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Saving Our Farms: An Entertaining Idea

© Diane Stresing

Perhaps you are familiar with "Silent Spring," the 1962 call to action by Rachel Carson. In it, Carson awakened a deep desire in this country to protect and save (what we haven't already ruined) in our environment, and put heavy emphasis on our farms. Unfortunately, forty years later we have far fewer farms, and they continue to disappear daily. But a relatively new trend in the farming business--entertainment--is adding some change to farmers' pockets. As an optimist, I hope it will inspire a new generation to protect and cherish our farms, their lands, and the people who work hard to put food on all of our tables.

*Sigh* It seems I've climbed upon my soapbox again. OK, I'll step down now, and get to the 'entertaining' part of this article...

Ohio's Amazin' Corn Mazes!
A couple of years ago, I explored a corn maze for the first time. It was designed in the shape of a haywagon. As I wandered 'round (and round and round) those wagon wheels, I admired the creativity of the planners. But that wagon-shaped maze was a simple design, compared with some others.

A maze in Lebanon (near Dayton) is drawn in the shape of the Wright Brothers' first flyer. (Go to http://www.incrediblemaze.com/ to see a great aerial photo.)

At Ramseyer Farms' Ohio Corn Maze in Wooster, visitors travel over eight acres and more than 2 miles of trails. The trails, cut to mimic Ohio's highways, rivers, Underground Railroad lines, and treaty lines, provide something of a walking lesson in state history. Get directions to Ramseyer Farms at http://www.ramseyerfarms.com/ohiogeneral...

Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala (near Columbus) offers a corn maze 'safari,' where visitors explore five animal shapes. Go to http://www.lyndfruitfarm.com/cornmaze.htm to find out how to get to the 10-acre maze. Afraid you'll never find your way out? Don't worry, the folks at Lynd Fruit Farm say, "Getting lost in a maze is all part of the adventure!" And if the adventure leaves you hungry? No problem. Lynd's has plenty of fresh grown, satisfying snacks...cherries, apples, and pumpkins, for starters.

To find more mazes near you, hit your favorite search engine with a query for "Ohio corn mazes."

Wonder How They Make Those Mazes?
If you're really, really good at puzzles and geometry, you can create a corn maze without a GPS device-but it isn't easy. Just ask Shawn Stolworthy.

Stolworthy gained field experience (sorry--bad pun) on his parents' Idaho potato and grain farm. Although he has not made farming his life's work, his isn't the stereotype 'boy leaves farm' story.

The copyright of the article Saving Our Farms: An Entertaining Idea in Ohio is owned by Diane Stresing. Permission to republish Saving Our Farms: An Entertaining Idea in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.