Recycled Christmas Tree Maze at Linvilla Orchards

What’s green, recycled, and smells of pine woods? Why, Linvilla Orchard’s Recycled Christmas Tree maze created from over 1,400 unsold Christmas trees from around the area. Set up in the area next to Linvilla’s recently opened Gardening Center, the maze is open from 9 am- 5 pm Sunday thru Thursday and 9 am to 7 pm on Friday and Saturday.

My family and I first tackled the maze last February. Densely packed paths lead you on tantalizing twists and turns towards and away from the gazebo in the middle of the maze. It’s all in good fun and a great way to get the kids outside and moving during the winter months.

This year, my youngest son and I decided to tackle the maze by ourselves. He made sure to grab a flag for us “just in case we need it, Mom.” Boy was he right! I had forgotten how amazing and twisty the maze was. After the Christmas Tree Maze is over in March, the trees will be chipped and used as fuel to heat the Gardening Center as part of the green program for Linvilla Orchards. The chipped trees are fed into a wood chip burner which helps heat the buildings. Besides trees, Linvilla recycles just about everything on the farm – plastic, glass, aluminum, steel, cardboard, plant material, food waste, and water.

“Watch and learn, Mom!”

After we, um, didn’t complete the maze (and yes, I’m going back to conquer that maze!), my son and I headed inside the Gardening Center for a round of miniature golf. At $6.95 for ages 11 & over or $4.95 for ages 10 & under, it’s quite a deal, especially if you combine the maze and indoor golf admission. If you need a quick snack after the hard work of miniature golf, you can pick up a slice of pizza at the indoor cafe or head over to the Farm Market for the famous apple cider donuts.

When You Go

Linvilla Orchard 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, PA 19063
Hours: 9am- 5pm Sunday thru Thursday and 9 to 7 on Friday and Saturday
Maze Admission: $5 ($4 when combined with a round of miniature golf)

Barb is a wife and a mom of 5 and an avid gardener. Check out her blog at A Life in Balance for some awesome tips on gardening, budget, kids, food and so much more!

Learn to garden like a pro with Linvilla Orchards’ free gardening classes

Spring is approaching and it’s time to plan your home garden. Whether you’ve never planted a garden before or want to make the most of your garden this season, Linvilla Orchards has you covered! Linvilla is hosting three informative seminars led by their gardening experts at NO COST, so why not pick up a tip or two to get your garden growing.

Step one, Get your Garden Growing. On Saturday, March 17th, at 10:30 a.m., Master Gardener Joe Daniels will explain how to wake up your garden from its winter slumber and get it ready for springtime planting. Please come and feel comfortable asking any questions as this class is geared towards the novice gardener. You’ll surely leave on the right track knowing how to make a bountiful garden.

Then, learn the ins and outs of gardening vegetables. On Saturday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m., master gardener Joe Daniels will be back to teach Vegetable Gardening 101. Bring your questions and be ready to learn how to make a successfully fruitful garden of vegetables perfect to freshen up those summer salads.

Take your planting up a notch and try Building your own Home Orchard. Whether you have one fruit tree or a dozen, Linvilla’s farm manager, Norm Schultz will discuss what you need to know to maintain your fruit trees. Learn when and what to spray, when and how to prune and other important details that will keep your trees fruitful with Linvilla on Saturday, April 14th at 10:30 a.m.

Remember, all these events are FREE so take advantage of a lesson or two or all three from the farming experts at Linvilla Orchards. While you’re there, you can always pick up a fresh pie from the bakery or grab a bite to eat at the garden center café.

Linvilla Orchards has over 300 acres dedicated to agriculture, education and entertainment. Linvilla’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays. To learn more, call 610.876.7116 or visit Linvilla at 137 W. Knowlton Road in Media, PA http://www.linvilla.com.

Linvilla Orchards and FORE! The Planet

This past Tuesday, several bloggers had a chance to take their kids out for a fun afternoon at Linvilla Orchards in Media, PA.  The day could not have been more beautiful, with warmer temps and the sun brightly shining. These Mommy Bloggers had a chance to hear all about the great things happening at Linvilla, as well as try out the new Fore! Mini Golf Course and Tree Maze.

The afternoon started with a delicious lunch of pizza and apple cider.  The crowd got to hear about the Orchard (did you know their produce is 50% off in the winter months?!), events and how eco-friendly they really are (NOTHING gets thrown away here, folks!).

Everyone quickly finished their pizza so they could try their hand at Fore!, an indoor mini-golf course created by the Academy of Natural Sciences dedicated to educating kids and adults alike on environmental issues.  The kids had a blast swinging their (plastic) golf clubs, and stopped at each hole/exhibit to learn about a different aspect of the environment.

After plenty of mulligans, the group tried their hand at the 1400 tree Tree Maze set up just outside the Garden Center.  Post-holiday trees have been donated from churches, boy scout troops and other sellers, and set up as a very ornate (AND DIFFICULT!) maze.  Luckily, long poles with flags on the end were handed out, so if anyone got a little turned around, they were easily found (in most cases).

Once everyone made it safely to the end of the maze, some headed to feed the animals (did you know they have peacocks at Linvilla??), while others meandered around the Farm Market.  Some even took home the Orchard’s famous Apple Cider Donuts!

So many great things are happening at Linvilla! With the Farm Market going strong, produce priced 50% off and Fore! open through March 18, it is worth the trip down to Media for a fun afternoon with your kids!

You can find Linvilla Orchards on: Facebook and Twitter.

Linvilla Orchards Apple Festival & Pie Eating Contest ~ this weekend

This weekend is one of my very favorite weekends at Linvilla Orchards. I love fall and the Linvilla Orchards Apple Festival marks the beginning of the season for me.

Linvilla Orchards Apple FestivalHayrides, pony rides, face painting, children’s entertainment, costumed characters, games & contests, music, apple treats and recipes, candy apples, Pumpkinland and lunch at the Linvilla Grill.

Enter the Apple Pie Eating Contest for the chance to win the champion title and a prize! Three age brackets: 6-10, 11-16, & 17 and over!

An apple a day sure does keep the doctor away! Pick-Your-Own crunchy, juicy apples right from the tree. Take home as many as you can carry to create some delicious apple treats like apple pie or candy apples!

Visit the Farm Market to sample an incredible assortment of our own crisp, juicy apples! Pick up a world famous apple pie, fresh apple cider, or delcious apple butter.

When: Saturday, September 24, 2011 and Sunday, September 25, 2011
Where: Linvilla Orchards Entertainment Garden (137 W. Knowlton Road,Media, PA 19063)

Click here for more information or directions to Linvilla Orchards.

Linvilla Orchards Annual Blueberry Festival

Since July’s blueberry month, it’s only natural that Linvilla’s in on the action. Expect a day jam-packed with fun at their annual festival.

Be sure to map out plenty of time for picking. With ten varieties of blueberries, you’ll find just the right ones to add a bit of sweetness to cobblers, pies, jellies and even fresh for your cereal.

Watch champs shovel it in at the pie eating contest; those with less epic appetites will be satisfied with slices of fireworks cake or other freshly baked treats from the Market.

For kids there are appearances by costumed characters plus pony rides and face painting. Makin’ Music hosts Down on the Farm Day with crafts, animals from the Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels, and a hoe down.

Families will love creating memories by coming back year after year. Because traditions like these are meant to be preserved.

Chef Sean Weinberg of Restaurant Alba will also be performing a free cooking demonstration at noon during the festival. Come learn some new cooking secrets featuring blueberries from one of Philadelphia’s finest chefs.

Where: Linvilla Orchards
137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA
610-876-7116

Visit http://www.linvilla.com/ for details

When: July 10 (Sat.) 9 am-6 pm
Rain Date July 11 (Sun.)

Linvilla Orchards Strawberry Festival This Weekend!

*Take Your Pick* at Linvilla Orchards Strawberry Festival June 5th and 6th from 9am to 6pm!

Looking for some fun? Linvilla’s got a ripe opportunity … the annual Strawberry Festival! Hitch a hayride to the pick your own fields and fill your flat with fresh berries.

No one will leave this affair hungry, that’s for sure. Make your way to the Market for slices of the biggest shortcake in the Delaware Valley and an array of other freshly baked goods.

Little ones will love saddling up for pony rides, contests, and appearances by familiar faces. They can also catch a performance by Officer Offbeat, the unicycle riding, stilt walking clown.

Linvilla’s planted new varieties of strawberries, so the picking season is extended straight through September. Plenty of time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Linvilla Orchards
137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA
610-876-7116

Visit www.Linvilla.com for more details!

Linvilla Orchards Strawberry Festival 6/5 and 6/6!

*Take Your Pick* at Linvilla Orchards Strawberry Festival June 5th and 6th from 9am to 6pm!

Looking for some fun? Linvilla’s got a ripe opportunity … the annual Strawberry Festival! Hitch a hayride to the pick your own fields and fill your flat with fresh berries.

No one will leave this affair hungry, that’s for sure. Make your way to the Market for slices of the biggest shortcake in the Delaware Valley and an array of other freshly baked goods.

Little ones will love saddling up for pony rides, contests, and appearances by familiar faces. They can also catch a performance by Officer Offbeat, the unicycle riding, stilt walking clown.

Linvilla’s planted new varieties of strawberries, so the picking season is extended straight through September. Plenty of time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Linvilla Orchards
137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA
610-876-7116

Visit http://www.linvilla.com/ for more details!

Linvilla Orchards: Family Fun Fishing Derby on 4/10/10

Some fathers might think a day at the museum is a yawn. And a trip to the playground? An even bigger snooze. It’s no wonder you’re always casting about for something new to do.

Try heading to Linvilla Orchards for their Seventh Annual Family Fun Fishing Derby.

Orchard Lake stocked with over 1,000 fish, which means this event’s perfect for kids. There’s pole rental and bait for sale right on site, plus there’s no license needed.

Lucky fishermen who snag a golden trout or tagged fish will win a prize. And since the contest’s divided into age groups, even your littlest angler might just have it in the bag.

Keep your first catch for free; additional ones are just $3.99 a pound. Even if you can’t make it to the derby, fishing will continue on until November.

Looks like you’re finally off the hook.

Where: Linvilla Orchards
137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA
610-876-7116
Visit www.Linvilla.com for details

Entry Fee: $14.99 per fisherman

When: April 10 (Sat.) 9 am-3 pm
Transportation to the pond begins at 8 am

Hook, Line and Sinker…

Hook, Line and Sinker…Linvilla Orchards’ Expert Fishing Derby

Your box is stocked with lures, hooks, and lines — a pro like you is always ready for some action.
In that case, make your way to Linvilla Orchards’ Expert Fishing Derby for a day of serious angling. Reel in the biggest fish and you’ve got $250 in your pocket, plus there are more prizes for tagged ones. Your first catch is free and each additional one’s just $3.99 per pound.

Orchard Lake is filled with hundreds of rainbow trout, so getting ’em to bite is a breeze. If you’ve got a pole, bring it; if not rent one while you’re there. You can also pick up bait right at Linvilla and there’s no license needed. Weigh off’s at 12 pm sharp and we bet you’ll tip the scales. Because there’s nothing you can’t tackle.

Where: Linvilla Orchards
137 West Knowlton Road, Media, PA
610-876-7116
Visit http://www.Linvilla.com for details

Entry Fee: $24.99 per fisherman. Capturing the moment with that old Kodak,
priceless.

When: Saturday, March 27th

9 am-2 pm
Transportation to the pond begins at 8 am