The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Sunflower field event to bloom at Spiegelberg Farms
Sunflowers for the event were planted around 50 to 60 days ago and will reach full maturity by mid-September.
Fall festivities are kicking off in mid-September at Spiegelberg Farms, 49713 Middle Ridge Road in Amherst, as for the first time, the farm is hosting a sunflower field event.
Tickets are $25 and can be used for one person or a whole family and includes the cutting of five sunflowers. Photo opportunities and the hayride to the field are free.
Lou and Amy Spiegelberg, are co-owners of the farm along with their son, Clayton. Together, the family wanted to come up with an idea for a way to give back to the community.
“We’re excited and we’re nervous we don’t know what to expect, partly because of the coronavirus stuff and because mandates change day to day” Lou Spiegelberg said. “But we’re happy that we can do this and hope to do this annually.”
According to Lou Spiegelberg, the family partnered with Kevin’s Kindness Project and will donate part of the proceeds to the organization. Lou Spiegelberg said the planning process took over a year.
“We thought about it last year but unfortunately last year was a terrible growing season so we didn’t get anything planted,” he said.
Sunflowers for the event were planted around 50 to 60 days ago and will reach full maturity by mid-September.
“We’ve been nervous about the weather but I definitely think we’re going to have flowers by Sept. 12 and 13,” he said.
Tickets can be bought on the farm’s Facebook page or can be purchased at the farm itself. With the coronavirus pandemic continuing, Lou Spiegelberg said the event will be safe and fun.
“We were able to set up the ticket sales so there are certain time slots and if it gets filled up it will close,” he said.
Vitalant will also be making a stop at the farm on Sept. 12 to host a blood drive during the event.
Additionally, flowers will be wrapped so they won’t wilt after they’re picked and flower cutting tools will be provided. The farm will also open its market with squash, pumpkins, mums, pre-cut sunflowers and other fall favorites.
According to Clayton Spiegelberg, the market is one of his favorite pastimes and showcases his hard work.
The idea for the market comes from Clayton Spiegelberg’s Future Farmers of America project over six years ago while he was a freshman in high school. He grew squash and pumpkins and became interested in agritourism.
“We had a market in 2018 but didn’t have one last year because it was a horrible growing year,” he said.
Both cash and card are accepted and the market will continue to run through the end of October.
“The market is on Saturdays and Sundays starting from Sept. 12 through the last weekend of October,” he said. “Additionally, pumpkin picking will begin in late September or early October. as well.”
Social distancing will be enforced and hand sanitizer stations will be available. Parties will be kept together on the hayride as much as possible. In addition, people will have to take responsibility for their own safety, Lou Spiegelberg said.
“We aren’t going to have spots on the floors. You have to use common sense,” he said.
Looking to the future, Spiegelberg Farms hopes to continue their agritourism and make family friendly events for the community.
“We were skeptical because it’s pretty expensive to do one of those and at the time when we had to plant this, we were in the hot seat for coronavirus and had to decide what to do without knowing what was going to happen,” Lou Spiegelberg said. “We hope to do that in the future.”
Overall, the Spiegelbergs hope the community finds time to swing by the event, support a cure for various rare cancers and have wholesome, fall fun.
“We’d appreciate you coming out to show support for Kevin and other kids who are suffering from these rare childhood cancers that need to be looked into,” Lou Spiegelberg said.