Sussex County's Sunshine® sunflower photo contest update

If a picture's worth a thousand words-then the first annual Sussex County's Sunshine® sunflower photo contest is speaking volumes about Sussex County-its farmland, beauty and community spirit! The Virtual Gallery hosted by NaturallySussex.com is bursting with beautiful entries from professionals, amateurs. Digitally Altered photos bring new dimension to the photos taken of 2010/2011 sunflower fields. More than 100 beautiful and creative entries can be viewed and shared on the site, delivering on the promise to "brighten someone's day".

Contest host Brodhecker Farm is accepting all print entries until October 15th. The entries will be used to create a traveling exhibit. The framed art will be premiered in an exhibit opening at the sponsor location on November 12th. The public is invited to attend or visit the display which will remain at the farm until December 31, 2011. Applications will soon be available for organizations and businesses who would like to host the exhibit in 2012. Contact: Shopkeeper@naturallysussex.com for more details.

A Guest Book on the site welcomes comments from Virtually Gallery visitors. The contest creators hope to spread some "sunshine" around the globe. Adding a geographic location to the Guest Book entry helps to measure the reach of the contest and brings it closer to meeting that goal.

The public response to the photo contest has wonderful. Entries will be accepted for both the Virtual and Print exhibit until October 15, 2011. There is no charge to enter. 2010/2011 photos are being accepted in three classes-Pro/Amateur and Digitally Altered. See naturallysussex.com for entry forms and prize information. *photos -not photographers- must be from Sussex Co NJ.

Sunflower photos spread a little sunshine in wake of Irene

We're all painfully aware of the wide spread damage caused by Irene. Power outages, flooding and traffic snarls are adding to the intensity of stress post storm. Photos by the thousands remind us of Nature's might and fury. But there is another side of nature that is equally powerful and can be uplifting to the spirit and calming to the soul. Those are the images we hope to share with a weary world through the collection of Sussex County's Sunshine® sunflower photos being added to the virtual gallery at naturallysussex.com.

Viewing platform offers a panoramic view of the field.

The timing of this free to enter photo contest couldn't be better. Adding your photos to the virtual gallery or print exhibit couldn't be easier. Visit naturallysussex.com for the details.

Contest sponsor, Brodhecker Farm, reports that although there is damage throughout the 24 acres of sunflower crop (about 30% across the three fields) the "late bloomers" seem to be standing in defiance of  Irene's fury. Strong winds and heavy rains uprooted some of the stalks but with a resilience that reflects the spirit of the Sussex County agricultural community, many of the young plants have weathered this storm.

Digitally Altered photo shows "visitor" drinking in the beauty.

Photos from across Sussex County's farmland (2010 and 2011) are welcome.  Enter as many photos as you wish electronically and in print.
Digitally Altered-Professional and Amateur classes are available.



Photos-not photographers-must be from Sussex County.


The virtual gallery is open for your viewing pleasure. Fields of sunflowers are in still in bloom for your enjoyment (see brodheckerfarm.com for locations).

photo courtesy of N Hreha

Sussex Naturally invites you to take a break and bask in some Sussex County Sunshine.


NaturallySussex welcomes BBC Printing  Branchville, NJ as the photo print sponsor of Sussex County's Sunshine®. Quality printing and friendly service. BBC Printing has a lot of great ideas for turning your favorite sunflower photos into unique and personalized gifts...helping you spread a little Sussex County Sunshine!

Spread a little of Sussex County's Sunshine™ around the world! Sunflower photo contest 2011

naturallysussex.com

 Announcing the FIRST ANNUAL
 Sussex County's Sunshine™
Sunflower Photo Contest

sponsored by Brodhecker Farm
hosted by naturallysussex.com

 Sunflower fields are bursting into bloom all around Sussex County-delighting visitors and residents with amazing color and fantastic photo opportunities.
NaturallySussex.com wants to spread a little of that "Sussex County Sunshine™" across the world, and is inviting you to enter your favorite Sussex County New Jersey sunflower photos in this first annual Sunflower Photo Contest. Spread the beauty captured through your lens -enter your photos for FREE in the Online AND Print photo contest. Deadline for entries is October 15th-giving you lots of time to get out there! Prizes will be awarded for first place entries in the DIGITAL ONLINE and PRINT categories-Professionals and Amateurs are invited to participate. There's even a DIGITALLY ALTERED category for all those creative types! We can't wait to see what you come up with! Photos taken in 2010 or 2011 will be accepted- Sussex County locations only.

Here are more of the details:
ONLINE Gallery: The NaturallySussex.com Sunflower Photo Gallery will feature digital entries that depict Sussex County NJ sunflowers. Professional, Amateur AND Digitally Altered classes are open to Sussex County visitors and residents. 
Photos will be featured online in the NaturallySussex.com virtual gallery until December 31, 2011. Photos will be judged by an independent panel of judges.
Photo credits will be given for entries in the online gallery.

First place prizes (valued at more than $100.00) will be awarded for:
Digital Amateur-Digital Professional and Digitally Altered classes.
Email JPEG files and completed entry forms to shopkeeper@naturallysussex.com by October 15th. *see contest guidelines on the naturallysussex.com site.
This contest is open to the public-photos must have been taken in Sussex County 2010/2011.

 IT GETS EVEN BETTER!

NaturallySussex.com and sponsor Brodhecker Farm 
want to share your great print photos in a county-wide traveling exhibit thru 2012!

Prints up to 11"x14" will be accepted at Brodhecker Farm until Oct 15th.
Photos must be framed/ready-to-hang*wire hanger please

First place prizes will be awarded in the Print Professional, Print Amatuer and Print Digitally Altered classes. (First place prize valued at more than $100.00 )
A GRAND PRIZE (valued at more than $250.00) will be awarded for the best overall PRINT photo.
An exhibit of all print entries will be on display at Brodhecker Farm through December 31, 2011.
Opening date: November 12, 2011  An artist's reception will mark the opening of the exhibit.
The exhibit will travel throughout the county in 2012 beginning in January at the Homestead Nursing Home in Newton, NJ.

There's no limit to the number of photos you can enter and no fee to enter!
Photos can be submitted to the to both the Digital and Print Classes!
This give you lots of opportunities to share your great pictures.

Photos must  have been taken in Sussex County NJ - 2010 or 2011 photos are welcome
For more on the contest, rules, entry forms and prize details visit naturallysussex.com 's Community page and links.

The online Sunflower Photo Gallery is already OPEN for viewing- visit naturallysussex.com and check out some of the first entries received.

Sussex Naturally is  looking forward to seeing Sussex County Farmland through your lens.

NOT SURE WHERE TO FIND SUSSEX COUNTY SUNFLOWERS?
Here's a partial list of locations:
Route 565 N near the Skyland's Ball Field and across from Roseline's Bakery (30 acres + maze)
2 Branchville-Lawson Road Hampton Township (7 acres and viewing platform for panoramic view)
Route 94 across from Crystal Springs (Roadside view)

About to bloom:
Rt 15 Sparta (7 acres and viewing platform)
Rt 519 and Branchville- Lawson Road (10 acres)
*visit www.brodheckerfarm.com for a google map of Brodhecker fields

Why so much attention to Sunflowers?

The NJ Grown Black Oil Sunflowers are a cash crop for farmers and a recent addition to JERSEY GROWN.  After the spectacular bloom period, the sunflower heads "go to seed".
When fully matured, the seed heads are harvested, cleaned-dried and packaged and are available to consumers for use as wild birdseed.(check out the NJ Black Oil Sunflower Harvest video on YouTube).
Black Oil Sunflower seed is a favorite for wild birds and a number one choice product for bird enthusiasts. JERSEY GROWN Black Oil Sunflower seed was introduced across the state by NJ Audubon as part of their S.A.V.E. initiative. This is the second season Sussex County farmers are growing this crop for direct to the consumer sale.

This year, NJA introduced another S.A.V.E. brand product to the JERSEY GROWN-handcrafted bird feeders and bird houses made from White Cedar grown in the Garden State. NJA Birdfeeders and Birdhouses are available in the naturallysussex.com marketplace and at various retail and farm locations throughout the state.

NJ Audubon continues to build bridges between conservation and agriculture for the benefit of all NJ residents. Those who appreciate JERSEY GROWN products will be glad to know S.A.V.E. products are produced here in the Garden State. 
NJ Audubon has brought leadership, vision and innovation to the goal of preserving our natural resources and working in compliment with NJ Farmers to bring new products to the market.

Now that you know more about sunflowers-Grab your camera and get out there!
Sunflowers mature in several stages. Watch the fields as they come to full color and then mature to seed. Capture the beauty with your camera and be part of this fun-FREE- contest.
Sussex County's Sunshine Sunflower Photo Contest ® 2011 Dandelion Creative,LLC
Hosted by: naturallysussex.com
Sponsored by: Brodhecker Farm Newton 

naturallysussex.com reserves the right to make changes or cancel without notice
prizes packs may be subject to change
no cash substitutes for prozes

Sunflower Alert! Brodhecker Farm reports the first of three fields in bloom

They're finally here!
Brodhecker Farm
2 Branchville-Lawson Road
Newton, New Jersey

Last year, thousands of people stopped along the Route 15 roadside to drink in the nature's beauty as seven acres of sunflowers burst into color. Hundreds more visited the seven acre farm field.  Brodhecker Farm welcomes visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature's colorful display at the farm location again this year as the first of the 2011 sunflower crop has come into full bloom. Ample parking has been made available right at the farm. A short stroll along the edge of the field brings visitors to the best viewing/photo vantage point. A viewing platform is in place for your convenience. The farm is open seven days a week. See the website for farm hours and location.

Brodhecker Farm plants and harvests the sunflower crop for their wild bird birdseed product. Sold in conjunction with NJ Audubon and under the Brodhecker Birdseed label, the sunflower seed is available to customers at the farm store location throughout the year. 


Seven acres of sunflowers were planted at the Hampton Township farm earlier this season. An additional 17 acres were planted at the same time in two additional locations, however, a devastating crop failure necessitated a complete replanting of those  fields. This pushed back the time line on bloom and harvest for this important cash crop. 

Farmers face many challenges. Even the best thought out plans can be impacted by unanticipated events which could devastate harvest and a  farmer's bottom line. Field crop failure in New Jersey -where the growing season is quite specific- can cause tremendous economic loss.

In an attempt to recover the initial 17 acre loss, Brodhecker Farm replanted  fields in both locations and hoped their additional efforts would prove successful. It seems they have. Acres of sunflower heads appear just about ready to open. Within a few weeks, Sussex County will be treated to an encore performance of Mother Nature's best! Later this fall-barring any significant weather or wildlife damage-Brodhecker's will harvest an abundance of seed for their bird seed line.


Sussex Naturally will keep you posted on the progress and the location of the two upcoming bloom events. For now, enjoy the spectacular "show" right at the farm. Please remember that the flowers are intended as a cash crop. Enjoy the beauty, but don't pick the flowers!.