It made sense to Jason and Lauren Murvine that their eight-generation property should be home to a crop that produces for generations. The peony blooms for up to 100 years, and on two upcoming weekends, Walnut Ridge Farm will celebrate the harvest of 11 varieties at its third annual Peony Festival.
People of all ages are invited to the event, which will feature a bouquet bar, photo opportunities, a vendor market of locally handmade items, and several food and beverage vendors. For children there will be pony rides, a petting zoo and an arrowhead field hunt.
It all started in 2020 when Portage Lakes native Jason Murvine and his wife Lauren purchased a house and 2.5 acres between Orrville and Smithville. The house, in which Lauren grew up, was built in 1853 and has been home to members of the Schrock family ever since.
Over the years the farm produced grain, offered a you-pick strawberry patch and grew fruit, which supplied Smucker’s in an 80-acre orchard. Pigs, horses, sheep, milk and beef cattle, egg-laying hens, and commercial poultry were raised on the farm. In addition to traditional uses of the farmland, more playful applications were at times devised.
“My grandfather Wilmer Schrock kept a field mowed for baseball, and he dug out and flooded a pasture for ice hockey,” Lauren Murvine said. “He would invite neighbors over for games as a break from farmwork.”
Wanting to continue the land’s agricultural tradition after their purchase, the Murvines considered what that would look like.
“I told Jason I’d like to include a row or two of peonies,” Lauren Murvine said.
So her husband did some research and learned peonies could be profitable. After soil testing supported the notion, the couple purchased 660 bare roots and launched their peony farm with the help of their two children.
Cultivating peonies requires meticulous care. The family plants each root, shipped from Holland, by hand in the fall after preparing the ground and laying and burning holes into weed mat. They treat their crop with a food-grade spray to prevent mildew and install a rope system each year to support the plants. Before harvest, they pinch off the side buds of each bloom so the main flower grows to its potential.
Peonies generally bloom in shades of white, pink and red. Each stem must be cut at just the right time to provide its longest vase life. At the peak of harvest, the Murvines reap three times each day for three weeks.
“Harvest is a fast and furious sprint,” Lauren Murvine said.
At summer’s end each plant is trimmed, and irrigation and fertilization are sometimes necessary. While neither Jason nor Lauren Murvine had much prior farming experience, Lauren said, “Jason accomplishes whatever he sets his mind to and has a wealth of knowledge. The farm is an outlet for his various skills.”
Jason Murvine has worked as a state park ranger, public health inspector, timber framer and personal trainer. Lauren taught physical education and health and worked as a personal trainer before becoming a stay-at-home mom. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for planning events, seven years ago she launched her customized signs and backdrops business, Walnut Ridge Wedding Rentals. She designs and delivers the decor for weddings and other events. See details at www.walnutridgeweddingrentals.com.
The Murvines continue developing their property and business. Last fall they began leasing an additional 3 acres, doubling their crop to 1,300 peonies and growing an acre and a half of wildflowers. They are experimenting with several yellow peony plants called Itoh, a crossbreed of an herbaceous and a tree peony. The business also offers wrapped bouquets on specified dates, as well as bridal and florist wholesale.
Lauren Murvine’s decor business has given her connections with several local businesses and industry professionals.
“They have contributed so much to our festivals,” she said. “These events wouldn’t be what they are without the support of them, our other friends and our family.”
This year’s Peony Festival will take place on two Saturdays, May 31 and June 7, from midafternoon to sunset, rain or shine. A Festival & Flowers pass may be purchased online in advance for $35, which includes a six-stem peony bouquet. Admission at the gate costs $15 for adults and $15 for children age 3-12, which includes a pony ride, the petting zoo and the arrowhead hunt. Children age 2 and under are admitted free.
Walnut Ridge Farm is located at 5547 Chippewa Road in Orrville. For more information visit www.walnutridgefarmohio.com or follow walnutridgefarmohio on Facebook and Instagram.
“It’s very fulfilling to offer people the wholesome, charming experience of visiting a small farm,” Lauren Murvine said. “We see this as a place to enjoy the beauty of a picturesque afternoon or evening in the country.”
