MAPLETON, Maine — James’ Pumpkin Stand opened last month with a variety of both orange and white pumpkins.
James Winslow, 37, is the youngest of eight brothers and lives near his nieces and nephews in Mapleton. This is his first year in the pumpkin business.
James planted, tended and harvested the pumpkins. The stand is all about spreading smiles and give something back to the community.
“The point was to give James a place to showcase how he can make other people smile,” his brother Lynwood Winslow said. “He has brought more smiles to his family and the people in this town than I can remember.”
Lynwood and Jessica Winslow are James’ co-guardians.
James’ stand raised approximately $800 on Oct. 7 for the Central Aroostook Association in Presque Isle, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. James’ Pumpkin Stand gave away french fries and requested donations for the group, and will donate all the proceeds to the association.
In the past, James has benefited from the Central Aroostook Association’s educational program, Lynwood Winslow said.
James planted around 13 varieties of pumpkins on a 2-acre lot at the family’s Griffin Ridge Road farm, along with squash, which are also available at the stand.
He learned to drive his favorite red tractor to the pumpkin patch. He organized all the pumpkins and picked them to be sold, and also decorated the stand, his brother said.
The biggest jack-o-lantern pumpkin he grew weighed 29 1/2 pounds.
The community has supported the stand and James has met many new people.
The small building was given to the Winslows by a friend to be used as a playhouse, but James has turned it into his pumpkin stand. He loves to be at the stand every day, he said.
James’ Pumpkin Stand has a Facebook and an Instagram page of James driving his favorite tractor, along with photos of him with customers.
“For someone like James, it has been a tremendous social interaction for him to be able to meet people and get out of the house to work with his nieces and nephews,” Lynwood Winslow said.
The remaining squash will be given to local food banks and churches. Some of the pumpkins will be given to youth groups for decorations.
The pumpkins grew well despite all the rain, but the squash had a harder time, the Winslows said.
As for James, he is looking forward to next year’s growing season and another chance to give back to the community.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the number of brothers in the Winslow family.
