Photo by Ryan Grzybowski
It’s prime time to take a trip out to a farm in the park! There are 10 Countryside Initiative farms that are currently operating in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and 7 of them have a variety of different offerings that are sure to keep your summer filled with excitement.
Do you love getting in the kitchen and cooking up a dish with freshly harvested seasonal produce? Do you love live music with a glass of wine in hand that’s made from grapes grown just yards from where you’re sitting? Do you love the ambiance of a farm and want to spend a few hours doing yoga and picking berries to destress?
No matter how you enjoy spending your time, at least one of these 7 farms in the park is sure to offer something that will bring a little extra excitement to your summer!
Greenfield Berry Farm
The most popular attraction of this farm is their pick-your-own blueberry experience. They also offer sunflower picking later in the season as well as a CSA.
Pick-Your-Own Blueberries
Picking times are offered during blueberry season, which is roughly from late June to early August. They communicate their picking times through Facebook. If blueberry picking sounds exciting to you, like Greenfield Berry Farm’s Facebook page by clicking here.
Yoga and Blueberry Picking
They are also working with OneTreeLove to offer yoga and blueberry picking on the farm this summer. This will be offered July 13th and August 20th. Click here to learn more and sign up for one (or maybe even both!) of the sessions.
Location: 2485 Major Rd, Peninsula, Ohio
Website: http://www.greenfieldberryfarm.com/
Keleman Point Farm
The lease of this farm was turned over to the Kelemans in 2020 and they hit the ground running in order to bring new offerings to the community and maintain the offerings the previous farmers had come to be known for.
Farm Stand
Their farm stand is open daily, year-round from 9am to dusk. The products they offer include: eggs, plants, produce, handmade gifts, tinctures/salves, jams, elderberry syrup, pumpkins.
Nature Walk/Farm Tour
Bring your Kids and enjoy time on the farm feeding livestock and learning about the different plants on the farm from an intuitive herbalist. This event has 2 Summer dates(August 14th & 15th) and 1 Fall date(October 9th) remaining. Learn more about the event and register by clicking here.
Heritage Turkey Sales
Before the farm was Keleman Point Farm, it was Goatfeather Point Farm and they always sold heritage turkeys every Thanksgiving. This is something the Kelemans chose to carry on. They begin taking orders September 1st via email. Learn more on their website.
Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers
Starting this August, they will have a field for you to pick-your-own sunflowers. If you would like to know when they are offering this opportunity, like their page on Facebook by clicking here.
Goat Yoga
Dates will be coming soon. We will update this section as soon as they have determined dates.
Location: 4570 Akron Peninsula Rd, Peninsula, OH 44264
Website: https://www.kelemanpointfarm.com/
Oxbow Orchard
The farmers at Oxbow Orchard have exciting plans in motion for a U-pick orchard. Until that time comes, they have a farm stand on the property with a wonderful variety of offerings.
Farm Stand
The farm stand is open daily. They keep it stocked with their own handmade pottery, plants, produce, and fresh flowers. Stay up to date with what they have available by liking their page on Facebook here.
Location: 6885 Canal Rd, Valley View, Ohio 44125
Website: https://www.oxboworchard.com/
Purplebrown Farmstead
This farm offers a farm stand and u-pick option like many others, but it’s hogs and extensive farm stand options set it apart from the others.
Farm Stand
The farm stand is open every Saturday from 9am-5pm. They work with other local farmers and food producers to offer more than just what’s grown on their property. In addition to their mushrooms, produce and flowers, you can find local grains, salad greens, jams, beef and more from other local producers. Stay up to date with what they have available by liking their page on Facebook here.
Whole Hog Workshop
This is a hands-on workshop that will focus on a forest-raised heritage hog, walking through the entire process of how to efficiently, beautifully, and practically take a hog from pasture to plate ethically and humanely. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers
This August, stroll the paths at Purplebrown Farmstead, enjoy the scenery, take pictures, and pick flowers! Semi-private sessions just for you and your friends will also be available. Tickets will be coming soon to their website.
Diversified Permaculture Farm Tour (OEFFA Series)
They applied the permaculture design process to implement regenerative practices on a 12 acre ridge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as part of the Countryside Initiative Program. In this tour and discussion you will learn about the permaculture design process, establishing a cider orchard, raising pastured pork, and outdoor shiitake production. The tour will be held from 10:30am until noon on September 26th. Register for the event here.
Location: 458 W Hines Hill Rd, Hudson, OH 44236
Website: https://www.purplebrownfarmstead.com/
Sarah’s Vineyard
One of these farms is not like the others. Sarah’s Vineyard is the only vineyard in the Countryside Initiative program. This quaint vineyard offers locally grown and produced wine, as well as pizza and a wide variety of other food options.
Summer Music Series
They are hosting a summer music series through July 7th. They will be welcoming 6 different musical guests to their property between now and then. Check out all the dates and artists here.
Live Music
They also offer live music on a regular basis. Sip on a glass of wine, snack on some pizza, and unwind while enjoying live music from Jake Richardson every Thursday from 6-8:30pm.
Location: 1204 W Steels Corners Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223
Website: https://www.sarahsvineyardwinery.com/
Spice Acres
From private events, to a farm stand, to yoga, to U-pick, this farm has a little bit of everything going on.
Yoga on the Farm
There is nothing better than practicing yoga in nature and feeling connected to all. Kick off your shoes, commune with the dirt, and join them in the fields for an all-levels vinyasa flow every other summer Saturday at 10:30am. Learn more and register here.
Pick-Your-Own Berries and Flowers
Throughout the harvest season, they allow you to pick-your-own asparagus, mushrooms, peppers and more. In August, they will be offering pick-your-own berries and flowers. Stay up to date with their picking times by liking their page on Facebook here.
Farm Stand
Spice Acres roadside farm stand is stocked daily with fresh-harvested veggies, local eggs and mushrooms. They accept cash or venmo. During harvest season, their produce can also be found on the menu at Keep the Change Collective and also at private catering events.
Private Events
You’ll likely see a tent or two on the property most of the summer and fall. They host private events throughout the warmer months. Due to the overflow of events that have rescheduled due to the pandemic, they’re booking quickly and into next year! They encourage people to reach out to their catering company for availability.
Location: 9557 Riverview Rd, Brecksville, OH 44141
Website: https://www.spiceacres.com/
Trapp Family Farm
Located just off of 303, there’s a good chance you’ve driven past this farm and noticed Mark Trapp out in the field with his horses. But have you noticed that there is a farm stand on the property as well?
Farm Stand
Their farm stand offers eggs and seasonal vegetables daily from 8am to 8pm. They also offer pasture raised meat. Organic-fed meat including chicken, turkey, geese, and lamb can be pre-ordered by emailing trapp.family.farm@gmail.com. Stay up to date with what they have available by liking their page on Facebook here.
Location: 1019 W Streetsboro Rd, Peninsula, OH 44264
Not everyone lives right around the corner from a national park, and certainly not right around the corner from one that has 7 unique farms offering a variety of exciting activities and fresh produce. It’s time to go explore the beautiful scenery around you and support the farms in the park that are keeping the rich history of agriculture alive in the valley!