More than any other season, fall draws body and spirit toward the wonders of Mother Earth, whether in the bursts of flaming color or the bounty of reaped fields. Pumpkins and pots of mums fill roadside stands teeming with customers.
Corn husks seem to be the iconic symbol of the season. Scarecrows are transported from the vegetable patch to the lamp post or front porch. Apples and cider rule. All flourish in the crisp air under a vivid blue sky.
In response to the need for body and spirit to be closer to the action, farms everywhere open their gates to throngs of nature lovers. Hence, the pumpkin patches, hayrides and corn mazes.
Maryland is blessed with its share. For those wishing to take a Saturday of Sunday ride, with or without kids, here are three autumnal offerings — all within a 60-mile radius from Baltimore.
Calvert County’s 11th annual Farm Tour will be held today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Running Hare Vineyard in Prince Frederick. This 350-acre vineyard in the heart of Southern Maryland’s wine country was established in 2002 with wines now bottled for sale. The proprietors will be on hand to assist visitors in a number of free events highlighting Calvert County’s rich agrarian history. Entertainment, farm animals and petting zoo, wine tastings, horse-drawn wagon rides, exhibits, demonstrations and pony rides for the kids are some of the day’s activities.
“I think events like this allow people to get into their cars, enjoy the scenery and come home with a bag full of bounty,” said Danita Boonchaisri, with Calvert County’s Department of Economic Development. “Even though the vineyard just opened to the public this spring, we expect good things from them.”
The owners of Greenstreet Gardens in Anne Arundel County’s Lothian have turned their cornfield into a 5-acre maze, themed on alumni pride and Terrapin spirit. “Fear the Turtle” debuted this fall as a tribute to the University of Maryland mascot.
“With over 3 miles of mind-boggling twists and turns, our corn maze is a great way for kids and adults to experience good farmin’ fun and make their mark on Maryland,” said Stacy Greenstreet, a UM alum.
Crumland Farms in Frederick was a working dairy farm, where, owner Judy Crum says, “We were milking 600 cows every day.”
In 2000, she and her husband sold the cows and went into what they call “agri-tainment.” As part of their quest to educate the public in farm life, they create a corn maze each October for visitors to enjoy.
Hay rides, mums, corn mazes and gourds are as emblematic of fall as snow is to winter. Time to go out and play.
If you go
Running Hare Vineyard
- 150 Adelina Rd. in Prince Frederick
- 410-414-8486
- www.runningharevineyard.com
Greenstreet Gardens
- 391 West Bay Front Rd. in Lothian
- 410-867-9500
- www.greenstreetgardens.com
Crumland Farms
- 7612 Willow Rd. in Frederick
- www.crumland.com
Note: Please call or go online for hours of operation, ticket prices, entertainment schedules and market hours where applicable
