• Image of bluebells in the spring

    Cuyahoga Valley

    National Park Ohio

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Canal Visitor Center Closure

    Canal Visitor Center will be closed for construction, starting Monday, May 6, 2013. It will reopen with new exhibits in early 2014.

  • Riverview Road Closure

    Riverview Rd from the Cuyahoga Falls line north to the Peninsula line will be re-paved, beginning the week of April 22. Expect delays. Flaggers will direct traffic. Final resurfacing and striping will take place following the Memorial Day holiday.

  • Bald Eagle Closure in Effect

    RR tracks, and 30 foot right of way on either side, are closed to all foot traffic from the Rt. 82 Bridge at Station Rd, north to the RR tracks at. The Cuyahoga R. downstream of the Brecksville Dam to the Fitzwater Rd Bridge is closed to water activities.

Learning to Farm

Greenfield Berry Farm.
NPS/Ted Toth
 

Could you run your own farm? Some farmers joined the Countryside Initiative with a long history of agricultural work in their families, while others joined the program with no history of farming life. Eleven farms currently operate as part of the Countryside Initiative program, each at a different stage of development. As part of their commitment to run a successful farm, Countryside Initiative farmers continue their education through courses offered by the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy and other organizations. These farmers face daily challenges related to learning and conducting general farming practices, as well as aligning their work with the sustainability goals of the national park.

 
Oral history audio.
In Their Own Words
Click the topics to hear stories about Cuyahoga Valley life.

Learning to Farm (44 seconds)
Laura DeYoung, of The Spicy Lamb Farm, talks about how she learned her business.

Learning from Other Farmers (32 seconds)
Pamela Neitenbach, from the Neitenbach Farm, explains how she learns from the experiences of other farmers in the valley.

From Gardening to Farming (50 seconds)
Heather and Eric Walters, from the Basket of Life Farm, describe how they shifted from gardening to farming.

Farmers' Optimism (27 seconds)
David Wingenfeld, from Canal Corners Farm and Market, offers some advice for farmers who face daily challenges.



Did You Know?

Monarch Butterfly - US Fish and Wildlife Service Photo

Early September is the time to watch monarchs feed in Cuyahoga Valley fields rich with goldenrod and New England aster. These places serve as important re-fueling sites for these long distance travelers on their way to oyamel forests near Mexico City more than 2,000 miles away.