Not many know that when they volunteer to grow a giant pumpkin for the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta, they also have the opportunity to raise funds for their favorite local nonprofit through the “Pumpkin Pledge” program. Growers collect pledges from friends, neighbors, and supporters of a nonprofit organization — a penny (or nickel, dime, etc.) a pound for the weight of the pumpkin when it’s weighed during the volunteer weigh-off on Oct. 3. Or supporters may simply donate a pledge of a certain amount.

In 2014, Boothbay Harbor residents Don and Debbie Snyder tried their luck at growing a giant pumpkin.

“It was our first time growing a pumpkin and the first time we entered the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest,” Debbie Snyder said. “We had the best time growing Beatrice,” the name given to the pumpkin.

The Snyders adopted two seedlings at last year’s Seedling Sunday in May.

“Buzz Pinkham and his Pumpkin Expert Panelists gave us two seedlings and helped us with advice to get started,” Debbie Snyder said.

They also received a lot of help about how to grow giant pumpkins during the summer from the Pumpkinfest newsletters and web links.

“Don and I raised $1,000 from our friends and made the Minnehaha Fireman’s Fund in Boothbay Harbor our beneficiary, along with Pumpkinfest,” Snyder said. She said that Fire Chief Nick Upham and firefighter Nick Livingston went to their home with a forklift and pickup truck to take Beatrice to the volunteer weigh-in, where she tipped the scales at 415 pounds.

“We finished third in the volunteer category,” she said. Not at all bad for first-time giant pumpkin growers!

Hearing of the Snyders’ success, Margaret Hoffman, acting executive director of the Boothbay Railway Museum in Boothbay, has decided to try her hand at growing one of the giants this year. According to Hoffman, “the museum’s collection includes farm implements and other agricultural technologies from the mid-18th century, but has rarely had an opportunity to demonstrate agriculture in a hands-on way.”

Growing a giant pumpkin will give them the opportunity to demonstrate those tools, and “also to raise much needed funds for the nonprofit railway museum.” Hoffman plans to ask their visitors to make per pound pledges throughout the season. “We are inviting residents who don’t have room to grow their own giant pumpkin to help with the care and feeding of the museum’s pumpkin,” said Hoffman. Interested volunteers should contact her at margaret@railwayvillage.org.

There is a small supply of the giant pumpkin seedlings available at Pinkham’s Plantation, 431 Biscay Road in Damariscotta. Volunteer growers also can pick up five gallons of compost and instructions to give their seedling a healthy start. Teaming up with a favorite area nonprofit and raising a pumpkin while raising funds is a win-win situation. Volunteer growers not only realize the benefits of raising funds for their favorite nonprofit, they may also win one of a number of prizes in the Volunteer weigh-off on October 3rd.

Pumpkinfest & Regatta is a 501(C)(3) organization whose mission is to promote education to citizens of all ages regarding the specific agricultural science required to grow giant pumpkins, and to provide local nonprofit organizations with opportunities for dissemination of information on their activities and fundraising. For more information, visit www.damariscottapumpkifest.com or follow us at www.facebook.com/damariscottapumpkfest.com or www.twitter.com/squashbuckler.