A trip to Howell’s Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch gives your family a chance to learn by doing. Whether you are parenting young kids, planning a school field trip, or organizing a work outing, you want an experience that brings people closer. You want time that feels real and useful. As a greenhouse Iowa families trust, we deliver more than a fun day. We give you the tools to teach life skills while making strong memories.

Rooted in History, Focused on Growth

Howell’s began in 1878 as a working farm with cattle and crops. In the 1980s, as farming grew uncertain, farmer Fred tried something new. He planted a small patch of flowers and started drying them in the family barn. That idea became the foundation for a major shift. In 1994, we added greenhouses and pumpkins. In 1996, the first school field trip visited the farm.

Since then, Howell’s has grown into a place where families, teachers, and companies gather for more than entertainment. We grow three acres of dried flowers and eighteen acres of pumpkins. Our calendar includes seasonal events, school visits, and private celebrations. Today, Howell’s is a place where learning meets fun, and every visitor gets to take part.

Learn by Doing

Our farm is built for interaction. You will not find passive watching here. Instead, kids and adults take part in every corner of the experience. These moments teach lessons without a classroom setting.

Responsibility

Caring for animals or shaping mud pies is more than fun. It teaches children how to stick with a task. Feeding a goat or watering a plant builds a habit of attention and empathy. These are not chores. They are small steps toward responsibility.

Patience and Persistence

Our eight-acre corn maze is full of lessons. Kids learn that getting lost is part of the process. They adjust, problem-solve, and keep trying. The same lessons show up in our greenhouse planting activities. You do not see results right away, and that is part of the point. Waiting and trying again builds patience.

Teamwork

Many of our activities are best done with a partner. Two-seater trikes, duck races, and grain wagon hoops create moments where kids help each other. For work groups, these tasks become quick team-building tools. Solving a challenge together builds trust.

Explore and Think

Our space gives kids room to think for themselves. With open play zones and no rigid schedule, they get to make choices and solve problems in real time.

Sensory Play

The corn pool and mud pie stations engage all senses. Children jump in, get messy, and learn by doing. These experiences help young brains grow through texture, sound, and physical feedback. This kind of play supports focus and learning in the long run.

Problem-Solving

Activities like duck races require trial and error. Kids experiment with speed and aim to figure out what works. Other areas like pedal tractors, the obstacle course, and hamster wheels ask kids to try, fail, and adjust. Each challenge builds thinking skills.

Independent Play

At Howell’s, kids move freely. They run, climb, and explore at their own pace. This freedom helps them grow confident. They make decisions, take small risks, and learn from their own experience.

Unplug to Reconnect

Families and groups often visit with one goal in mind: to step away from screens. Howell’s gives you that chance. You get a break from notifications and devices, and you gain time for real connection.

You will see it in the simplest moments. Parents push kids on swings. Friends share snacks by the observation deck. Coworkers laugh during a paintball match. These memories stick because they are shared in person. No one is distracted. Everyone is present.

Understand the Seasons

Farming moves with the seasons, and our events do too. Each season offers its own ways to learn and take part.

Spring

Egg Palooza introduces children to the ideas of growth and change. They learn where food comes from and how life begins. Spring greenhouse visits show how plants need soil, sun, and water to thrive.

Summer

In summer, the farm becomes a full-body learning zone. Kids swing, climb, and ride. They see animals up close and learn the basics of daily farm care. Everything here is hands-on. Kids use energy and curiosity at the same time.

Fall

Fall is our busiest time, and it’s easy to see why. Pumpkins are ready, corn mazes open, and the smells of apple cider fill the air. But fall is not only for fun. It’s a chance to talk about effort and reward. Visitors learn what it means to harvest after months of work.

Grow Confidence

Trying something new often builds confidence faster than talking about it. At Howell’s, every activity offers that chance.

When a child climbs a new structure, jumps on a pad, or rolls in the hamster wheel, they feel proud. They see what they can do. They also learn that failure is okay. If they fall, they try again.

Adults benefit too. Letting go during play can reduce stress and refresh your outlook. Whether you’re competing with coworkers or swinging with your child, you walk away lighter.

Farm Values That Last

Howell’s is built on consistency and care. We are still a family-run farm, and it shows. Every space is designed with thought. Every visitor matters.

You do not have to guess what kind of day you will have here. You will find fresh air, direct interaction, and honest fun. We do not focus on flashy attractions. We focus on real value. That includes time together, movement, problem-solving, and connection.

Visitors return because they remember how the farm made them feel. Safe, welcome, and engaged. That is our standard.

Plan Your Visit

You have limited time with your family. You want school trips that hold attention. You want work outings that build something stronger than meetings. You also want something that feels easy to plan and worth the effort.

At Howell’s, we understand those goals. Families find ways to bond through activity. Teachers see students focus and ask questions. Coworkers relax and work together naturally. Every activity fits your group, and every season adds something new.

We are a greenhouse Iowa residents count on for learning, connection, and shared growth. Plan your visit today. We are ready when you are.