Workamping at a Pumpkin Lot: Week 1

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This will be our first time managing a pumpkin and Christmas tree lot!  We found out about this particular company operated just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, from a great couple we met a few summers ago.  They worked with the owner (who has been at it for almost 40 years) and really had an enjoyable experience.

Although we weren’t aware of it when we initially contacted the business, ads for these lot positions run in  Workamper News regularly. This year, there are three separate lots located in and northeast of Memphis.  Our particular lot is located in the outskirts of town.

Levi and I decided to do a little snippet of our experience, on a week by week basis, for those considering this as a possible workamping job!  Each weekly entry will include an episode Levi has cleverly named “The Pumpkin Patch Before Christmas” along with my mundane daily journal entries.  Without further ado…

Week 1: 9/17/18 to 9/23/18

Monday: We crossed the border from Arkansas into Tennessee on the I-40 and were amazed at the sight of the Mighty Mississippi River crossing over the bridge.  More spectacular, we thought, was the Bass Pro Shop pyramid structure to our left.  This undoubtedly topped them all.  It reminded us of the Luxor in Vegas and we agreed to visit it later.

We made arrangements to meet up with the owner and he showed us to our lot for the next three months.  We parked, put out the levelers and hooked up to electricity, happy to give the generator a rest as it was in the sweltering 90s and the A/C was running nonstop. After set up, we took the owner’s advice and spent the rest of the day doing a little sightseeing, an early dinner at Central BBQ and a quick jaunt downtown on Beale Street!

Tuesday: Early the next morning a crew showed up to set up the giant tent that would house our pumpkins and trees.  The guys were quick and within an hour had erected a massive red and white stripped structure just a few yards from our tiny rig.

We used the remainder of the day to do a bit more touristy stuff and visited the Bass Pro Shop.  Wow!  There are a few restaurants, a hotel, a man-made swamp scene and a couple of aquariums aside from the store. We ate at the restaurant on the first floor and tried alligator tacos for the first time. Apparently the meat is from the tail. It tastes like chicken.

Wednesday: No stay in  Memphis would be complete without a trip to Graceland. We spent almost the entire day there.  It’s a Disneyland for Elvis fans! We were trying to get major site seeing out of the way.  Groceries and laundry completed the day.  Even though we are situated in a field the size of a block, we are minutes away from all kinds of businesses.

Thursday: Set-up began today.  We helped set up the office areas and displays/photo booths for our location and another just down the road.  The owner treated the lot managers to a buffet that night.

Friday: There was a  little more set-up today with additional booths and light stand preparation.  We helped out the third lot with their set-up and they kindly treated us to lunch.  I could get used to this!

Saturday:  A crew of guys came to our lot in the AM and set up light stands, lights, and streamers.  Levi and I did a little bit later replacing light bulbs and figuring out our own music set-up.  We were hooked up to water, too!  We got a little reprieve today with the weather.   It dipped down to the 70s and rained a bit.

Sunday:  The owner dropped off signs which we all helped anchor to the tent.  Afterwards Levi and I laid out a few pallets for pumpkins to eventually sit atop.  It was still in the 70s today and rained a couple of times in the AM.  There were a few puddles in and around the tent.

Till next week….

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