Sunflower maze ready for visitors

Augusta — A Sussex County sunflower maze is ready for visitors to walk through at Liberty Farm (www.savelibertyfarm.com) located just past Ross’ Corner at Roseline’s Farm and Bakery, 553 County Route 565 in Augusta. Now open in all its brilliant glory, this 30-acre black oil sunflower maze places visitors deep in the center of bright yellow blossoms. There are thousands of unique photo opportunities here. Whether photographing the sunflowers or the birds, bees and other pollinators that are attracted to them, a trip to the maze offers something for the entire family. Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. now until Mother Nature finishes the show for the season, admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Closed-toe shoes, hats, sunscreen, binoculars and, a camera are recommended. After hiking through the maze, visitors an stop at Roseline’s to purchase some of the S.A.V.E. sunflower seed, birdhouses or bird feeders and a bouquet of sunflowers. Check out the educational information and find out about this innovative project between New Jersey farmers and the NJ Audubon Society. Other local products available include Jersey Devil Salsa and Roseline’s pies, soups, sandwiches, smoothies and other goodies. Many Sussex County farmers, including Liberty Farm, have formed a partnership with NJ Audubon Society through their newly established S.A.V.E. program which has created a direct farm to market link. Its aim is to prove that farming and wildlife habitat can coexist; S.A.V.E. products demonstrate that locally grown agricultural products can complement habitat and soil conservation practices while maintaining agricultural viability. Established in 2008, the S.A.V.E. program now produces NJ sunflower seed and locally harvested wood that is constructed into bird houses and feeders — all part of the Jersey Grown program. For more information on this program with a complete list of growers and retailers, go to www.njaudubon.org . For more information contact: Liberty Farm, Raj Sinha, 973-219-6356, Rajsinha@hotmail.com.