local community.

Hmmm..and a pumkin lasts, what, 4 weeks or more after it's been picked? If you don't carve them they won't rot overnight. And last time I checked Raley's was in the community and actually had people from Folsom working there.

[4thgenFolsomite]

If you buy a pumpkin from the supermarket you can be certain that it was not picked the day before you bought it. Zittels gets pumpkins that are fresh picked from local growers. I'm all about spending a buck or 2 more to support the local community.

me too. plus its more fun and they have a better selection. The Zittels have long been very solid members of our community and for years opened their place up to the gourd festival. its been a famous folsom draw. It was only moved away from their site when it got too big for them. The Zittels are really nice people and an asset to the community. I hope they recover quickly, without a lot of permitting hassles and build a beautiful old-style wood barn again. Sorry to hear about their animals that perished in the fire. That's sad.

[supermom]

I stand corrected it's not just the News10 people that are being jerks.
To say your post is repulsive would be an understatement. Posting something like you posted above, your "speculation" really should have been kept to yourself

Well, sorry if you think my post was repulsive. Maybe I'm just having a rather cynical day. Honestly, actually, there is nothing good about today, in the news.

I suppose I could have "couched" my cynical and rather hasty thoughts a bit nicer.

But I do feel for the owners-insurance, I am sure, will be a difficult issue. Aren't they licensed for pony rides for kids, there?

[POConnor]

Today is a rough day all around.

[4thgenFolsomite]

I am going to make a point of buying extra pumpkins this year from the Zittels!! Anything to give them support!!!

[kaybird]

I am going to make a point of buying extra pumpkins this year from the Zittels!! Anything to give them support!!!

We've gotten our pumpkins there the last few years and will certainly be back this year. My kids look forward to it. Why would I want to buy pumpkins at the grocery store? To save a few dimes?

I'm happy to support a local business and hope that the Zittels rebound from this.

[sunnyCA]

So sad to hear this on the news this morning. The Zittel family is wonderful! They have provided an amazing experience to thousands of local school children each year on field trips. Saying many prayers for them...

[MrsTuffPaws]

I drove by the farm today to take a look. Yes, the barn in back is burnt, but there looks to be not much other damage. The building where they sell pumpkins/ect. is still in tact. And, the white donkey (and 2 cows) were grazing peacefully in the yard. The caretakers apparently have nowhere to live now, but I think the family and farm will survive as well as they were before the fire.

I too am happy to spend a buck or so more to buy locally. Hunting for a pumpkin at Zittel's farm is far more rewarding than doing the same at Safeway. Also, I still can't get over that they don't sell gourds anymore. I saw some growing as I drove past today. Sure, the last few weeks I've noticed that they didn't have their gourd bins out, but I figured they were stocking up for the festival. There is no way that its been a year since they've been selling dried gourds. I guess I'm just in denial.

[Andrea V]

http://www.news10.ne...p...563&catid=2
I'm a little irritated about this story, doesn't tell the whole thing...

And look as the a-holes comments on the bottom....(for the record I'm indygirl).
Sheesh, some people are just born jerks.

The story is a bit different now.... and so are the comments!

[MikeinFolsom]

On the positive side....it is kind of nice that Folsom still is a small enough town that when something like this happens, everyone feels a little concerned. I don't know of the Zittels personally, but my kids have been going on hay rides there for several years now. They run a pretty decent operation there, and it has become a family tradition to bring the kids there and grab some pumpkins.

It must suck to live in a bigger city where you have no concern for your neighbors and such. Too bad.

[POConnor]

I spoke to Kent Zittel this morning. The cause of the fire was that the transformer above the barn blew and sparked the flames. SMUD is paying to repair/replace everything. The animals that perished were bunnies. The caretakers who lived in the barn have lost everything, but friends have been donating clothes and household items.

Just thought I'd give you all the update.

[Bill Z]

That barn was an eye sore.

I always feel sorry for that donkey......

And in todays financial climate and the rumors that have been circulating about that farm....My first thought about that fire was: cogs.

But I wouldn't wish a fire on anyone's home or property and I hope it was not what it sounds like.

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I always liked seeing that little piece of antiquity when I drove by it.
It always cracks me up when people talk about the beauty of a cities skyline, to me that is a blight on the countryside. I much rather look at the Crystal Range than at the City of Sacramento's skyline. Old barns with old rusty farm tools hanging on them is a thing of beauty.

[Dave Burrell]

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I always liked seeing that little piece of antiquity when I drove by it.
It always cracks me up when people talk about the beauty of a cities skyline, to me that is a blight on the countryside. I much rather look at the Crystal Range than at the City of Sacramento's skyline. Old barns with old rusty farm tools hanging on them is a thing of beauty.

I thought it was really great to always see that barn in our city - it represented what Folsom used to be and I like the country outdoor feel that the barn gave to us.

I'm with you - I much prefer the beauty of the outdoors, the mighty oaks and hills and old farms and barns, that's what true Americana used to be all about

City skylines do not look beautiful to me either, I prefer open fields and trees to buildings smashed next to one another but hey - to each their own as they say.

I am glad to hear the Zittel Family will be able to recover the repair costs from SMUD and I'm glad SMUD was immediately forth coming about covering the costs that resulted from their failed equipment.

To help out the Zittel family - be sure to come out to the Gourd Fest later this month and patronize their booth and maybe buy a a gourd or three - they're fun to craft and would make a neat addition to halloween pumpkins

[kaybird]

To help out the Zittel family - be sure to come out to the Gourd Fest later this month and patronize their booth and maybe buy a a gourd or three - they're fun to craft and would make a neat addition to halloween pumpkins

One year my husband and I attended a family reunion right before Halloween. We went to Zittels, bought about a dozen gourds which we turned into Jack-O-Lanterns. We cut faces out, dyed the gourds orange/red with leather dye and filled them with Halloween treats for the families. They were a huge hit, and all the families still display them on Halloween.

Maybe this is a good reason to get another dozen gourds and do it again.