Having a bird's eye view of a 20-acre field of bright yellow sunflowers swaying in the breeze is the experience awaiting visitors at Sunfox Farm for its sixth festival in Concord.

Greg and Amber Pollock, the couple behind this rural oasis along the Merrimack River near Exit 14 of Interstate 93, invite the public to enjoy their blooming field from a fresh perspective this year. 

They’ve added a new viewing area elevated 10 to 12 feet above the vibrant flowers.

“It's a view that we've been wanting to get the public to see and this year it's kind of come to fruition,” said Amber Pollock.

Greg Pollock’s journey into farming began 13 years ago, working on various farms before becoming a field manager for an organic farm.

But it was a trip through Italy in 2019 that ignited his passion for sunflowers. Driving through the picturesque Italian countryside, Greg was captivated by rolling hills once blanketed with sunflowers stretching as far as the eye could see.

Though the flowers were past bloom and had withered, his imagination painted a vivid picture of their former splendor.

Determined to recreate this breathtaking sight in New Hampshire, Sunfox Farm was born.

“Part of me just wanted to see the sunflowers in all their glory,” said Greg Pollock.

Starting this Saturday, visitors will be greeted by 500,000 sunflower heads in full bloom.

Amber Pollock, who holds a degree in culinary nutrition, will continue to offer her farm-to-table dinners, where guests can savor seven to eight courses set against the backdrop of a golden field.

Each menu is crafted to celebrate local farmers and artisans, featuring everything from fresh fish sourced from New England fishmongers to flour from nearby mills for baked goods.

With the menu changing based on the morning’s market finds, every dinner promises a unique and delightful experience, said Amber Pollock.

“The idea is to have these farm-to-table dinners really focus on our products but also a lot of other farmers,” said Amber Pollock.

New this year is the “Sips & Sunnies” sunset event on Aug. 14.

Attendees can take in the sunflower field at dusk while enjoying live music from local artists and cocktails and mocktails from Pours and Petals, a Concord-based mobile bar.

Since the time the Pollocks began growing sunflowers in New Hampshire, their journey has expanded beyond blooms to include the harvest of seeds, which are pressed into high-quality, cold-pressed sunflower oil for cooking.

Last year’s sunflower festival drew 12,000 visitors, and this year, the couple anticipates even more.

As they continue to grow, the Pollocks hope to lease additional property near Concord for processing their sunflower seeds into oil, skincare products, and more.

Currently, they process the seeds in Deerfield, where they also maintain a greenhouse for growing herbs, spices and herbal teas.

Looking ahead, they plan to establish a home farm near Concord. Meanwhile, they are committed to their current farm property, which they are leasing from the city for the next 24 years.

“Farming is rewarding in itself but it is hard work,” said Greg Pollock. “All the smiling faces from the community that come through is just wonderful and I wouldn’t change it for the world.” 

For sunflower enthusiasts, Brookford Farm in Canterbury is also hosting a Sunflower Soirée with live music from local bands, and farm-to-table fare.

IN CONCORD AND CANTERBURY

Sunfox Farm

When: Aug 10 -18,
Weekends from 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. and weekdays from 10 a.m. to
7 p.m. For more information go to www.sunfoxfarm.org

Brookford Farm

When: Aug 10 – 18, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information go to www.brookfordfarm.com