Review: 21248 The Pumpkin Farm
Posted by Huw,New reviewer James, aka jaymo1, has evaluated 21248 The Pumpkin Farm for us:
What better way to approach spooky season than The Pumpkin Farm, one of this year’s new Minecraft sets? This pumpkin farm, however, doesn’t require you to pay an entry fee to traipse around a muddy field and pick your pumpkin, although you will have to deal with a witch ready to douse you with splash potions.
Additional credit goes to my 9-year-old Minecraft consultant who has helped me with some of the names and details.
Summary
21248 The Pumpkin Farm, 257 pieces.
£31.99 / $39.99 / €37.99 | 12.4p/15.6c/14.8c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Whilst there is room for improvement, The Pumpkin Farm is a fun, playful set, with charm and personality
- Great minifigures - especially the return of the witch
- An array of printed pieces
- Multiple different layout options
- The shape of the pumpkin sides could be rounder
- Pumpkins could have been printed
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
First up we have the Witch, who makes a return to the theme for the first time since 2017’s 21133 The Witch Hut and this time comes with a detachable hat (the previous version min046 Witch - Fixed Printed Hat was moulded to the head). When compared to their videogame counterpart the witch looks really accurate. From the folded arms to the moulded nose and stubby legs, it looks great.
The downside of the moulded arms is that they can’t hold onto anything (or throw a potion) as depicted on the box. The removable hat is a nice touch, enhancing the play options (and allowing for other characters to don the conical cap)
Minecraft’s hero Steve is also included in the set and, whilst his outfit isn’t new, he does come packing an enchanted bow and iron hoe, which is new this year.
The Jack’o’lantern piece can also be used as a head to give the Pumpkin Farm an extra spooky feel.
Last but by no means least, is the frog, making its first appearance in grey for this set. It has one stud on the bottom allowing it to sit perfectly on the single-stud lily pad.
The Completed Model
The model is split into three sections which, although designed to be set up together, can be easily moved around to fit with a specific display or other Minecraft sets. As you would expect, the pumpkin house is the centrepiece of the set and the bright orange really pops against the background of the (presumably) mangrove tree, swamp and pumpkin patch.
I would say the shape of the pumpkin itself could be improved. The sides are a little flat and I have seen some comments (including from my daughter) that the pieces used don’t have a direct Minecraft equivalent. Overall though, the house looks great and the lanterns in the eyes are particularly nice.
The rest of the exterior features a lily pad (perfect for the frog) and I love the printed frogspawn pieces sitting alongside it.
Inside we have more fantastic printed pieces; a Crafting table, a furnace and, making its debut a pumpkin pie (I will admit, I had to look up what this was). It also has a teal bed and lime flooring which makes the interior stand out nicely against the swamp outside.
I also really appreciate the 1x2 on the door arch which prevents the door from swinging inwards.
The second part is the pumpkin patch, which features a walled area with two great-looking torches which give off clear Minecraft vibes. Inside we’ve got a mix of trans tiles for the water, sprouts and fully-grown pumpkins. The pumpkins are my biggest gripe with this set - given we’ve got printed pieces for so many items here, it seems just using orange Minecraft ‘heads’ is a missed opportunity. We’ve had printed fruit and veg before, for example, 21138 The Melon Farm, so it would have been great to add a bit of texture to the pumpkins.
The third section is the swamp and tree area. Although identifying the genus of a Minecraft tree is a challenge, we’re going to go with Mangrove. It’s a pretty simple build, but the addition of the three sets of vines dangling from the tree does add a lot to the look of an overgrown swamp.
Another lily pad makes for a perfect spot for a frog or for the witch to lurch ready to hurl her splash potion at unsuspecting passers-by. The carved pumpkin also sits on top of the log, looking out over the water.
The final element is actually one of my favourite parts of the set; a swamp boat complete with shovels for oars and a chest. The fact that the chest contains an egg and some sugar (which I’m reliably informed that when combined with a pumpkin, make a pumpkin pie) is a wonderful touch.
Conclusion
It’s easy for adult Lego fans to write off Minecraft as a theme (something I’ve been guilty of too), but I was impressed with the level of detail in The Pumpkin Farm, especially the array of printed pieces that make me even more resentful of the sticker sheets on much larger sets.
It’s one of four new Minecraft sets to launch this August and makes for an excellent addition to any Minecraft collection with some excellent play features and some exclusive new elements which I think makes it pretty good value at the RRP.
The final verdict has to come from my Minecraft consultant, who has since nabbed the set and disappeared into her bedroom to play with it, which I think is all the endorsement needed.
63 likes
21 comments on this article
@Ridgeheart said:
"I like the detachable hat. Now Steve, too, can whip it. Whip it good. Try to detach it. It's not too late."
duh nuh duh nuh duh nuh whip it good
“Inside we have more fantastic printed pieces; a Crafting table, a furnace and, making its debut a pumpkin pie (I will admit, I had to look up what this was).”
You didn’t know what the print represented or you had never heard of pumpkin pie?
@Sam_A_Rama said:
"“Inside we have more fantastic printed pieces; a Crafting table, a furnace and, making its debut a pumpkin pie (I will admit, I had to look up what this was).”
You didn’t know what the print represented or you had never heard of pumpkin pie?"
The former - although I'm ashamed to say, I've never tried a pumpkin pie.
@Sam_A_Rama said:
"You didn’t know what the print represented or you had never heard of pumpkin pie?"
Pumpkins tend to get used more like a vegetable here, such as roasted pumpkin or pumpkin soup, rather than as a pie filling. Although more often than not it seems they are carved and left to rot on doorsteps rather than used as food.
I know a common complaint seems to be that this is yet another Steve figure, but I think LEGO certainly has gotten better at adding lots of other minecraft "player skin" variants over the years. Now the majority of sets have different minifigs that are not steve or alex at all.
Just 4 out of 12 sets have Steve this year.
And 2022 1 out of 14 sets had Steve.
@TeriXeri said:
"I know a common complaint seems to be that this is yet another Steve figure, but I think LEGO certainly has gotten better at adding lots of other minecraft "player skin" variants over the years. Now the majority of sets have different minifigs that are not steve or alex at all.
Just 4 out of 12 sets have Steve this year.
And 2022 1 out of 14 sets had Steve.
"
I hope next year we get some of the new default characters that Minecraft added recently
Needs more David S Pumpkins.
@CHARIZORDO said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"I like the detachable hat. Now Steve, too, can whip it. Whip it good. Try to detach it. It's not too late."
duh nuh duh nuh duh nuh whip it good"
Duh Duh Duh Duh Villager News
I like MC and so do the kids. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a set with a single sticker in it. All the decorations have been prints. Must be a LEGO policy.
@jaymo1 said:
" @Sam_A_Rama said:
"“Inside we have more fantastic printed pieces; a Crafting table, a furnace and, making its debut a pumpkin pie (I will admit, I had to look up what this was).”
You didn’t know what the print represented or you had never heard of pumpkin pie?"
The former - although I'm ashamed to say, I've never tried a pumpkin pie."
@CCC said:
"Pumpkins tend to get used more like a vegetable here, such as roasted pumpkin or pumpkin soup, rather than as a pie filling. Although more often than not it seems they are carved and left to rot on doorsteps rather than used as food."
Smaller, sugar pumpkins are used to make pie filling. They are sweeter with a more intense 'pumpkin' flavor.
While most commercial pumpkin pies are terrible, I feel truly sorry for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to taste a delicious pumpkin pie. Time to get cookin'!
@StyleCounselor said:
" @jaymo1 said:
" @Sam_A_Rama said:
"“Inside we have more fantastic printed pieces; a Crafting table, a furnace and, making its debut a pumpkin pie (I will admit, I had to look up what this was).”
You didn’t know what the print represented or you had never heard of pumpkin pie?"
The former - although I'm ashamed to say, I've never tried a pumpkin pie."
@CCC said:
"Pumpkins tend to get used more like a vegetable here, such as roasted pumpkin or pumpkin soup, rather than as a pie filling. Although more often than not it seems they are carved and left to rot on doorsteps rather than used as food."
Smaller, sugar pumpkins are used to make pie filling. They are sweeter with a more intense 'pumpkin' flavor.
While most commercial pumpkin pies are terrible, I feel truly sorry for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to taste a delicious pumpkin pie. Time to get cookin'!"
I must admit over here it's like in the UK in that pumpkins typically are used as a vegetable, not for pies (not that pies in themselves would be typical here anyway. We tend to rather have cakes, tarts and "Teilchen" which is small sweet baked treats of every shape and form).
Pumpkin as an ingredient for something sweet sounds really weird (and kind of off-putting to be honest) to my ears - and taste buds.
@AustinPowers said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @jaymo1 said:
" @Sam_A_Rama said:
"“Inside we have more fantastic printed pieces; a Crafting table, a furnace and, making its debut a pumpkin pie (I will admit, I had to look up what this was).”
You didn’t know what the print represented or you had never heard of pumpkin pie?"
The former - although I'm ashamed to say, I've never tried a pumpkin pie."
@CCC said:
"Pumpkins tend to get used more like a vegetable here, such as roasted pumpkin or pumpkin soup, rather than as a pie filling. Although more often than not it seems they are carved and left to rot on doorsteps rather than used as food."
Smaller, sugar pumpkins are used to make pie filling. They are sweeter with a more intense 'pumpkin' flavor.
While most commercial pumpkin pies are terrible, I feel truly sorry for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to taste a delicious pumpkin pie. Time to get cookin'!"
I must admit over here it's like in the UK in that pumpkins typically are used as a vegetable, not for pies (not that pies in themselves would be typical here anyway. We tend to rather have cakes, tarts and "Teilchen" which is small sweet baked treats of every shape and form).
Pumpkin as an ingredient for something sweet sounds really weird (and kind of off-putting to be honest) to my ears - and taste buds. "
I mean…you’re not wrong. I think pumpkin flavoured anything, especially pie, is gross.
Pumpkin pie is just a spiced pumpkin custard, baked in a crust.
It mostly tastes like sugar and spices (most often cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger, but sometimes with allspice in place of some of the others). It's one of the most delicious things on the planet.
Most people make it using canned pumpkin, as it's much less work that way and the results are about the same. Fun fact: the USDA allows any yellow- or orange-fleshed squash to be sold as canned pumpkin and the most popular brand, Libby's, is actually a particular cultivar of butternut squash.
Good review. I commend the engagement of age appropriate experts. As AFOLs we need reminders that our favourite toy is... a toy!
@tim1724 said:
"Pumpkin pie is just a spiced pumpkin custard, baked in a crust.
It mostly tastes like sugar and spices (most often cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger, but sometimes with allspice in place of some of the others). It's one of the most delicious things on the planet.
Most people make it using canned pumpkin, as it's much less work that way and the results are about the same. Fun fact: the USDA allows any yellow- or orange-fleshed squash to be sold as canned pumpkin and the most popular brand, Libby's, is actually a particular cultivar of butternut squash."
Tim, tim, tim... Tim.
Everything you say is spot on. Except! You can NOT equate canned pumpkin with fresh, roasted sugar pumpkins.
Slice 'em in half, scoop out the seeds, salt, pepper, olive oil. Roast them until fork tender. Scoop out the good stuff. So much better than anything from a factory.
To make equivalent to 'pie filling', pulse in a food processor with your desired level of honey, cream, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg.
It's quick, easy, and WAY better than the can.
I also throw the seeds in water to separate them from the stringy stuff. Then hit them with olive oil, salt, pepper, chili powder, and garlic powder. Roast in toaster oven (or regular oven) until GBD (golden-brown 'n delicious).
A fellow Minecraft expert here, how do y'all do?
I bet the reason the pumpkins in the patch aren't printed is because in the game, pumpkins grow without the faces! You plant the seed, grow the vine, mine the block, and now you have a pumpkin; the face is only added after cutting it into the pumpkin with some shears.
Now, it could be said that the pumpkins should then have other printing like the melons, but then that would necessitate changing the prints for the Jack'O'Lantern piece as well (since that one's been plain orange since its first appearance).
@Ridgeheart said:
"I like pumpkins on a conceptual level. They look great! The colours, the textures, the varied shapes, they're all fun. But I can say the same for dogs, cars and people, and I wouldn't eat most of those either.
I hate the taste of pumpkin. The fact that most of the recipes - including those the good folks of Brickset listed in these comments - seem designed to drown out the actual taste OF the pumpkin by adding an overabundance of sugar, clove and cinnamon ("More sugar! MORE SUGAR! Pile on the spices and the heavy cream! I can still taste a hint of the Hellgourd!"), only helps to cement my theory that NOBODY likes the taste of pumpkin, they just use pumpkin-recipes as an excuse to empty the pantry."
Fear no more! I'm crashing the party and I love the taste of pumpkins, to me they're delicious even without any sugar.
Feel free to dump all your unwanted pumpkins next to me. All your pumpkin are belong to us!
This is such a 'fall' set. I love it. Pumpkins ftw!
I was actually kind of tempted to buy this set when I saw the witch, but then I went back to check the price, and decided that it was too much. Great set and review though!
I actually have the opposite opinion about the shape of the pumpkin house. I think it should be more like a cube, to imitate a Minecraft pumpkin. That's how I would make a pumpkin house in-game.
Although Minecraft sets often take some artistic liberty in the theoretical 1 to 1 construction of things, I think this set does a poor job of that. It makes it more difficult to suspend my 'piece equivalent' dissatisfaction.
Minecraft is a theme, rather like Super Mario, which I ruled out of my collection on first principles back when the first sets appeared, but which has grown on me steadily as it has developed. Not that I regret never collecting it--I only have limited space (and money)--but it's charming, cheerful, and seems to appeal to a wide range of ages. I always enjoy seeing the new ideas, which get more and more unexpected to this non-player. Thanks for the fine review!