Pumpkins are a focus of Hallowe'en front porches. But they're also good to eat, the pulp stewed in butter with onions and a grating of fresh ginger, or nutmeg, stock added and the whole cooked then whizzed into puree for soup.

Pick your own for eating or carving (with a child-friendly knife from Strosnider's, Bradley Shopping Center, Arlington Rd, Bethesda) at

Becraft's Farm Produce, 14722 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, 301 236 4545;

Butler's Orchard, 22200 Davis Mill Rd, Germantown, 301 972 3299;

Crooked Run Orchard, Business Rte 7, Purcellville, VA, 540 338 6642;

Homestead Farm, 15600 Sugarland Rd, Poolesville, 301 977 3761;

Phillips Farm, Rte 118 between Riffleford and Chantilly Rds, Germantown, 301 540 2364.

If you aren't a fan of pumpkin pies but want to celebrate Thanksgiving with the rest of them, get your portion in the form of ice cream, from York Tropical Ice Cream where a scoop of pumpkin is popular in the fall.

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