Farm Flavor Guide to Fall: 13 Ideas for You Fall Bucket List

Autumn has officially arrived, and you know what that means. It’s time to pull out your cozy sweaters, break out your boots and keep a hot drink within reach at all times. Fall is bursting with wonderful activities, and our Farm Flavor fall bucket list will help you soak up everything the season has to offer.

1. Go Pumpkin and Apple Picking

Few outings announce the arrival of autumn like a visit to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard. Whether you want to load up a wheelbarrow full of gourds or enjoy some fresh homemade cider, spending a few hours at a local farm is a must for any autumn bucket list.

Check out these articles for a few destination ideas:

• Where to Go Apple Picking in Every State
• 7 Midwest Pumpkin Patches to Add to Your Fall Bucket List
• Top Illinois Pumpkin Patches to Visit This Fall
• 5 Must-Visit Apple Orchards in the Northwest

2. Learn to Preserve Food

If you’ve never learned to preserve food, this is your year. Fall is prime time for preservation, and you can pick up a few new skills with very little effort. If you’re new to preserving, start small. Consider learning how to make slow cooker applesauce or stovetop jam. You could even dry herbs to grind and use in your autumn cooking.

Check out these articles for ideas for getting started with food preservation:

• 15 Ways to Preserve Your Tomato Harvest
• Food Preservation 101: Water Bath, Steam and Pressure Canning
• How to Make the Most of Your Summer Harvest Before the Season Ends

3. Bake an Apple Pie From Scratch

Speaking of preserving food, why not take this opportunity to make an apple pie from scratch? Pie crust is surprisingly simple to make. Bonus points if you harvest your own apples from a local U-pick farm.

Try our recipe for Triple-Apple Pie with Whole-Wheat Lattice Crust or our All-American Apple Pie recipe.

4. Jump in a Pile of Leaves

Do you treasure childhood memories of jumping into a big pile of autumn leaves? If so, now is your chance to pass on the tradition to your kids – or to relive your youthful glory days by indulging in it again. When you have had enough frolicking for one day, bring some inside and learn how to dip them in wax so you can use them to decorate all season long.

Looking for more outdoor activities this season? Discover 8 Gardening Projects You Can Do This Fall.

5. Make Your Own Fall Decor

From painting and carving pumpkins to adorning your house with items from the backyard or garden, we’ve got all the ideas you need for adding a touch of fall to your home this season. Check out these fall decorating ideas:

• Pumpkin Carving Tips for Gorgeous Gourds
• Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas to Try This Halloween
• Fall Decor Ideas From the Garden
• 12 Unique Ways to Decorate Your Home With Pumpkins
• How to Keep Carved Pumpkins Fresh in 4 Simple Steps

6. Visit a Corn Maze

No fall bucket list is complete without spending an afternoon on a local farm getting lost in a corn maze. Do a quick internet search to find farms near you offering this fun seasonal activity, or read our articles featuring 11 Corn Mazes to Explore Across the Country This Fall and 36 Great Corn Mazes Across America.

7. Attend a Fall Festival

Few things are more entertaining in autumn than loading everyone up in the car and heading to your nearest fall festival. Corn mazes, hayrides and apple cider donuts are the perfect way to celebrate the season. You might even find one offering local wares and produce for sale.

8. Plant Bulbs

Many spring flowering bulbs require a little time underground in autumn, which means you should put bulb planting on the calendar in the next few weeks (depending on your USDA hardiness zone). Among the most popular are tulips, irises and daffodils, but your options are nearly limitless if you want to explore more varieties.

Check out our list of 8 Bulbs to Plant This Fall for Spring Blooms Next Year.

9. Try New Seasonal Recipes

When the temperatures begin to drop, you might find yourself wanting to spend more time indoors. And whipping up a few new seasonal recipes is a must for any fall bucket list. Spend a lazy afternoon perusing new soup and slow cooker recipes, baking creations, or anything that enhances the natural coziness of autumn. Just make sure you’ve stocked your pantry with fall staples beforehand.

Try a few of our favorite fall recipes:

• 25 Fall Recipes to Make When You’re Over Pumpkin
• 19 Tailgating Recipes for a Winning Game Day Menu
• 27 Pumpkin Recipes to Make This Fall
• 17 Irresistible Apple Recipes for Fall
• 10 Winning Winter Squash Recipes
• 30 Sweet Potato Recipes for Your Fall Table

10. Make your own PSL

Who says you have to go through the drive through every time you get a craving for the iconic pumpkin spice latte? Make your own at home with a few simple ingredients. If you love it, you not only saved yourself a surprising amount of money – but you can also whip up another anytime you want.

Try our Dirty Pumpkin Pie Latte recipe.

11. Plant a Tree

Fall may be the precursor to snowy winter days, but it’s the perfect time to plant a tree. Planting in the fall provides your new trees with cooler temperatures, more rain and a little extra time to establish their roots before they have to withstand the heat and stress of summertime. Need a little help deciding which varieties to plant? Why not try some of these 11 Trees to Plant in Your Yard for Beautiful Fall Colors Year After Year.

12. Craft a Pinecone Wreath or Bird Feeder

Pinecones are often prolific this time of year, and they make excellent materials for fun DIY projects. Try crafting your own pinecone wreath for your front door using wire and spray paint. Or craft your own bird feeder to attract feathered friends to your yard. Simply gather up a few pinecones, some peanut butter and bird seed and you have everything you need to encourage more of your feathered friends to visit throughout the season.

13. Host a Soup Swap

Have you ever participated in a soup swap? Envision a holiday cookie swap but with soup. You invite a few friends over for an afternoon of sharing and swapping soup to stock your freezers for those cozy nights at home when it’s too cold to linger outside.

See more: How to Host a Soup Swap