Dear Pumpkin Pickers,

Hello, and welcome to the East End of Long Island. It's scenic and gorgeous, trust us we know, because believe it or not we live here. The fall season has begun and we all know what that means, pumpkin picking, hay rides, and traffic. Now before we jump to conclusions let me say that tourism is a beautiful thing that happens to keep everyone's economy going. That being said, please pay attention to the way you treat the places you pay a visit to.

Garbage, believe it or not does not belong on the side of the road where our wildlife stops by from time to time. Please stop thinking it's okay to leave a trash trail wherever you go, because it's not.

Unfortunately, during the fall main roads (if not all) become packed in every direction, and honestly that sucks for everyone but there's really no way around it. However, it's not okay to shoot out of nowhere and expect everyone to accommodate you (because you want to beat the crowds?), because not only is that very unlikely that is going to happen, but you're also putting everyone's safety at risk.

Most if not all "fall fun" places are actual working farms. This means they're the people that grow the food that we/you take home to our/your family. As they become harder and harder to come by, family-run farms are like little gems; they work so hard to create a warm, memory-filled experience for you and your loved ones. So, with the quantity of farms declining, chances are produce prices may rise, and also on account of inflation. So the next time you ask, "Why did my apples come out to $35 this year and not $30 like last year?" please ask yourself why gas isn't still $1.50 a gallon.

Note: Please teach your children about agriculture, it's SO important for people to know where their food comes from, and not just from the supermarket.

Lastly, please don't assume that everyone that drives a pick-up truck and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty is an uneducated "country bumpkin" (actual phrase I heard that made me giggle). People live in all types of places but that doesn't make anyone more or less of a person.

Sincerely,

A Born and Raised East Ender