2010 Corn Maze, Crows in the Corn

FarmerRoger — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:50:18 +0000

Crows in the Corn, the 2010 Corn Maze Photo by Cameron Lerum

The first aerial photo of our 2010 corn maze, Crows in the Corn, was taken by Cameron Lerum as he flew past the farm.

Why did we honor crows with our corn maze this year? Earlier this year when the corn sprouted in our corn maze field, we were happy to see the entire field beautifully filled in with tiny corn seedlings. Then came the crows. Flocks of crows. Sky-darkening hordes of crows. Crows that delighted in pulling our corn seedlings out of the ground to eat the seed. Not to give up, we replanted seed by hand into the barren spots. Once again new seedlings filled in the rows. The crows came back for more. We planted corn in flats in the greenhouse, grew the corn to a larger size and planted the seedlings out by hand. The crows pulled up many of these, but finally found somewhere else to feed.

All through this we tried ways to scare off the crows. Electronic crow alarm calls, shiny bird scare tape, balloons with big scary eyes painted on each side, endless walks through the field clapping hands and shouting, air horns, and probably more I’ve forgotten. I even went out an bought a remote control airplane to fly around the field and buzz the birds. I crashed the plane twice in the first two flights and an important repair part is still on backorder. All these methods worked for a couple of days, but crows are too smart to be deterred for long when they know the banquet is spread out for them.

As a result of all the crow feeding we spent many, many more hours and days working on the corn maze than I had planned. When the time came to choose a theme for the maze, the choice was clear. Crows in the corn was the theme of my summer.

In the end, we were faced with a number of areas in the corn maze where there was hardly any corn plants to see. This is usually not a good thing to find in a maze of corn. To make use of those spaces and to add to the maze-solving fun we embedded five additional walk-through mazes and two labyrinths inside the corn maze. This is, after all, Dr. Maze’s Farm.

The embedded mazes are all made of common farm items. The Flying Crow Maze and the Standing Crow Maze are walk-through mazes made with farm fence posts, recycled water drip tubing, and bird scare tape. There are three walk-through logic mazes; the Color Maze (made of hard irrigation pipe), the Number Maze (made of fence posts), and the No Left Turn Maze (made of hay bales). You may find yourself spending a fair amount of time figuring out these three maze.

You will have to decide for yourself how to interact with the two labyrinths. You can walk them as an aid to contemplation. You and a partner can each start at an entrance and race to see who will exit first. You can just hang out. The Hay Bale Spiral is made from 85 hay bales laid out in a double spiral. The Tunnel Spiral is made from row cover, a light fabric we lay over plants to protect them from pests and to give a bit of warmth. The fabric is stretched over the wire hoops we use to make low greenhouse tunnels in the fields. The wire hoops are duct taped to the tops of fence posts. Bamboo poles add rigidity. Water tubing adds a finishing touch. In honor of this year’s crow theme, we have painted numerous crows on the fabric for you to enjoy as you pass through the tunnel.

In the photo above can see the hay bale spiral and the tunnel spiral in the upper right corner, several people in the Number Maze in the lower left corner, and the hay bales of the No Left Turn Maze at center left. The sun glints off the Flying Cow and the Standing Crow mazes. The Color Maze is in the center of the corn maze. The maze entrance, covered by a white tent, is at the lower left of the maze. Compare the photo with the map seen below.

The photo also shows our green & white farm stand tent at the far lower left, and our hay ride wagon between the farm stand and the maze entrance. Our Pumpkin Patch lies between the corn maze and the road. You don’t see any pumpkins because they were all still green when the photo was taken.

Map of the 2010 Corn Maze, Crows in the Corn

The corn maze map may help you interpret the aerial photo of the corn maze. The black line is the path through the maze.

Be aware that due to an exceptionally cool summer and to huge flocks of crows feeding on the corn as soon as it sprouted, the corn stalks are not as dense as we would like and range in height from ok to very short. We think our corn maze still works very well as a maze and is lots of fun, but it will be a different experience from last year. So far, folks have been enthusiastic.

Announcing Dr. Maze’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Farm and Dr. Maze’s Botanicals.

FarmerRoger — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:15:56 +0000

This year will look different at The South 47 Farm.

Much is changing, but some of your favorites will remain.

The partnership that owns the farmland and has operated the farm for the last 10 years has decided to get out of the farming and farmstand business. Instead we will concentrate on renting the land at The South 47 Farm to other farmers and farming organizations. The partnership feels this is the most sustainable way to keep the land in farming.

Carol & I have decided to take on and continue some of our favorite projects as our own family farm, Dr. Maze’s Farm. We will continue the familiar fall harvest farm activities and the teas and the essential oil distillations, and we plan to add even more excitement. Other farmers will be growing vegetables and fruit.

In September and October visit Dr. Maze’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Farm for harvest time fun! Explore our fabulous mazes, pick a pumpkin from the field, greet the goats and alpacas, shop at the farmstand, take a hayride, and enjoy refreshments. Discover our three dozen varieties of pumpkins and winter squash, as well as gourds, cornstalks & other fall decorative objects.

Visit Dr. Maze’s Botanicals where we create herbal teas, essential oils, mists, and other botanicals from lavender, rosemary, mints, chamomile, and other plants grown right here at the farm. We plan to expand the herb plantings and start production of a variety of new items in addition to our essential oils and hydrosols (herbal mists). We are planning to start with foaming hand soaps, lotion bars, and bath salts. Stop by to see our two hand-made copper stills and check out our selection.

Keep in touch with our website, blog, & twitter to see the new developments.

A visit with Farmer Roger » corn maze

2010 Corn Maze, Crows in the Corn

Announcing Dr. Maze’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Farm and Dr. Maze’s Botanicals.