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We’ve been so lucky with amazing fall weather that we have had the chance to explore a lot of farms already this season. One that I hadn’t heard much about before is Sharp’s at Waterford Farm in Brookeville. It is a 530 acre working farm located in the western part of Howard County, family-owned and operated since 1903. I haven’t spent much time in this part of Maryland so I was eager to go explore a new place.

The farm offers free hayrides to a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkins right off the vine. When we arrived, the tractor was getting ready to take a group of visitors out to the patch, so we hopped right on.

It’s a relaxing and scenic ride to the pumpkin patch as you pass cornfields and a small pond. The pumpkin patch includes an area of sugar pumpkins, which are only about 6 to 8 inches in diameter. I learned that the sugar pumpkins are better for cooking because of their firm, non-stringy, sweet flesh. They also make great painting pumpkins.

After the hayride the girls ran right over to look at the chickens and rabbits. The farm also has some friendly goats and cows. There is an animal feed vending machine by the goats if you want to feed them. Clara also enjoyed the observation bee hives.

Sharp’s has a 7-acre corn field that they cut every autumn and transform into a corn maze. The theme of this year’s maze is “Black Bears & Coyotes” and there is educational information about these animals throughout the maze. You will have to answer true and false questions to help lead you on the correct path through the maze. There is also a mini maze that is more appropriate for the little ones.

Inside this charming, bright red barn is where kids can make a scarecrow or get their face painted.

You can pick your own popcorn in this field.

Sharp’s also has a country store where they carry jams, jellies, salsa, local honey, apple cider, baked goods and more. They also have a variety of fall decorations including wreaths, indian corn, hay bales, gourds, corn stalks, mums and decorative pumpkins.

Also inside the country store is a small farm museum, displaying various historical farm tools and equipment.

It was really nice to visit a “low-key” farm where there wasn’t a crowd of people. It felt good for the soul to get out of the hustle and bustle of our area for a couple hours. My girls never get tired of spending time outdoors on a farm, so of course they had fun!

Good to Know:

•Open for the fall season on Saturday, September 27 and every weekend through November 2.
•No admission fee.
•The fee for the corn maze is $7 adults, $5 children, 2 & under are free. Mini maze is $1/person for unlimited trips through the maze.
•On the weekends, JZ’s brick oven pizza truck is onsite selling pizza, barbeque, and hotdogs.
•Sharp’s offers educational farm tours that are great for schools, daycares, scout troops, etc.
•There is a picnic area located by a scenic pond.
•There is a self-guided nature trail.
•Portable restrooms only.