The Pumpkin Patch template is a harvest themed retrospective. The team picks the ripe wins, cuts out the rotten spots, plants seeds for new ideas, and agrees on a carving plan with clear owners. It suits the end of a sprint, a release, or a quarter.
Four columns
- Ripe pumpkins: Wins to celebrate
- Rotten spots: What went wrong or wasted effort
- Seeds to plant: New ideas worth trying
- Carving plan: Actions and owners for the next sprint
The theme keeps the mood light, while the columns still lead to the same outcome as any good retrospective: a short list of actions with owners.
How to facilitate
- Open with a one word check-in about the sprint so everyone speaks early
- Give people five minutes of silent writing before anyone reads cards aloud
- Keep the costumes optional: the theme is a warm-up, not a requirement
- Vote on the cards that matter most before discussing them
- Finish with no more than three actions, each with one owner
When to use this template
This template works well for:
- The last sprint retrospective in October
- Teams that want a fresh format after many Start, Stop, Continue sessions
- Remote teams looking for an easy, playful icebreaker
- Quarter or release reviews in autumn
