INNISFIL — Laura’s Farm Stand, on Highway 27 in Cookstown is a happy place. The cheery sunflowers in the field nod their greetings to visitors who come to see them and to buy fresh vegetables grown on the same acreage.
Owner Laura Currie first set up a vegetable stand in the location in 2012 when she was in Grade 12. She has added new things as the years go by. This year, it was a shed where people can find in-season vegetables, cut flower arrangements and to pay for purchases on the honour system either with cash, or by e-transfer. The whole thing is set-up as a self-serve experience.
This is the second year for the sunflowers.
“It’s a beautiful attraction that everyone wants to come and enjoy," Currie says.
People are encouraged to pick the sunflowers for $2 a head, and small saws are provided at the entrance of the half-kilometre trail through the sunflowers.
“It’s not a maze, so you won’t get lost,” Currie said. “People can wander and choose one.”
Pre-cut flowers are also available.
“This year we did two sunflower fields," she added. "There’s only about two and a half weeks of blooms in each. Our first field is ending and the second is just hitting its peak bloom. So we have a whole month of sunflowers and they’ll go to Labour Day.”
Barrie resident Laurie Canning visited with her sister and mother. Each of them was enthusiastic about their visit.
“It is amazing that she (Laura) offers people to go through her beautiful sunflower fields for nothing," Canning said.
A group of three friends along the sunflower trail were there to celebrate the birthday of one of them.
Allana Paul said: “We just took a little trip today to the sunflower field. It’s going to be our friend Tessa’s birthday soon in September and we wanted to surprise her before the sunflowers were gone, because she loves sunflowers. So we just popped in the car, took her out for brunch, and said we’re going on a surprise.”
Currie doesn’t harvest the sunflowers, as they are grown only for an attraction. She leaves the sunflowers in place until after the pumpkin season and then turns everything in to decompose over the winter.
“People have asked about buying the seeds, but we haven’t decided if we will do that," she said.
Currie is inspiring as a young farmer and entrepreneur. She grew up on the farm with her parents who live across the road. She does all the farming on a designated 25 acres of their property and grows sunflowers, corn and a variety of pumpkins and other vegetables.
Farming appeals to Currie after seeing her parents do it and liking their lifestyle.
“I have a brother and sister and we were always involved in the farming growing up. We always had to work in the barn after school, and everything," she said.
She doesn’t have employees.
“Sometimes it gets really busy and my family helps me out," Currie added. "I had my dad picking corn this morning, and my husband delivering stuff. Everyone kind of chips in on the weekend. But I am the main one doing the work.”
The fresh peaches ‘n cream and the yellow corn available at Laura’s are popular. People come to the stand as a day outing, to purchase vegetables and to experience the sunflower field.
Pick your own pumpkin will be a big attraction later in the season.
Laura’s Farm Stand, 5590 Simcoe County Rd. 27, is open 10 a.m. to dark everyday until the end of October. Washrooms are not available, physical distancing/masks may be necessary in the shed. For more information, visit laurasfarmstand.com.
Rosaleen Egan is a freelance journalist, storyteller, and playwright. She blogs on her website rosiewrites.com.
