Whether it’s in the kitchen, on his farm or around his backyard, Ryan Crawford is always cooking up something unique.
This time, he has planted an estimated one million sunflowers on his property — and he wants to use them to help send children to school.
On Saturday and Sunday, Crawford will open his farm to visitors who want to walk among the flowers, take selfies, sip lemonade and bring home a little sunshine, all while raising money for Royal Oak Community School.
The event, at 104 Niagara St., runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, with a rain date of Saturday, Aug. 15.
“We grew sunflowers to brighten up everybody’s day,” Crawford said.
He initially had no intention of allowing people to wander through the farm. But when the opportunity arose to support Royal Oak, a non-profit community school, Crawford decided the field was too special not to share.
“We planted two million seeds. We probably have a million growing, and it looks spectacular,” he said.
Crawford has cut paths through the sprawling field, allowing visitors to walk among the towering yellow flowers and find the perfect spot for a photograph.
“You can walk amongst the sunshine, take a picture, enjoy a glass of lemonade and bring a sunflower home,” he said.
Betty Lou Photography will also set up a photo booth at the farm, while lemonade and iced tea will be available for purchase.
Admission is $15 per person or $50 for a family of up to six people. Individual admission includes one sunflower, while each family will receive a bouquet.
Additional sunflowers will also be available for purchase.
All admission proceeds will support Royal OakCommunity School and its efforts to provide financial assistance to families, helping ensure any child who wants to attend has the opportunity to do so.
Crawford hopes the weekend will allow people to enjoy something beautiful while raising as much money as possible for the school.
“When life gives you sunflowers, you make sunshine.”
